FNPs don't let me down!!! Where's the Money?

Specialties NP

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I've read the salary posts, almost to my dismay.

Most of the rock stars are Psyc NPs (cough Jules A cough) followed by distant ACNPs.

My question is...WHAT THE HECK ARE THE FNPs DOING?!

I've seen a couple of them that do well, but, seriously!

Are there any FNPs out there that make >$150k?

Business owners, 1099 folks, specialty peeps, anyone?!

Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.
Curious as to where you work ? How did you get the position. I want a flexible job that allows me to spend quality time with family and travel too.

Thanks.

I work in a private allergy and asthma practice that is not owned by a hospital or a big healthcare system. The owner has complete discretion in terms of salary and bennies. I knew what I was worth, asked for it, and got it. A 5 day work week is a deal breaker for me, and getting the schedule I wanted was part of the whole negotiation deal. Of course, there are down sides. This is definitely a monarchy, and not a democracy, but I am a valued subject and am treated accordingly.

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I work in a private allergy and asthma practice that is not owned by a hospital or a big healthcare system. The owner has complete discretion in terms of salary and bennies. I knew what I was worth, asked for it, and got it. A 5 day work week is a deal breaker for me, and getting the schedule I wanted was part of the whole negotiation deal. Of course, there are down sides. This is definitely a monarchy, and not a democracy, but I am a valued subject and am treated accordingly.

How many hours a week do you work on average? How did you find your current job? TIA

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First and foremost, make certain the geographical area you choose to practice in is not saturated with NPs or NP schools. Colleges looking to fill their coffer have opened NP programs that are basically "Give us 60K and we will give you a certificate" Then these poor grads come out looking for the gold promised with that certificate. They look for a job with an BA in art history and an NP cert. and MS in nursing. No nursing experience and, of course, employers take advantage of them. Here in middle TN, I know many NPs here working for $35hr. One of my profs told us as we graduated from our program, if we take a low salary, it affects the entire NP industry. Word gets around we are desperate for a position and thus, the bar is set low by the employers. I took a 20% cut in pay moving to this area. Primarily because of the factors stated above. Listen to the posters advice, they are right on. If you do choose primary care, be prepared for a big push to do the old "cattle run" "get em in get em out". Then take your own time at the end of the day to review labs, call backs and chart reviews. It "is what it is" in primary care. Its good experience but wont pay you 100K. Take that experience, get certified in a specialty, then go get that pot of gold. Also, remember, male NPs are paid better because they negotiate...live frugal and don't appear desperate and negotiate!

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Is there generally a greater need in West Texas for providers? What are usual starting salaries there compared to other parts of Texas?

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.
Is there generally a greater need in West Texas for providers? What are usual starting salaries there compared to other parts of Texas?

Yes, finding a job here is pretty easy. Where I live (El Paso) has a hard time recruiting providers. Being on the border, people that have never been here or lived here have a rough perception of our city as being dangerous or violent, when the reality is El Paso is consistently one of the safest large cities in the whole country. The current political climate hasn't done much to improve the perception of the border, even though it's all BS.

Two of my collaborating physician's moved here from New Jersey and Florida just because the market is so wide open and they had friends that told them if they want to make a mint, this is the place to do it.

Starting salaries as far as I know tend to be 100K or higher for NP's, but I know of some NP's making less. Any job I've ever been offered had a starting offer much lower than what I ended up accepting. You really just need to negotiate. If you end up working for a hospital, it will absolutely be over 100k, with some of the hospitalist and ER contractors paying between 125k-180k.

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Thank you that helps a lot! I'm not set on staying in DFW if it's for a better opportunity and career. One of my friends lives in Las Cruces, NM and always tells me how nice El Paso is especially with their new Whole Foods. It's exciting that after working and studying for so long to finally be in a position by the end of the year to even have the option of building a career!

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.
Thank you that helps a lot! I'm not set on staying in DFW if it's for a better opportunity and career. One of my friends lives in Las Cruces, NM and always tells me how nice El Paso is especially with their new Whole Foods. It's exciting that after working and studying for so long to finally be in a position by the end of the year to even have the option of building a career!

Cruces is a great place too. I did my undergrad there at NMSU and it's a great place to live. New Mexico is also independent practice. It's just a 45 minute drive from El Paso so lots of nurses commute as well.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.
First and foremost, make certain the geographical area you choose to practice in is not saturated with NPs or NP schools. Colleges looking to fill their coffer have opened NP programs that are basically "Give us 60K and we will give you a certificate" Then these poor grads come out looking for the gold promised with that certificate. They look for a job with an BA in art history and an NP cert. and MS in nursing. No nursing experience and, of course, employers take advantage of them. Here in middle TN, I know many NPs here working for $35hr. One of my profs told us as we graduated from our program, if we take a low salary, it affects the entire NP industry. Word gets around we are desperate for a position and thus, the bar is set low by the employers. I took a 20% cut in pay moving to this area. Primarily because of the factors stated above. Listen to the posters advice, they are right on. If you do choose primary care, be prepared for a big push to do the old "cattle run" "get em in get em out". Then take your own time at the end of the day to review labs, call backs and chart reviews. It "is what it is" in primary care. Its good experience but wont pay you 100K. Take that experience, get certified in a specialty, then go get that pot of gold. Also, remember, male NPs are paid better because they negotiate...live frugal and don't appear desperate and negotiate!

Anyone from the Pacific NW region? San Fran up to Seattle? I know CA is not an independent NP state but Oregon and Washington are. What specialties in the next few years do you (or anyone who may know that region) think will be prime for NP's? I'm working on my BSN now in Florida, then planned on working for a year or so to get experience and then move onto my FNP and then later also certify with psych. I want to settle down on the west coast. I am very unhappy in the southeast.

My 3 areas of medical interest have always been Derm, Allergy, and Psych. Talking to patients is more my thing though, so medical school models don't fit me as well as nursing does.

Like others on here have said, I see no reason to think just because we choose FNP doesn't mean we can't pursue a specialty and have great financial success/work-life balance :)

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Specializes in Nursing.

I am struggling with the decision of ACNP or FNP. In terms of a specialty ... if I were to look in to the derm or ortho specialty ... would that be better for an FNP or ACNP? Also, what about neuro? I live in Las Vegas where there is a Cleveland Clinic ... Lou Ruvo center for brain health. I would be interested in learning more about a neuro specialty with the Cleveland Clinic ... but not sure if that would be better suited to an FNP or ACNP?

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.
I am struggling with the decision of ACNP or FNP. In terms of a specialty ... if I were to look in to the derm or ortho specialty ... would that be better for an FNP or ACNP? Also, what about neuro? I live in Las Vegas where there is a Cleveland Clinic ... Lou Ruvo center for brain health. I would be interested in learning more about a neuro specialty with the Cleveland Clinic ... but not sure if that would be better suited to an FNP or ACNP?

FNP for derm. ACNP for ortho or neuro.

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I am struggling with the decision of ACNP or FNP. In terms of a specialty ...

Have you thought about doing a school that will provide both certs?

I am currently doing a dual FNP/ACNP program. They do exist. I am not certain about maintaining both, but having both can't hurt. Just a thought

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Specializes in Nursing.

Thank you so much for the reply. I am going to start an ACNP program in the Fall!!! It is with Grand Canyon University. I AM SO EXCITED!!! I sure have had a hard time deciding on ACNP vs. FNP, though. And it is still a bit fuzzy!!! But this "feels" like the right thing. I am just hoping I won't have hellish hours when I get out of school :-)

I also believe that if I change my mind and decide I am more suited towards family practice, there are programs out there that I could get my FNP (in addition to my ACNP) in 6 months or so. Or so I have heard! ???

Really excited to be starting on my new path this Fall!

Anne Marie

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