PA vs. NP in CHICAGO

blueblaze · Mar 6, 2004

Do NOT commit to any school unless their willing to find you placement.

Cardiology EP NP · Mar 6, 2004

Do you mean I should commit to a school only if they are able to find me work?

blueblaze · Mar 6, 2004

You bet you!! My wife and I are both RNs. She wanted

to be an NP. He hospital's DON encouraged her to go to St.Xavier's

and the Hospital would help pay for the education and provide her a

job. In 2-3 yrs, the DON was dismissed and the hospital not only refused

to help pay for the education, they did not want and NP on site. AND after 17 yrs.,

she had to take a leave for one semester to finish her clinical for St.Xavier. We refinanced the house and she graduated without a job.

After many resumes and several

years of practicing as a nurse clinician, and NP for a

nursing home, she finally landed a job(officially

office manager) She proved herself as an NP and next

week, a new office manager will take her place and she

will be a full time NP(still being paid RN wages. The

schools are selling a pig in a poke. There are more

NP than jobs and some hospitals(their physicians) will not

work with NP's. I will retire while my wife MUST work

to pay off the NP school loan. Think twice.

Cardiology EP NP · Mar 8, 2004

That's very interesting blueblaze. I noticed that Rush and Loyola and Children's Memorial all hire NPs. Did your wife try those places? What kind of NP is she? Would you recommend me working at a hospital that hires NPs so that they can help me with my tuition reimbursement and help me find a job? I am trying to determine the best route to go.

I actually work with a pediatric NP and she got her job through a clinical connection. Her training was at Rush. Blueblaze is it ok if I PM you about this?

Stitchie · Mar 8, 2004

That's very interesting blueblaze. I noticed that Rush and Loyola and Children's Memorial all hire NPs. Did your wife try those places? What kind of NP is she? Would you recommend me working at a hospital that hires NPs so that they can help me with my tuition reimbursement and help me find a job? I am trying to determine the best route to go.
I actually work with a pediatric NP and she got her job through a clinical connection. Her training was at Rush. Blueblaze is it ok if I PM you about this?

I used to work at a hospital in Arlington Heights IL that hired NP's/PA's for ER and also some practices did likewise, to do rounds and things. I think the docs are mighty scared of these new providers because they are competing with the primary care docs for billing, even though it isn't supposed to be that way.

Residents are cheaper, and are "doctors", so lots of hospitals with residency programs will not hire NP's/PA's. Too expensive. So trying to find a job connected with some of the smaller teaching hospitals might not be the best idea. Loyola and northwestern are the exceptions, but those hospitals are so busy that they keep everyone busy. JMO.

There is also some companies that contract with hospitals to provide providers. You can check into some of those.

Good luck.

blueblaze · Mar 8, 2004

My wife got a position with an out clinic affiliated with a teaching hospital. Her job was RN. After several months, she will be practicing as as NP. She proved herself to the YOUNG physicians who NEEDED her and were not threatened by her. We are on the far south side and jobs are limited. I'm new to this type of thing(forum) You may contact me if it is OK with the system. I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean when you say may I PM with you.

Blueblaze

Cardiology EP NP · Mar 9, 2004

So, blueblaze, that's great that your wife was able to find a job as an NP. I know you said you are in the south suburbs and jobs can be kind of scarce out that way. I live in the western suburbs right near the 290 about 20 miles exactly west of chicago. So jobs out here are fairly plentiful. Do you think that if I were to pursue the NP route, I might be able to find work out this way? I checked with Loyola, Rush, northwestern, Christ and other hospitals and they all hire NPs.

I have to tell you though I am slowly starting to lose my motivation these days. I was put on a waste list at College of Dupage and I am waiting to hear back from Depaul. If I don't get in for the fall, I may just chuck this whole idea and go back to doing case management, I have a degree in psychology. Instead of sending you a private message, I will just write messages to you on this forum.

Thanks for you advice!

blueblaze · Mar 9, 2004

My wife just called. Will not be home before 8pm tonight. Basically she is working a 10 hr. day with 2 hrs. travel for a "salary". Had she stayed in "nursing" she would have built up seniority, pay, benifit AND no 2nd mortgage, she wasn't around to see the kids grow up, etc. I know she sometimes regrets it. Hopefully, the future for her/me will be much better. If you have a degree in psy., I assume it it a B.S. degree. I don't know your age, marital satus(kid obligations), and if your just tires of being just a nurse. All these things must be taken into account. Just remember the old saying, "the grass isn't always greener on the other side". Employers are no longer loyal to their employees(not just nurses). And now they want to know where all the dedicated employees are. Life is just to long(short). Just enjoy what your doing.

Blueblaze

Trauma Columnist · Mar 10, 2004

BlueBlaze - thanks for the honesty. I live in downstate Illinois and work at a teaching hospital in the ER as a case manager. I'm getting an MSN but a generic track. You are right - our hospital hires NP for the NICU and PICU - there are none in the ER.

blueblaze · Mar 10, 2004

Today, 08:38 PM #10

traumaRUs & helper,

I would encourage any BSN (if you don't want to teach) and want to further your education to: get an MPH, Masters in Business, I hate to say this but if your an RN with a PA, in this area, the Dr. will hire you. If a NP, no way. WHY? They pay the PA about $60/yr.

Oh Well.

Cardiology EP NP · Mar 10, 2004

Thank you for your honesty blueblaze. Well, I don't have a degree in nursing. You see, I just applied to depaul for their generic masters in nursing degree. It's a program for people who don't have a nursing degree but a bachelors in something else like me. It's kind of hard to get a job with a BS degree in psych. And I have worked as a CNA for a long time part-time. So I was considering going back to school for nursing and eventually take the NP route. But I don't know yet.

Also, in terms of the PA route, I actually interivewed at midwestern for their PA program this past december. I would NOT recommend it to anyone. I had excellent stats and a wealth of healthcare experience when I interviewed there and they flat out rejected me. They also take much younger applicants who have NO EXPERIENCE. They prefer them actually. I don't know why. So, I don't think I will pursue the PA route again.

I am going to look into some teaching hospitals and see if I can land a job there and possible work there as a nurse if I get into some nursing program this year. Otherwise, I will try to find a job with my degree in psych and work experience. I am 31 and unmarried.