Pediatric Nurse Practioner- first job expectations and salary

[Cardinal23]

Hi

I am going into my second year of YSN's PNP program. Going great so far. My question had to do with work setting and expectations. If there are any PNP's out there this question is for you. What am I to expect upon graduation in a first job. Is there an orientation process in the first job or do you just hit the ground running? Are most jobs in primary care offices or specialty clinics? Also many of us students are trying to gauge what a normal starting salary is for the Connecticut New England area. Some say you make nothing coming out and others say the opposite???????? Any advice would help! TY

[Annaiya, NP]

I'm not sure about salaries in your area. However, the orientation for a primary care job seems to be just a week or two. Pretty much just enough to learn where the bathroom is and a little about the charting system. You are expected to be able to get the history, do your exam and chart it all basically from the beginning. But you shouldn't be expected to see a full load of patients right away. You are just given extra time to get used to everything and then ask questions as you go. Someone else will have to speak to a specialty clinic, since I'm not sure about that and I never did any clinical hours in a specialty clinic.