PMHNP over saturated?

elkpark · Sep 27, 2015

I expect it to be saturated soon -- everyone and their mother seems to be in a PMHNP program, or working on getting into one, these days. (I am a psych CNS, not an NP, and have no plans to return to school, but I must say, I kind miss the days when no one wanted to go into psych.)

psychgirlRN · Sep 27, 2015

Hi elkpark, I tried to reply to this already and my post doesn't seem to have gone up. Hopefully this isn't a repeat. Thank you for your response. As someone who works in the field, would you say that if I am happy to work for less than the crazy salaries people are reporting then I would be likely to still find a rewarding career as a PMHNP? Or do you think that even finding a job at all is going to become difficult? I would be happy to work in the $60,000-$70,000 range. Where I currently work the outpatient PMHNPs are making around $90,000 and inpatients are making $110,000. I am in the south, but open to relocation. I have an interest in potentially doing private practice during after hours or weekends because I know a lot of people struggle to find a provider where they won't have to take off work.

Jules A, MSN · Sep 27, 2015

Hi elkpark, I tried to reply to this already and my post doesn't seem to have gone up. Hopefully this isn't a repeat. Thank you for your response. As someone who works in the field, would you say that if I am happy to work for less than the crazy salaries people are reporting then I would be likely to still find a rewarding career as a PMHNP? Or do you think that even finding a job at all is going to become difficult? I would be happy to work in the $60,000-$70,000 range. Where I currently work the outpatient PMHNPs are making around $90,000 and inpatients are making $110,000. I am in the south, but open to relocation. I have an interest in potentially doing private practice during after hours or weekends because I know a lot of people struggle to find a provider where they won't have to take off work.

If I understood correctly and your DNP is paid for and you are already in there is no way I'd suggest dropping out now. You can always add a psychNP certificate and then you would have double opportunities depending on current markets.

I'd also advise against being willing to work for wages lower than the current market tolerates. My opinion is that will not only cheapen your worth and reputation but also chip away at the wages secured by those of us who have gone before and struggled for our independence, respect and a wage based on our billing. Anecdotally the horror stories I have heard from NPs of all specialties usually involves a miserly employer who has no respect for our value.

My guess is there will be a glut, a reduction in wages and then those who simply became a psychNP for the money will realize our job ain't so cushy. Likely by the time you want to be a psychNP the correction will have started and you won't have any problem getting work.

psychgirlRN · Sep 27, 2015

Hi Jules, that is a great point about salary. The program I am in will allow me to switch. I have not started my concentration specific courses so as long as I move from FNP to PMHNP prior to next semester I am still on track for the same graduation date (May of 18) and it will still continue to be paid as long as I stay in the DNP. This is not offered for the MSN as it has no on ground components. Since I am a recent grad I haven't had the experience of feeling that I could control my salary. I was more saying that if this is all I could find salary wise I would still be happier I think then working as a FNP if PMHNP gets THAT over saturated. I work for a large hospital system where everyone is offered the same thing when they start and every year your evaluation leads to the exact same 30 cent raise to certain point (for RNs). I had not thought about NP having more of a negotiation process in terms of salary.