Primary Care Pediatric NP - Current Job Market?

[t_heart]

My dream job is to become a PNP in primary care. I'm about to enter a direct-entry program so I'm not well-versed in the NP job market. Does anyone know what the current job market is for PNPs? What is a typical starting salary? While many hospitals provide tuition reinbursement, is this offered in primary care settings as well? I'm particularly interested in the west coast and pacific NW, but any feedback from elsewhere in the country might be helpful. I'm pretty set on pursing this field and just want to know what I'm in for once I graduate.

[Annaiya, NP]

No one knows what the job market is for PNPs...? What websites do fresh grad primary care NPs use to search for jobs? From a cursory search on hospital websites, they are looking for acute care PNPs, and I will be specializing in primary care.

That's because hospitals don't do primary care:) You need to look at clinics not hospitals. I have a friend graduating in May, she's not too worried about finding something, but she doesn't have anything lined up yet. I think where you are in the country makes a HUGE difference though. NPs are fairly prevelant in my area, but there are also a lot of NP schools here too. If it is what you want to do then just work hard, learn a lot in school and find a job when you graduate. There are worse job markets, that's for sure.

[t_heart]

I should have clarified that I meant the outpatient clinics affiliated with hospitals... I do realize that PC PNPs work in outpatient settings for the most part, which is what I prefer to do. That's very true that there are much worse job markets! I guess its too early for me to worry about job outlook. I'll concentrate on my studies instead!

[wooh, BSN, RN]

I've got lots of coworkers in NP school, and quite a few that are PNPs but are working the floor as a typical floor RN. From what I hear, a lot of PNPs regret going that limited route instead of doing FNP. A PNP can only see kids. An FNP can see anyone. It just makes sense that it's going to be tough to get a job as a PNP.