HealthNutNP BSN, MSN, RN, NP

Hi all, A friend of mine just graduated NP school in December and recently landed a new job at a large healthcare corporation in the southeast. She is salaried, working full-time, and excitedly told me her salary is ~$85k. I didn't want to burst her bubble, but isn't this a bit low? I know she is a new grad, but she had 5+ years experience in the ICU as a RN. I'm just curious now. Is this a typical starting salary or maybe it is the geographical norm?

KatieMI - all very good points! Especially with the hiring freezes going on, it is a great thing she has a stable income. I'm happy if she is happy!

BabyNP - good point! Thank you!

Uroboros - All very good points to consider. Thanks for your input. I don't intend to say anything to her because if she is happy, then I'm happy for her. And your red leather comment made me chuckle

Definitely research different specialities and perhaps reach out to NPs or PAs in those positions to get a feel for their true day-to-day responsibilities/expectations. I worked in primary care for 2 years after graduation and HATED it. I looked at it the same way I looked at med-surg experience - get your feet wet with broad experience first before going into a specialty. Problem was, primary care is difficult for a new grad. It was irritating to me also that many of the patients I saw never held themselves accountable for their own health. I've now been in surgical oncology for 2 years and love it. Focus more on what you want to do on a daily basis. You know you want less patient contact. Do you like more procedural work? Do you like adrenaline rushes? Do you want to follow a patient through their journey (I.e. oncology) or do you want to clock in, see patients, send them on their way and go home? You could consider working with a surgeon in their specific specialty (GI, urology, plastics). I had a friend who worked in ENT - very low stress. Another friend of mine works in pain management - I would hate it, but she enjoys it very much. It's okay if you don't like primary care! But don't give up just because you don't like one area. There are many other possibilities.

I would use your pediatric oncology/bone marrow transplant experience as a selling point. Oncology Navigators need to have some oncology experience to do the job well. Do you have freestanding oncology practices in your area? Apply to them - even if you have to start as a RN and move into a navigator role. Or you could seek out a current navigator via LinkedIn in your area and ask how they got started.

25 days PTO, 5 days CME, all major holidays.

Hi all, I am a nurse practitioner currently practicing in surgical oncology. I work with 4 surgeons and 1 APP. I am curious about the working relationship NP’s have with surgeons, and specifically how NP’s work to bring their value to the practice. Do you work independently? Work with one specific surgeon? Work with all of them? See post-op patients? Work up surgical patients? Combination of all these things?

How long have you worked in ICU? If you've been there for a decent amount of time to gain adequate experience (i.e. > 12 months), and especially if you've made good connections, then I think a move to a unit for better scheduling is fine. Schools and employers know that it's a challenge to juggle both school and work while maintaining a family life, and neither expect you to run yourself ragged. When you interview, you're building your story - You started in ICU to get the best experience, moved to PACU to broaden that experience and allow for a more accommodating schedule so you could focus on performing well in school. I don't think any school or employer would look poorly upon that. Best of luck to you!

Thanks for all the input! :)

A month ago, I started a FT NP job in an area I love. The onboarding for my new job was long (a little over 6 months) and during the onboarding process, I became pregnant. I am very excited for this baby (my first) as we tried for over five years, however the timing is challenging. I told my boss and fellow providers - most were happy but a few were noticeably disappointed. I will be due 8 months after working and plan to work up until delivery, take 6-8 week maternity leave (no FMLA) and return to work. My hope is to negotiate a 4-day work week (32-hours) upon return, with the expectation that I can make phone calls, finish charting, etc., on the 5th day. Does this seem reasonable? Does anyone have experience with this situation?

Thank you all for your comments. We don't have family close by, but we hope to hire a nanny. As this is my first child, I don't know what to expect and I am nervous about the possibility that I won't be ready to go back to work and leave my baby with someone else. I think after my 90 day probationary period, I will speak to my manager about the possibility of a reduced work schedule and a longer maternity leave.