gerry79

I currently work at Minute Clinic and have for the past 2 years (my first NP job) and must say that I have learned quite a bit. I will be leaving next week to pursue employment at an urgent care to broaden my scope of practice. I have seen many come and go, and those who have departed are doing well in their chosen area of care. An ex coworker convinced me to move to the urgent care, and after extensive shadowing I accepted the position. My advice would be to wait a year before seeking other employment.

I work in retail health (CVS minute clinic).

I am a relative new NP (10 months), and my transition from being a floor nurse to an NP has been wonderful. I see 18-20 patients a day, my environment is low stress, and my pay has significantly increased ($35/hr to $53/hr with up to 10% yearly bonus). I work 3 ten hours days and have 2 four day weekends a month. I do have weekend and holiday commitment, but I am not working a day night rotation and no overnights. I get a mandatory 1 hour lunch break, and do not run around like a chicken with my head cut off. Also, I work alone and do enjoy the autonomy. Yes, I do have more responsibility, but my stress and anxiety level has significantly decreased since my floor nursing days. I use to dread every shift as an RN, and had anxiety attacks while headed to work when I was an ED nurse. I feel I am being payed for my knowledge, respected by the patients, and valued by my employer (since I bill and bring in income). I remember the nights of battling incontinent dementia patients (and the bed facilitator who wanted to load us up with them with no regard to staffing), cursed out by drunks, tortured by pain seekers who were on the call bell every hour on the hour, and not valued by the hospital. For ME, it was a no brainer to continue my education and become an NP as I realized hospital/floor/ED/unit nursing was not my cup of tea.

Nice post Juan!

New grad NP. Was an RN for 7 years top wage $34.60/hr (October 2013). Started my NP position October 2013 and make $52.30/hr. I would have had to have stayed at my RN job over 20 years (based on 1.5% pay raise per year) to make what I now make. And I don't do overnights. Sure, I still work holidays ($78/hr, $105/hr for working Christmas) and weekends ($57/hr), but I am at a much happier place now. For some, it may not be about the money, but about a better quality of life.

RN 7 years (left RN position in October). Last RN wage $34.63/hr NP (retail health) started October 2013 (new grad) NP wage $52.30/hr Boston, Ma

In my neck of the woods, retail health pays well. Granted I am a new grad FNP, but new grad starting salary is $107,000/year (based on a 40 hour work week).

New graduate Family NP (Retail Health) 4 months experience (Boston area). Married claiming 1 dependent, no 401k, only pay for dental. Pay is bi weekly (60 hours per pay period/30 hour per week). Before taxes: $3650.00 After taxes: $2435.00 Monthly before taxes: $7300.00 Actual take home per month: $4870.00

Graduated May 2013. Retail health (Minute Clinic) 2013, Boston suburb. Did clinical at a MC and really enjoyed it. Put in online application May 2013 and was offered the job in June, started in October. Turned down a college health position (was asked to stay on while on clinical).

Got my associates at 43, my BSN at 46, and my MSN (FNP) at 48. All after a lovely 25 career military career.

What type NP are you? FNP Where (state)(rural/urban) Massachusetts, suburban Are you independent or in a group? Retail Health How many years experience? 0-1 What is your before tax paycheck amount? $3340 Monthly or bi-weekly? Bi weekly Salary/hourly/other(explain)? Hourly Avg hours on check? 60 (work 30 hours a week) What are the perks of your contract? (ie. PTO/vacation/bonuses) Flexible schedule, 3 weeks vacation and 1 week for continuing education, reimbursed for licensing fee (Mass CSR and DEA), 5% matching 401k, paid liability insurance, $1500.00 yearly for CME.

For me, its more money (about $25,000 a year more), less physically taxing, more job satisfaction, and better hours (I work 30 hours a week). I was an RN for 6 years, so my pay raise as an NP was quite substantial.

Wow..Job market must be different depending on where you live. I had 2 jobs offers before I graduated (graduated in May). Turned down college health, and an under served neighborhood health center, to take a job in retail health (Minute Clinic). Of note, I did do my preceptorship at the locations that offered me employment. I live in the Boston area. My classmates have had no problem finding employment thus far.

Sorry to hear about your struggles. I was in the same boat needing pedi and ob/gyn for a total of 225 hours, and called 60 facilities without success. A former coworker and recent FNP grad hooked me up, or I probably would not be able to graduate in May. Being so close to the start of school (I return 28 January), finding clinical placement will be a daunting task. Have you tried Minute Clinic?? I also live in Mass, so i do understand your struggles. I feel my school dropped the ball on clinical placement, as they new we needed placement since the beginning of the fall semester......I wonder if we attend the same school...Good luck!!!!

Thanks to all who replied to my post!

Wont be taking the school/state benefits as I retired from the service and already have pretty good coverage.

No student loan debt to forgive...

If it were $65,000, my decision would be much easier.....:). Unfortunately its $49,000, which is not very competitive...

I knew eventually that my body would not hold up to continued floor nursing (bad back and knees) so I am thankful to not be shackled by the proverbial golden handcuffs...

True, I can gain the experience then leave I guess. I just have a problem with working for less pay than I earn now. The salary being offered is less than I made as a new grad 6 years ago...I have my dignity...lol....:) My nursing experience does not count which I can live with since I will be in a completely different role. With the cost of living increasing (as an example my rent will increase by $70.00/month) I cant take a dramatic paycut for the sake of fulfilment. Conversely, I have another offer (which pays about 30 grand a year more) in retail medicine that I am strongly considering.

I agree 100%. For those who mortgaged off their financial future to become NP's, there should be some return on that investment. Can't pay off student loans with servitude, sunshine, and a pretty smile...:)

I agree TX RN about the give and take aspect of employment, and it would be a job that I would enjoy so that will weigh heavily on my decision to accept or decline the position. It just shocked me that I, currently as an RN with 6 years of nursing experience, earn more than my preceptor who is not only an FNP, she is also a Midwife, and has about 15 years of experience. Since its a state university, and the position is considered state government employment, I am shocked at how little the pay is in relation to education and experience that my preceptor has.

Was offered a job by my preceptor and medical director at a college campus clinic. I was honored, since I don't graduate until May, but was very disappointed at the starting salary. I've never considered being an NP for the money, but I make more working 2 days a week as a floor nurse than the offer salary. I already feel that higher education within nursing is not valued, and this further justifies my belief. As I think about it, a new grad RN working at my hospital will earn about $5000.00 a year more than I will if I do take the job (which is unlikely), how is that possible??? My preceptor took a significant pay cut ($65,000 a year) and says her quality of life is much better (no weekends or holidays, and the summer off), and I should consider more than salary when I become an NP. I do agree with her to a point. But I feel if NP's continue to accept such embarrassingly low salaries, then employers will continue to devalue the nursing profession as a whole. I will keep the offer in my back pocket, but continue to search for other opportunities (I like retail healthcare, don't laugh...lol) as I get closer to graduation and taking the boards. Anyone care to share their thoughts (sorry if this topic has been discussed already as I didn't do a search)?

I am a May 2013 graduate, but I will live vicariously through all of you!!! You guys can see the light at the end of the tunnel and its not a speeding train coming at you (or another fluff class that can derail ones goal of becoming an NP).

still in NP (Family) school, but after the shift I had last night, I certainly am looking forward to becoming an NP. Chasing patients all night, running to bed alarms, being kicked and scratched by demented patients for 12 hours (with two shifts remaining), I will welcome seeing the patient and watching them walk out the door....Sorry, I know you want input from practicing NP's, but I just had to vent a little.......ok...now I can patiently wait for actual NP's to respond....