Juliet417

Wow, thank you for all that great information about your experiences, it's nice to hear from someone who graduated from a similar program. And you answered another one of my questions that I forgot to ask, which was how FNPs from direct entry programs fare on the job. Would you mind if I asked you about how many clinic hours you had upon graduation, and whether you were licensed as an RN long before getting the FNP certificate? Through this program I will be able to obtain RN licensure after 1.5 years, leaving 2.5 years to do the FNP portion while working in the field. I'm hoping that will provide ample enough experience before getting that FNP. I want to be ready, so I'm willing to work my butt off! Another question I wanted to ask- what is the highest salary an FNP can expect to make at the peak of their career? I realize it varies according to the area, but ballparking it, could you expect around a 10K increase-or more, or less? Also, does the "name" of the school make too much of a difference when you're working/getting hired? I'm trying to decide between this FNP program and one at a "bigger name" school, but which isn't as good a fit for me career and location-wise. Again, thanks for your helpfulness in answering my questions, I really do appreciate it! :)

Hi everyone, I've been applying to entry-MSN programs for this fall, and I recently received an acceptance to a program with an FNP track. Family/primary care/women's health were what attracted me to nursing in the first place, so it seems like it would be a good fit. The only problem is, FNP is the only NP track this entry program has, and seeing as how I have no background in nursing, I really want to make sure I know what I'm getting myself into. I'm hoping experienced nurses can answer a few questions I have regarding the FNP role. :) - What are the job prospects for an FNP? What is it like for new grads particularly? - Is it a satisfying career? - Is it flexible? Say I wanted to transition into Peds or Women's Health- would I be able to do that, or would I have to go back to school/take another exam? If so, how much more schooling would be required? - What is the average starting salary, and how high can it go? How does it compare to other NP specialties? I'm not going into nursing for the money, but I also want to make sure I'll be able to pay off my hefty loans without extreme difficulty, and not be in debt the rest of my life. Overall, I just really want to learn more about the realities of the FNP career. Any insight is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!