mzaur

"The first one is an MSN + RN program that lasts 15 months (it is accelerated)." -- ARe you sure this is an NP program? i've never heard of an accelerated NP program that short. There are MSN programs that leave you with the equivalent of an RN. As for traveling domestically yes. I'm doing locums right now and working with Staffcare. Great company. I was talking to like 4 recruiters and they were the only ones actually communicating with me. I guess it's tough to find a good recruiter

When asked to produce these index funds that earn 12% per year, Dave never could answer. The fact is it is very rare for an actively managed mutual fund to beat a similar index fund. It'll end up costing you more because the funds are actively managed and thus have higher fees. It is never worth it to pay someone who thinks they can time the market. Over the long-term, over 80% of actively managed funds underperform the benchmark (S&P 500). The best approach is to invest in the whole stock market and diversify with some bonds and international markets. So why does Dave Ramsey recommend these actively managed fees? Because he wouldn't make any money if he just told everyone to invest in index funds. He makes money because "advisers" (who are not fiduciary so are not legally required to give you advice in your best interest) pay him to get into his network. He then recommends these advisers to his listeners. Check out this thread on Bogleheads where people are discussing Dave Ramsey's fund picks, which do not beat index fund benchmarks btw Don't get me wrong. It's still investing, which is more than most people are doing in regards to their retirement. All I'm saying is that there are better and more efficient ways where you will end up with more in the end.

There's nothing wrong with seeking advice from 'strangers' as long as you don't put all your eggs in one basket. For instance, Dave Ramsey is a 'stranger' but he gives terrible retirement advice, although his getting out of debt ideas are sound. The Bogleheads forum is full of 'strangers' who know more about retirement planning and investing in general than all the Dave Ramseys and Suze Ormans combined. Just because someone has a TV/radio show doesn't mean they know what they are talking about. Nonetheless, seeking advice from a professional financial planner is a good idea for everyone, as long as the financial advisor is fee based and fiduciary. Dave Ramsey is awful because he recommends you use his network of advisers (who pay to get into his network), and they push front-loaded actively managed mutual funds which are costly, instead of low cost index funds. Dave actually recommends against both index funds and bonds, cementing the fact that he has no clue what he's talking about. Anyway, fee based fiduciary financial adviser is what you want. In the meantime, Bogleheads wiki is a great way to start learning about retirement planning and investing.

I'd suggest to avoid going to a crappy program. Check out the top ranked PMHNP programs and choose accordingly. You definitely want a program that finds you preceptors. You don't want to go through the headache of finding your own, and you want to start clinicals asap. It will take you a while to find a preceptor which will hold you back a bit, and you'll be rushed to finish all your hours and may only get the minimum required instead of getting more (and learning more). Also, since PMHNP programs are relatively short, you want the best education possible to teach you everything you need to know (well, maybe not everything, that would be impossible). My program at Vanderbilt was a year long (3 semesters). It was tough, but worth it. As for DNP, definitely not required or necessary unless you like doing systems level quality improvement research. UCSF has a great program. Since you live in that area, I'd definitely make it your #1

I'm about to do locums soon as PMHNP. I spoke to some who did it previously and was told 95-110 without housing, 90-100 with. Depends on the geographical area though but certainly anything less than 80 (with housing) I would not take anywhere. But of course this is specific to psych. Certainly $55 for any NP is ridiculous. That's an RN wage. Locums agencies always low ball you. You need to negotiate.

I am currently at Vanderbilt in my second year. I'm not sure where you are getting your info from. Vanderbilt definitely places you with clinical sites and preceptors. It's only if you are a distance student that you have to do the work yourself. If you are local and live in Nashville then they do the work for you. I got into Yale but chose Vanderbilt because it's much shorter and cheaper for my specialty (psych). Yale is an extra year which comes out to at least $150k extra in terms of tuition and income lost from not working for that year. Also the PMHNP program was having problems where the director was being fired so I didn't feel like dealing with that. I'm sure it's fine now and both are good programs. It all depends on where you want to live (I'm biased but Nashville is awesome and warm) and how much time you want to spend in school. Best of luck to you all BTW I see some people talking about midwifery. I have several friends currently in Vanderbilt's midwifery program. If you'd like me to connect you to them just PM me

I agree NP schooling and board exams are a joke and need serious remodeling. We need more of a PA model of schooling and perhaps even a residency, and a board exam that isn't 60% policy/leadership BS. But I do not think wages will plummet. If anything the barriers to entry will change, but there's a lot of demand for psych so I don't see wages falling.

I've heard of hospitals forcing FNP/AGNPs to go back and get ACNP cert. If you want to work in ICU/ED then go for ACNP. If you want to work in primary care then go for FNP.

Depends where and the setting. Psych makes the most by far (250-300k+) if in private practice in an independent practice state. In Oregon we make as much as physicians which is not bad at all.

Oh my...please share what state this is? I'm guessing Florida or possibly another southern state.. I know psych NPs making over 200k in Washington and Oregon where NPs are very respected and are fully autonomous. You should really consider moving if you can

lol this is far from accurate. Just because you're having a rough time finding a job in Illinois doesn't mean that's the case everywhere. I go to a well known university and am graduating this summer.. I've already received job offers that are 100k+. From last year's cohort everyone got a job before graduating and is making over 100k, some with loan repayment. One person is making close to 200k in the Pacific Northwest. It depends on where you are looking, I guess. If you're willing to move, you can easily find a job and make good money as long as you negotiate. Just sounds like your particular area is saturated or the environment is not good for NPs. Have you tried negotiating those offers? Illinois is not an independent practice state. Typically states that are independent practice have higher salaries because employers know that you can go off on your own and make good money. Unfortunately you are just limited by your geographical situation. I would not accept anything below 100k as a new grad, even if there is loan repayment. But I'm willing to move which makes the difference. I'm looking at the PNW which has great practice environment and lots of demand. Starting salaries up there range from 100-130k. I heard Arizona, Texas, and Maryland pay well also. Not everyone is able to move of course. Even if you are stuck, I would not accept anything below 90k. Negotiate! Also join the PMHNP facebook group and ask for advice there. There are thousands of members so maybe someone in your area can help or has advice about an opening.

I'm the person that harmonizer was responding to. I thankfully did not take his advice. He means well but since then I've spoken to many psych NPs who share a much different opinion. Yes this is a great career with lots of demand. The pay is excellent. It's well worth the time and debt to do this if you're looking for a stable career. Of course it's impossible to predict the future. There could be some medical discovery that will make psychopharmacology obselete. I would be happy if that were the case, although a little freaked out due to my encroaching loan debt. But I highly doubt that'll happen. I really do not think that the demand for psych NPs is going to decrease anytime soon. Re-reading harmonizer's post now.. there's a lot I disagree with. He's wrong about a lot. Psych NPs do make more than 50% of MD pay. It depends on where you live but you can make around 80% of psychiatrist pay. In Oregon you can make as much as a psychiatrist due to their parity law if you're in private practice. As for demand, unknown? It's known. Every psych NP i've spoken to gets hounded by job recruiters weekly. Every psych student in my school gets a job months before graduating. In most areas there is a several month wait to see a psychiatrist/psych NP due to the shortage of providers. There's plenty of demand, especially if you're willing to move. Not all geographical areas are ideal due to factors such as state restrictions on autonomy. The southeast is particularly terrible, which I think is where harmonizer is from, which might may be influencing his perception. As far as NP specialties go, psych is by far the most in demand after graduating. I've heard this directly from several faculty at my school. Lastly, in regards to the time management aspect. We have the freedom to open up a private practice. Then you can do whatever you want. 30 minute med checks, psychotherapy, you name it. We have the freedom to do all that and do not need to work for somebody else. And when you're looking for your first job, you can ask them about these factors going in, and if their practice environment doesn't suit your needs, you can walk away knowing there's plenty of other places where you can easily find work. I'm currently in a PMHNP program, halfway done. I just did my RN year and just started the MSN year, so in a year i'll be working. If you have any questions just PM me and we can talk.

DNP is not and will not be required for NP licensure. It's only a recommendation made by nursing schools deans and faculty (hmm I wonder why)

Congrats!! I'm taking it in a year. I haven't looked too much into it, but I do find it strange how much non-clinical material is on the exam. And there are non-psych primary care questions as well, like about athletes foot, etc, right? So weird...

I heard that demand is pretty high everywhere in Texas, including Austin which is where I'm thinking about moving to once I graduate in a year (that and Seattle, can't decide). I have heard that there's a lot of need in Houston. I'm sure Dallas and San Antonio are up there as well. You can pretty much move anywhere you want and find a good job as a psych NP so my suggestion is to focus on which city appeals to you the most