Maineboundapn

Hi! If you live in an area where there is a high Spanish speaking population, go for it! I minored in Spanish and am fluent, and have listed this on my CV for every position I have ever pursued. When I was an RN, it helped me secure my preferred specialty units, and when I was in NP school it helped me secure better clinical sites. As an NP, it has also helped make me a more desirable provider as I do not need anyone to provide translation for me, and practices see this as an opportunity to reach a previously untapped or under served population in their area. As a non-native speaker, I find that my patients are often very impressed that I took the time to learn their language as a skill, specifically so I could apply it in my nursing and now NP care. They often bring their whole families, many of whom are second generation and grew up speaking English because I have taken time to treat them in their native language.

Do NOT accept a low ball offer. I agree that less than 70k is insulting. Discuss what you will be billing and work from there. How many patients are you seeing per day? Think of what you will be billing for each visit! Don't be afraid to know what you are worth and negotiate aggressively. One good benefit does not outweigh the otherwise crap offer (ridiculous wage, no CME UGH) and that should be discussed. Not sure what the cost of living is where you are, but I was making well over 70k as an RN, so there's just no way I'd take that offer. If no NPs agreed to these disgusting wages then they wouldn't be offered. No NP should make less than six figures.

Hi shoesc, I had no problem with finding job opportunities as an FNP, but I did have an issue with a very low salary range compared to my home state of NJ. Given Maine's property taxes, cost of living in Portland is about comparable to where I was living, and the initial salary offerings were running about 20K lower than what I was used to in NJ. I had to negotiate well and I refused to take the multiple low ball offers I received, and as a result do have a decent paying wage over the six figure mark. Know what you are worth as a provider and do NOT settle for an RN level wage. As a new grad it is important to remember that you are no longer a cost to the organization like you were as an RN, and instead are a revenue generator who is going to make the organization money. Make sure you are aware of other benefits being offered on addition to salary, such as CME, vacation, benefits, CME time, etc. I also received a lot of interest from recruiters for working in other parts of Maine, but did not pursue them as I was only interested in the Portland area. It does seem that there are good opportunities to work in more rural areas that will make you eligible for loan forgiveness, which is something you may also be interested in pursuing depending upon what part of Maine you are interested in. I recommend becoming a member of MNPA, as they have a job board with postings with names and contact information for NP jobs all over the state. Best of luck in your job search, and NEGOTIATE!

Hi Mainers, I am moving to Maine and wondered what opportunities are like for NPs in the Portland area. What's the city like? What is practice like for FNPs? Salary? Are there things to do in the winter? How's the housing market? Any general info would help! Thanks!