linoleum

Thank you so much! This is actually perfect! I will put in my request right now.

I did not think it would be across the country a flat $30K more. I was just stating that this is what I know it is in my current area. I apologize if that information was confusing. Congrats on being in the program. I am only looking in full practice states. Where have you "seen" this PMHNP specific information on salary? That's what I am trying to get at with my initial question.

Hello everyone, I will be completing my FPMHNP Master's program this May. I will be moving to another state after I graduate. When I try to look up salary information online, the sites either lump PMHNPs in with all specialties of NP, or they lump in Psych NPs with Pscyh RNs. I know from word of mouth through friends, acquaintances, and fellow students who have already accepted jobs in my area that PMHNPs tend to start out around $30K higher than FNPs for example. But I don't really know how to translate that information to my job search and salary negotiation in a different state. I don't feel like I can ask the PMHNP interviewing me "well, what do you make?" My job search is pretty targeted at FQHCs at the moment, if that matters. I assume the federal loan repayment is not included in salary. Thanks in advance for any advice.

There's a good chance this is a problem your fellow students are finding as well. Maybe ask with your school?

Congrats on the shift in career! That was some good "background information" you gave. There is definitely a lot of behavioral health and rehab in correctional nursing. So, your experience will be useful. If you are working in the same area, there's a good chance you'll see some familiar faces. The age of 60 tells me that you are not a potentially more easily hornswaggled 20 year old, so that's definitely a bonus. As for physical demands, there is a lot of walking and pushing a heavy med cart - but not much in the way of positioning large and/or combative patients so it's not the most physically demanding RN job, but also not the least. I would not usually say corrections is a good fit for a brand new RN because you tend to have more autonomy and are required to think fast on a really wide range of things compared with a hospital for instance, but with your career history I wouldn't be so concerned. Not long ago I answered some questions about correctional nursing here: https://allnurses.com/correctional-nursing/whats-it-like-1082837.html#post9298309 and you may find that helpful in your decision making.

My experience is in New York, not California so I can't say with certainty what it will be there. Lab draws are one of those things you are only going to get better with practice, so if you have a lot of them you will just keep getting better. Some of your patients are going to have experience with finding veins, so use their advice. Sometimes inmates are really hard sticks (due to a number of reasons such as dehydration, scarred veins, really low blood pressure from laying around all day doing nothing, etc.). My guess is the facility wants everyone who legally CAN draw blood to have this in their job description so that nobody can say "that's not in my job description" when it is her turn to try to get blood.

I do not currently work in corrections, though I have in the past. I worked as an RN for 5 years. What are your duties? Passing pills (which can be more complicated with controlled meds than you are used to in other facilities). Sick call clinics (either RN sick call or with the MD). Assessing and caring for inmates in the medical unit (this is similar to a med-surg unit, but with differences for security reasons). Intake assessments (full history, vitals, skin assessment, ppd on all inmates coming in to the facility). Assessments of any illness/injury/fight that occurs on a day to day basis. How long are your shifts? When I started working there, I worked 8 hour evening shifts. Other nurses worked 10's and 12's. It depends on your crew and what your leadership has agreed to. For NP / MD role the hours would depend on the size of the facility and the staffing. Do you enjoy your job? Yes, I really loved it. I will probably be back with corrections at least part time after I obtain my NP How's the pay? Usually the starting pay is slightly more than the local hospitals. This depends a little bit on for whom you work. Some correctional nurse jobs will be either "County" or "State" and will therefore be dictated by the union agreement or whatever, though many are contracted out through other companies. This means (probably) that the retirement and benefits will not be as good - but generally the starting pay is better. So if it isn't going to be long term or full time then that doesn't make such a big difference. Do you generally feel safe at work? Very much. Not only was it the safest I "felt" working as a nurse, it was actually the safest (for my personal experience). I have worked at hospitals and nursing homes, and assault is just a hazard of the job (regardless of the lip service management will pay to the contrary). In five years I was never harmed as a correctional nurse. The environment helped me to feel even more safe but it is one that many people can not tolerate. Many nurses quit on their first day due to the claustrophobic feeling of being locked in, and you do not have the key. You rely on the Corrections Officers to watch out for you and to securely let you in and out of areas. For example, if I were on a med pass I had to have somebody else open seven doors for me before I could get to a bathroom. Just to get from my locker to the med room (where we gave report) required walking through a metal detector (sometimes being searched), and having somebody else let me through nine doors (this process was repeated in reverse to go home each night). It was never a bother because I had a great relationship with the CO's and if everything was fine the doors would unlock as I approached - if not then I trusted that there was a very good reason not.

I am experiencing a very similar situation. I became a PHN (which I love) for a fairly significant pay cut. I am also working on my Master's degree. I recently turned in my notice to leave the PHN job. One of the reasons is that the banker's hours make it very difficult to work full time while attending school, and getting in my clinical hours (at a professional office which also is open banker's hours). I loved the job, and loved the people. I think the position helps attract people who genuinely care and want to make a difference. Part of me does regret taking the position in the first place. I had thought I would be there the whole time I was in school for my Master's but it turned out to be just over one year. I feel like I was barely past the training period and left. Training an employee (to paperwork, computer systems, etc) is a huge investment for a company. If your current job will work with school, it might be a better option. ETA: and if you are discouraged with your current job, it might motivate you more to further your education.

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/leading-initiatives/research-data/GENMAS.pdf http://www.aacn.nche.edu/research-data/BACDOC.pdf Here are the lists you asked for. It is fairly uncommon to find an NP program that does not require applicants to be licensed RN's. Luckily for you, there is such a need for RN's and NP's that many schools offer a baccalaureate accelerated track option; for applicants who already hold a bachelors degree, you may complete your BSN (a 4-year degree) in a year. After this, you take the NCLEX and you will be an RN to apply to the NP program.