Reactions to being a NP

Nursing Students NP Students

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This is more of a semi-rant about the various reactions I've received since I got into the NP program. If I am in the wrong section of this forums, I apologize and please move my thread accordingly.

When I tell people that I am in the NP program, most of their reactions center around "oh you're going to be earning a LOT!", "you'll always have job security" and "you're like a GOLD!" And though I don't disagree with all that, every time people say that about me and my future career, I feel like it cheapens my purpose for becoming a NP. I cringed when a family friend said to me "oh when you graduate, you can buy a Hermes purse every month!" I was like "Really?!?"

I know that sounds cheesy but their comments make me uncomfortable that most people see in me is money. Ever since I started the program and I noticed all these reactions, I rely more on my parents (who are retired doctors) for support because they encourage me to focus on my patients and my studies.

Then, one of my younger sister's friends who is a RN wants to be a NP and apply in my school. Now, I know him well enough to say that this is the LAZIEST NURSE EVER and he only wants to be a NP for the money and only for the money. Even my dad, a retired surgeon, objected to it because my dad knew that this guy is really lazy. Meeting NP-applicants like him make me sad (there's no other way to describe it).

Maybe I'm overreacting, etc etc but I have been feeling this way for a while since I started in the program and I find myself limiting my interactions to people who understand where I am coming from. I don't know if that makes sense. For example, one of my friends got accepted in UCLA and he wouldn't stop talking about how much he's going to make when he graduates. That is literally all he talks about! So I stop talking to him. It just gets on my nerves.

Anyway, that is all. It's just a semi-rant. Thanks for listening/reading.

We are oversaturated... You can google it. I can tell you exactly what every hospital in this area pays. There are 9 nursing schools and 3 NP programs in a 50 mile radius. With 10 years of RN experience prior to graduation I was making $23 an hour...

I love nursing regardless of the pay, but that seems really low. I guess it's all relative to the cost of living too, cost of living is high where I live. What area are you in out of curiosity?

OP, I think it's really great that you think of your patients first, and the money second. But I'd like to play devil's advocate for a minute, and maybe if you can see the comments of others from a different perspective it could allow you to be less annoyed by them.

You mentioned that both of your parents are retired doctors, which leads me to believe that worrying about finances hasn't been a huge part of your life. When people don't have to worry about money, it's much easier to quit being so fixated on the amount of money they make, and that other people might make. While I'm sure your patients would remain a priority either way, maybe the money would seem more exciting to you if financial struggle had been more of a part of your life.

Now, I know that I don't know you, and that I could be totally wrong. I'm just trying to point out that it's probable that other people are just excited for you to be making a good living, and don't mean to diminish your profession. I'd like to be a NP one day, and I definitely wouldn't be as interested if the the pay didn't increase so drastically. Like you though, I never want my job to be just about money.

Good luck in school!

Wow, starting pay in my metro area is around 60k for new grad RN-BSNs. 80-95k for new grad NPs (lower at the VA).

I mean, another "perk" aspect of nursing besides relatively high pay is that you get to help others and be an informed medical provider without having to go to school forever. I was originally planning on a clinical psych route but realized I could become a PMHNP so much faster, get to prescribe meds (which interests me), and get out into the real world as a PMHNP in my twenties... still have time to explore the world etc. It's a good path for someone who doesn't wanna spend their whole first 1/3 of their life in school yet wants to be in health care and help others.

I have worked acute care for 20 years as an RN and have never seen $70,000, even when working a lot of overtime. Grads in this area start at about $35,000. Our NP made about $90,000 starting out, our DON with 10 years experience makes $100,000 and gets a lot of vacation time. If you want money and good hours, I'd suggest being an administrator. Notice I didn't say you wouldn't have headaches, but you will make more money.

Specializes in APRN, ACNP-BC, CNOR, RNFA.

I work a compressed 3 day/32 hour weekend schedule with benefits, pension, and a 401K match as an OR nurse. I make $75K, and I barely break a sweat. First year as a NP, working 5 days a week, late into the evenings, rounding out of 6 hospitals, taking call, and $90K was the best offer. For the level of responsibility and the amount of work involved, that's not enough. Some days, I feel like it's not worth getting out of bed. To some it may seem like a lot, but it's a lot of work, considering I make $15K less working 3 days a week without an advanced degree.

Specializes in BMT.

I'm sorry, but it's kind of funny that the OP's rant was her peers' fixation on salary, and half the posts on here are "that salary is really low" or "who makes $70K as an acute care RN?!" Seems in this day and age, most of us are fixated on numbers. Life is expensive today compared to even 10 years ago!

In regards to these salaries, we all have to remember the US is a BIG place, therefore salaries can vary WIDELY based on cost of living, demand for the area, politics, and many, many factors. At my new grad position in NC I made about 35-40k/year. I moved to NYC and made over 80K/year, but 30% goes to taxes in NYC (yes, 30 AT LEAST, and that extra 4-5% makes a huge difference). Now I'm in Murrieta, CA (rural for Southern California), where RN's make about 65-70K per year, as opposed to the SF Bay Area where they make as much as over 100K/year. Simply comparing numbers doesn't provide an accurate picture on RN salary. NP salaries can vary just as widely.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

I find the reactions you are getting strange. In my area NPs almost always take a significant pay cut, sometimes down to only $80-$90K. The usual reason given is to get away from working nights and weekends, not for more pay.

I love nursing regardless of the pay, but that seems really low. I guess it's all relative to the cost of living too, cost of living is high where I live. What area are you in out of curiosity?

I live in Chattanooga, TN..

Around here at one of the local hospitals a new grad RN is going to get between 19-20 an hour. There are three hospital systems and they are all consistent with each other. All the home health agencies are consistent with each other.. That's one thing HR departments do around here is communicate.

Specializes in CVICU.

Op, just remember, most people have the reality of having to pay their way though life. So money is top priority for most all working people.

Specializes in Geriatrics/family medicine.

it takes hard work to make every penny that we make, whether we make 23 bucks an hour or 50. We have to really bust our butts to get there, once you finish NP school you won't be gold, but be a vital source in the healthcare field, more job opportunities will open up for you. Hopefully you find something you love to do

Ha! I'm hoping to make at least what i'm making as an RN now and not take a pay cut as an NP..

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