RN to DNP-FNP

Even with 7 years of RN experience which is great and will help you care for patients, you are still considered a new grad when starting out. Now there is acute care NP and if you are interested in remaining in the hospital then this is what you should go for and you would probably get better pay this way. There are so many people going to school for FNP, some who started their program the first day that they became an RN, I do feel your experience will help you above them. Though you are required to maintain an RN license in order to remain an FNP, you have to think of this as a completely different career and base your expectations from that point. The pay can range from $70K-$125K a year. It all depends on your state and the practice you choose to work in. Some places can pay more because they are larger in size than another place, so more revenue. Once you figure out what area you want to work in, you can get a better idea of the pay.

If you are becoming an NP for the pay raise and live in California, please do not do it. RN's make more money (adding PT, extra shifts) than NPs here and if you arr thinking of funding your DNP with a student loan be very aware, the repayment on that is like a monthly mortgage payment. Look at the jobs advertised for NPs in your are and see if the market is good or saturated? Also take into consideration if you can move. Goodluck with your decision.