What are the BEST and WORST States to practice as an NP?

I am speaking primarily from two perspectives here:

1. The degree to which NP's are accepted, recognized, and utilized in that area/state.

2. The degree to which state law recognizes NP's, and grants them autonomy, and privledges such as the ability to write prescriptions.

215 Answers

Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
I am speaking primarily from two perspectives here:

1. The degree to which NP's are accepted, recognized, and utilized in that area/state.

2. The degree to which state law recognizes NP's, and grants them autonomy, and privledges such as the ability to write prescriptions.

I don't know about the best but the worst has got to be GEORGIA. It is still the only state in which NPs do not have prescriptive authority (but PAs do), it is so freakin' embarassing. The bill is in the legislature this year but don't hold your breath waiting for it to pass because our legislature is still wasting energy debating the important issue of gay marriage :uhoh21: , meanwhile...........

Best is BY FAR Washington State. Second would probably be Penn.

WORST? Lemme start a list.

Georiga, Florida, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia.

And there are others, but I would have to pull out my chart (which is at my office)

Dave

Worst state? Georgia, hands down....we are in "good old boy" country here......Hopefully soon things will change, although I'm not holding my breath!

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I don't know guys - Illinois ranks up there on the "worst" list. That's why I'm in a generic MSN program - it doesn't pay to be a NP.

I don't know about the legalities, but I'd never advise an NP to seek work in Mississippi. 99% of the doctors I've heard mention NPs (or heard by word of mouth from my brother who is a high-and-mighty MD :rolleyes:.) seem to think they're uneducated hacks. Ugh. :(

New York is pretty progressive.

We have an active legislative pac which is busy granting us more and more autonomy every day.

Jennifer

Since Washington State is high on the list, where does their neighbors to the south in Oregon rank?

What part of NM do you live in, and do you like it there? NM is one state I am seriously thinking of moving to once I have my NP program done (not for a couple years...)

Thanks!

I'm in Las Cruces. Haven't had much time to get out yet but plan to this weekend. Cold at nights right now but nice during the day. Not many trees like in the Piney woods of East Texas, but it's nice to see so much sky and mountains. Not much grass either but desert is growing on me.

So, for totally independent states we have:

Alaska

Montana

Idaho

Arizona

Washington

New Mexico

Specializes in FNP.

Glad to see this thread resurface and would also like up to date info. I have always thought I was stuck here, but my dh as agreed to let his partners buy him out of the firm and suddenly the world is my oyster! I can move ANYWHERE in the US. ANYWHERE! So, where to go?

Zenman, how do you find the cultural temperature of NM? I am getting at diversity, open mindedness, etc. Arizona was on my short list until recent publicity. I cannot in god conscience raise my children in an astmosphere of hate and intolerance. I need to be able to look out my car windows and see people of different shades and colors, hear different accents and see the occasional mosque and temple, and NOT hear condemnation or judgement of same. I can't afford to live in Sedona, so Arizona is out, lol. Schools needs to be outstanding as well, although we can afford, and would probably go, private.

I prefer warm climate to freezing, but oddly, Wisconsin is also on the short list (Milwaukee area).

I want to be in/close to a metropolitan area, close to major universities, art, theater and opportunity.

Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.
Does it matter if FNP or ANP for these various states?

The titles FNP and ANP as you might already know, define the type of training and certification the individual NP possesses. Some have a combination of both, actually. In states where "independent practice" is allowed, it doesn't matter what title the NP carries. It does matter for legal and patient safety reasons that the NP adheres to the limits of their training and certification in clinical practice (i.e., FNP providing primary care to families and individuals across the lifespan and ANP providing primary care to individuals who are young adults all the way to older adults).

Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

AZ is one of the 14 states where I am not allowed to prescribe as a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist There is a need for psych np work in AZ. I can only work in a psych np role in AZ if the job is in a government facility. I was certified in 1993 before the psych np came about and I can prescribe psych meds in 34 states but not Arizona.

Specializes in Neonatal ICU, Pediatrics, some ER.

Louisiana sucks (pardon me, I can't think of another word) to be a nurse period.

We moved here last year and despite the fact that my boss is awesome, I hate the way nurses are treated. When I got accepted into my FNP program I'm starting in the fall, they told me that I would not be able to do clinicals in Louisiana. Guess what, it's just a ticket out of this state as a nurse, even if it's a tough one.

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