What is it like starting out as an NP?

[muesli]

I am thinking about going back to school to get my NP. I'm wondering how much competition for jobs there are out there. Was it hard for you to find a job out of school? How do you think it might be for someone with less than 5 years of experience as a staff nurse with an NP license trying to apply for an adult NP job? Once you have your NP, is it possible to work as a staff nurse if you can't find an NP job right away or are you consider over-qualified and will not be able to keep that job? Thanks for any answers.

[Spacklehead, MSN, NP]

I think the answer to your question depends upon which area of the country you live in. For example, where I live there are a lot of open NP positions; however, most of them require at least 1-2 years of NP experience. Some of the more specialist-type positions such as cardiology will accept new grads but only if they have several years of RN experience in a critical care area.

Once I passed my exam and had my license, it took me two months to land a job. Now, that isn't too bad - but it was actually 6 mos. after I graduated. Here, most places won't even give you a call back if you aren't already licensed and certified, so I had to wait. It's not like when I was looking for RN jobs and would get call backs the very next day after I sent in my resume/application.

Having those 5 years+ as an RN can only help you - and can give you some leverage when you apply for jobs. You can elaborate on your RN experience in a cover letter to help sell yourself for a certain position if it is in an area which you have experience with.

As far as working as an RN once you are an NP - I, personally, did not do it. If you are already working as an RN when you become an NP, there is no reason you can not continue to work there as an RN until you find an NP position. Just keep it in mind, though, that you can be held to a higher standard legally if you are involved in a lawsuit once you are certified and licensed as an NP (someone please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here). It might be more difficult to find a new RN job if you are already an NP because the hiring manager might think that you won't stick around for too long.

I hope my answers help!

[muesli]

Thank you, those are really good answers. I hope you don't mind if I ask what part of the country you're from? Also, some nurses I was working with were saying that salarywise, NPs start out at less than most staff nurses; I didn't think this was true but can anyone confirm?

Thanks! :)

[Spacklehead, MSN, NP]

Anytime! :)

I am in the Middle-Atlantic area; my starting hourly rate as a new-grad NP with RN experience put me on par with what an experienced per-diem RN would make for the same hospital system - so my hourly wage is actually more than what full-time experienced RNs would get paid. Plus, I don't have to work eves, nights, holidays for weekends.