Which NP specialties make the most money?

Year1ACNP · Mar 1, 2015

You are making $75 an hour for the 24 hour call time frame? Does this require you to be onsite? I don't ever have to go in when taking straight call but only make $25 an hour for the overnight call portion with my regular wages for day shift rounding. I don't think many of us take call so its good to hear what others make. Thanks in advance!

Good question. I do weekdays only because I reserve weekends for my family, I have been MIA for quite a few years now so I try to be home more. From 8a-6p there's no extra call pay on top of base salary. I round at 7:30, clinic starts at 8:30 or 9:00, and I average about 15 ppd. I only see internal med pt's so it does take 15-45 minutes, esp new consults will take that long. So I get 14 hours X 75 whether I go in or not. We have anywhere from 10-30 ppd so it does get very busy. I don't have to go in but I usually do from 8pm to midnight because usually there's a rush & I can use the downtime to study. I live literally across the street so I go home anytime to eat or use restroom if needed. I know we use a few PA/NP in the area to help fill weekends and they make $50 an hour around the clock. We have 3 MDs and they don't do calls, just do backup prn. The MDs make $25 hour as backup. I only had to call once to intubate and hasn't need help since I can do that myself now. So I think your $25/hr is a little low unless your census is very light. Hope that helps.

Jules A, MSN · Mar 2, 2015

Good question. I do weekdays only because I reserve weekends for my family, I have been MIA for quite a few years now so I try to be home more. From 8a-6p there's no extra call pay on top of base salary. I round at 7:30, clinic starts at 8:30 or 9:00, and I average about 15 ppd. I only see internal med pt's so it does take 15-45 minutes, esp new consults will take that long. So I get 14 hours X 75 whether I go in or not. We have anywhere from 10-30 ppd so it does get very busy. I don't have to go in but I usually do from 8pm to midnight because usually there's a rush & I can use the downtime to study. I live literally across the street so I go home anytime to eat or use restroom if needed. I know we use a few PA/NP in the area to help fill weekends and they make $50 an hour around the clock. We have 3 MDs and they don't do calls, just do backup prn. The MDs make $25 hour as backup. I only had to call once to intubate and hasn't need help since I can do that myself now. So I think your $25/hr is a little low unless your census is very light. Hope that helps.

Thanks! It sounds great to live so close to your hospital. My census doesn't really matter because I get paid $1,200 for the 24 hours. I'm usually on the floor 6-9 hours during day shift. The evening and overnight call is all via telephone or entering orders electronically so I'm guessing closer to the MD call you have as backup. Definitely not conducive to a good nights sleep some times but I don't ever have to go in.

Year1ACNP · Mar 2, 2015

I'm always required to go in, I have 30min to get in though. So your 1200 for 24 hr shift is for the weekend? And during weekdays you get regular salary and it's $25 an hour overnight? If you don't have to go in unless necessary That's pretty nice. What if someone shows up with cardiac complaints though?

Jules A, MSN · Mar 2, 2015

I'm always required to go in, I have 30min to get in though. So your 1200 for 24 hr shift is for the weekend? And during weekdays you get regular salary and it's $25 an hour overnight? If you don't have to go in unless necessary That's pretty nice. What if someone shows up with cardiac complaints though?

That is my weekly rate. I make $1,600 for Saturday and Sundays which isn't as much of an increase as I'd prefer for weekend shift differential but it is within what I feel should be my ratio to psychiatrist rate of 80-85%. My rates have changed often, always in the upswing, as new Locums come in or the regular Docs negotiate an increase. I hear about it and am in my bosses office. :)

If someone comes in with major somatic complaints that I can't trouble shoot with the RNs via telephone they are seen by a hospitalist.

automotiveRN67 · Mar 3, 2015

I'm also in charge of nuclear med stress tests. I picked up extra responsibilities after getting certified with ATLS and asthma education 2 months after I started working.

You have to have Advanced Trauma Life Support and asthma education to to be in charge of what?

MaryEDRN · Mar 4, 2015

The Emergency Department is a great paying area. It does vary from state to state and with my experience it ranges from $80-$100 dollars an hour. Also, if the company has the option of being an employee or independent contractor there are advantages to both if you know what to do. If you don't have ER nursing experience prior to NP school then 6 months to a year of Urgent care is required for the company I work for. Not mention if they need someone to work they pay double, triple, and sometimes quadruple pay for the entire shift.

PG2018 · Mar 7, 2015

My anecdotal experience and the surveys I've seen indicate that, after CRNAs, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners are the highest paid APRNs. I live in a growing (booming) area, and FNPs abound as do a myriad of other APRNs, but the PMHNPs are raking in on average 20k more/yr than the FNPs and frequently without weekends, nights, or call.

PauperRN · Mar 13, 2015

The kind of money being thrown here just makes me salivate and yearn so bad for an advanced degree already! The higher you go the cooler it becomes. Thank God for nursing as a job

carachel2 · Mar 13, 2015

True. I was told that overall Psych NP is well compensated throughout the US and I know that is the case here in NY. My friend that is a FNP happens to work in NY also so that may explain the increased salary and the fact that her workday consists of seeing patients from 8am to 6pm almost non-stop.

That is an NP who will burn out SOON.