Which NP specialty is most needed?

CoryRN · Jan 21, 2005

Yes, I do think it is worth the effort to pursue a career as a nurse practitioner. I am of the belief that you should choose whichever specialty would interest you the most, however I am also of the opinion that FNPs are somewhat more marketable in general. This is purely anecdotal as I have many friends that are FNPs working in many roles, including psych, acute care, pediatrics, women's health etc. If you have very specific interests, choose a specialty. If you think you may like several areas, the FNP is a great way to go.

CraigB-RN, MSN, RN · Jan 23, 2005

I am looking into NP programs and from reading several of the posts and a little disappointed to see that NP's seem to be a dime a dozen. I was hoping the job market would be good.
Is there a NP specialty that is more needed than another?
I was having fantasies about no weekends and a less stressful work environment (like a small clinic) but I can see now that my fantasy will likely remain a fantasy
In your opinion is it worth it to pursue any type of NP career?
Thanks

Those jobs are out there, well at least the less stressfull part. Look in Rural America, there are plenty of FNP jobs out there in small 2 hole clinics, and 15-25 bed hospitals. Don't be looking for big bucks there. I"ll be starting at $58k, but then the house I bought for %50k would have cost $250k in some urban environments. And I"ll only have to see 8-10 patients/Day. Now the call time can be a real pain.

TMnurse · Feb 2, 2005

I believe a key component in finding work as an NP is that you have to be smart about employment. Finding work as an RN is not almost ridiculous.... think about--if you have an RN you can probably have/get/find a job without even an interview. I think too many NPs (RNs of course) finish school and step out into the working world and say "here I am! find me... dude, where's my job?.... it's been over 15 minutes.." You can/will be able to get a job... BUT you have to smart about it. Not all the time--but a smart NP student will start pairing up with a doc/clinic/hospital service BEFORE they finish school. What nurses currently have with the job market is almost too good to be true. I work at a major hospital/univ that needs NPs bad. However, they don't hire NPs like they hire RNs (anybody with an RN off the street) They like the NP to have at least shown some clincal interest in the area they want to work... or have had worked in that area as an RN. A friend is about to complete her MBA... for the last year she has been taking on projects that wither put her inline with companies that she wants to work for... or focused her studies with things practical to the area she wants to work. She has made herself and excellent candidate for where she wants to work. I have heard the stories of too many NPs who don't have work---they did an online program or something---did clinicals at a womens health center--worked in the ER as an RN.. but now want a dream job in a GI clinic AND no one wants to hire them??>!! NO S****. If you want a job working in an office setting---do clinicals in an office setting---work as an RN there---join the professional affiliations of your career interest.... yada yada... the jobs are there---but be realistic--be smart

danu3 · Feb 2, 2005

I am looking into NP programs and from reading several of the posts and a little disappointed to see that NP's seem to be a dime a dozen. I was hoping the job market would be good.
Is there a NP specialty that is more needed than another?
I was having fantasies about no weekends and a less stressful work environment (like a small clinic) but I can see now that my fantasy will likely remain a fantasy
In your opinion is it worth it to pursue any type of NP career?
Thanks

Psychiatric NP? In the first place, not too many people are interested in psych nursing.

Look at the neuropsych at UCLA

http://www.nursing.ucla.edu/admissions/specialties.html

Look toward the bottom

Look at the psych NP at UCSF also

http://nurseweb.ucsf.edu/www/spec-psy.htm

It has a pretty good description of the specialty.

-Dan

JnJTyson · Feb 2, 2005

I love NPs. I'm an LPN right now, in distance school for RN. I'm hoping to become an RN/CDE. But I do know from paying attention down here in Florida, that NPs are in high demand. Most MD offices are so overbooked with pts they see frequently, and those who just came to the area and need care now. The practice I currently work for now is an Endocrinology specialty. We put out an add in the newspaper for either a NP or a PA. We only got 1 reply. As it stands, if our one applicant started tomorrow, he'd have at least 15 pts per day to start..We figured that based on our waiting list and the number of pts we've turned down. Wt list is over 150 pts long, we've turned down at least 50 new diabetics due to no room in schedule (booked out to August now). Plus all the general appts that pts want to be seen for at our office.

So, depending on the area, NPs are a GREAT asset! I rarely see my doc. His office has 2 NPs. One I won't see anymore due to an unfortunate ICD-9 coding error, but the other one is amazing. I see no real need right now to see an MD when she can do everything I need.

Just a little side note...watch those ICD-9 codes! The one NP who I won't see anymore coded me as having a metastatic neoplasm of the lower lung. So, the insurance sent me a letter asking for my pulmonary history as well as oncology history...I almost died! Turns out....no lung cancer with mets....just a general checkup! =0)