Would you take this job as a new gad?

[NurseNinja1990]

Hi all!

I'm about to finish school and was told about a Nurse Practitioner residency at a site where I did clinical hours. I had never heard of something like this, and it felt like a great transition from school to working independently. I'm going to apply for it but I have some serious reservations and thought I'd ask all of your opinions.

Pros:

1. A foot in the door at a facility with insanely good benefits, and I'd have the opportunity to pursue a DNP project there while I work if I chose to continue my education.

2. Lighter patient load

3. Very laid back work environment with a lot of available resources.

Cons:

1. The salary is very low... I'm talking <80k, and I could easily make 6 figures elsewhere in this area as a new grad. Also, I was making more than this as an RN previously.

2. It requires an unspecified amount of travel. There are sites between 30 minutes and 4 hours from my house and I'd be required to work at them every so often.

3. Unattractive schedule. Was told I'd have to work weekends sometimes, which is one of the biggest reasons I went for further education was to avoid having to do this.

4. No gaurantee that there'd be a position available for me after the 1-year residency is complete, but I'd be a prime candidate at any of the facilities.

I don't have the details in writing yet, this is just what I was told from the program director. I'm planning on applying while also looking for work elsewhere to keep my options open. What are everyone's thoughts?

[ICU2NP]

I don't know if that is typical of NP residencies, but no guarantee of a position afterwards? I don't know if I'd like that. I guess it depends on how saturated the market is with NPs in your area. If it's super saturated, I might be more inclined to do the residency to be a more attractive candidate. But if not... I think I'd get a job elsewhere.

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

NP residencies pay less because you are getting training, just as MD residents make less money. If you think you would benefit from the additional training, then take the residency.

[Neuro Guy NP, DNP, PhD, APRN]

Ditto, don't compare the residency position to a regular staff NP position. And as far as scheduling, depending on the specialty (for example something inpatient), yes, you will be doing odd hours, and rightly so since you are in training. Just make sure the program is worth it. Make sure there will actually be educational components to it, not just throwing you out there like any other staff NP. Just like not all physician residencies are all that and a bag of chips, ditto for NP residencies, especially since as of yet there is no organization like ACGME to enforce certain standards.

[NurseNinja1990]

Thanks for the insight, guys!