It seems like everyone has their own opinion about saturation in the nurse practitioner job market. If you’re a NP student, your professors are probably talking about the demand for providers and how employers are eager to hire you post-graduation. If you talk with recent nurse practitioner school grads, they’re saying you’re totally screwed once you kick off your job search. Who’s right? To get to the bottom of the conundrum, let’s look at a few real-life scenarios. New Grad # 1 and New Grad #2 A new grad NP and San Antonio resident I recently spoke with graduated a full year before locking down a job. Her inexperience and inability to relocate worked against her in her job search. But, with persistence, she was successful in locking down a primary care position that pays the bills. Another new grad I spoke with here in Nashville, TN was successful in landing employment within a few months of graduation…but with an 80-minute commute each way. While some nurse practitioners would understandably find this unreasonable, she decided that getting some experience under her belt would serve her well in finding a closer job in a year or so. Experienced NP A cardiology NP I know with 10 years of highly specialized experience moved to Houston for her husband’s job. Rather than scour job boards, she simply emailed cardiology groups in the area and let them know of her recent move and that she was looking for a job. Given her level of expertise, one of the cardiology groups created a position for her when one was not even posted. Boom. Employer Last year here at ThriveAP headquarters, we posted a job opportunity for an experienced primary care NP. Within a week or so we had 45 applications sitting on our desk. That’s a lot. However, all but a handful of applicants did more than submit a job application on Indeed taking the effort to email us personally. Not to mention, most did not meet the qualifications listed on the job posting. Alright, so what’s going on here? There’s more at play in the market saturation equation than the simple question “Is the nurse practitioner job market saturated?”. Talking with hundreds of job-seeking nurse practitioners every year, here’s what we find matters: Level of Experience Sorry, but it’s true. Most employers prefer to hire NPs with a little experience (or a lot) under their belts. Fewer open positions are open to new grads than to experienced NPs which can lend itself to a sensation of (or actual) job market saturation, especially for inexperienced NPs. Some of these employers will end up accepting new grads and some won’t, but you may have some challenges ahead if you’re a recent grad. Hang in there and see some advice below. Timeline Do you live in a city with a number of nurse practitioner schools? Are you looking for a job immediately after graduation? Welcome to the club. It seems that graduation season yields a flood of new grads into the job market each spring and summer, especially in cities that are home to a number of universities. Here in Nashville, for example, we have at least 4 or 5 NP programs. Students fall in love with the city, hope to stay, but there simply aren’t enough new grad friendly jobs to accommodate them all. This market is saturated, particularly for new grads in graduation season. Geography If you’re a reasonable person, I can probably find you a job in rural New Mexico tomorrow. If you want to work in Nashville, TN like I mentioned above, I can’t make any promises. Or, rather, I can promise you’re probably in for a lengthy job hunt. The geographic location where you want to work makes a major difference as far as job market saturation. Desirable cities are far more likely to be chock-full or NPs while there are other areas of the country in significant need. Aside from your level of experience, location is the biggest determinate in your job search. Specialty / Practice Setting Some specialties are in higher demand than others which factors into market saturation. The job market for psych NPs is decidedly not saturated. If you’re a specialized NP looking for a job in a small town, it may not take more than a few other similar local providers to make the job market feel full. Practice setting also plays a role. Clinics working with certain patient populations perceived as ‘difficult’ like the homeless, for example, may struggle to retain nurse practitioners while private practices may seem like more attractive employment options and fill more quickly. Application Quality Finally! A factor you control. A caveat to all of the above information you didn’t want to hear. Most of the applications we receive or review here at ThriveAP are crap. Out of the 45 applicants for our open position, for example, we called about three back. Why? Incomplete applications, misspellings, poorly formatted resumes, lack of reformatting a cover letter to match the job posting – you name it, we see it. Applying to jobs online can feel quick and easy (and in some ways it is), but you absolutely must complete the application and required components specifically for each job to which you apply – neatly and professionally. If the market you live in is saturated, you may not be able to control the quantity of applicants employers receive but you can control the quality of your own application. More on this to come! Many job markets across the U.S. are saturated for nurse practitioners. Many are not. Regardless of the situation in your area, if you’re a new grad you may need to be determined and flexible as you look for that coveted first position. And, don’t forget – you always control your ability to submit a job application that’s up to par. Do you feel like the job market in your area is saturated? How have you overcome this in your job search? You Might Also Like: 10 Things To Do if You Haven’t Landed a NP Job by Graduation
FAQs
Is the market for nurse practitioners saturated? ›
Many job markets across the U.S. are saturated for nurse practitioners. Many are not. Regardless of the situation in your area, if you're a new grad you may need to be determined and flexible as you look for that coveted first position.
What is the hardest part about being a nurse practitioner? ›Long hours, shift work, and high stress levels can make it challenging for nurse practitioners to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Navigating complex medical laws and ethical dilemmas can be challenging and require a deep understanding of professional boundaries and regulations.
Is nurse practitioner less stressful than RN? ›Their duties may be more stressful compared to RNs because nurse practitioners often manage complicated patient cases and are responsible for making higher-level decisions. However, this is often seen as a positive challenge, and the benefits of playing a larger role in patient lives is very rewarding and worth it.
Can you trust a nurse practitioner? ›Nurse practitioners (NP) and physician assistants (PA) provide compassionate, competent care patients may assume they can only get from a medical doctor (MD) or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO). But NPs and PAs can offer many of the same things you look for in a provider appointment.
Which nurse practitioner is most in demand? ›- Pulmonology nurse practitioner.
- Pediatric acute care nurse practitioner.
- House call nurse practitioner.
- Cardiology nurse practitioner.
- Aesthetic nurse practitioner.
- Pain management nurse practitioner.
- Emergency department/urgent care nurse practitioner.
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics' most recent report on the 20 fastest-growing occupations in the nation, nurse practitioner comes in at a tie for number one. Employment of nurse practitioners is projected to grow 38% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Who are the happiest nurse practitioners? ›Aesthetic nurse practitioners are one of the happiest nurse practitioner specialties because the overall stress from their job is low compared to other NP specialties.
Is being an NP harder than RN? ›Is NP harder than RN? NPs have additional responsibilities that RNs don't have, so you can expect NP school to be a higher level of difficulty than RN school.
Is NP school harder than nursing school? ›In NP school, you'll deep dive into concepts you've already learned in nursing school and learn how to apply them in real-world situations. It is much more advanced and in-depth. Overall, both are complex and challenging, but in different ways.
Is a PA higher than a NP? ›It's important to note that both PAs and NPs are mid-level medical professionals. They're basically at the same level. However, NPs can work independently in many states that PAs can't. So, it places nurse practitioners above physical assistants in terms of practice independence.
Which NP is most flexible? ›
Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) provide care for all ages — from infants to the elderly. They have flexible work settings and can be found in hospitals, primary care and specialty clinics and long-term care facilities.
What is the disadvantage of being a nurse practitioner? ›Disadvantage: It takes some time on the job before you will feel confident and competent in your job as a nurse practitioner. On-the-job learning can be stressful and anxiety provoking. If you choose to switch specialties or start a new job, this learning process must often be repeated.
Do doctors respect nurse practitioners? ›Overall, physicians organizations officially see nurse practitioners as an asset to medical practice but only when working in conjunction with a physician.
What do patients think of nurse practitioners? ›Research shows that health care provided by NPs equals the quality of care provided by physicians. Patients may be even more satisfied with care provided by NPs. Because patients' views have only been examined quantitatively, underlying experiences and meanings remain unclear.
Is it OK to see a nurse practitioner instead of a doctor? ›While it can be tempting to want care from someone with the title “Doctor”, nurse practitioners are equally skilled and knowledgeable in their field. Nurse practitioners are typically not as booked as doctors, and can fit patients in sooner, providing relief without long delays or wait times.
Why is the demand for nurse practitioners so high? ›REASON #1: Increasing need for healthcare
As noncommunicable and chronic diseases are on the rise, particularly in the older adult population, compassionate and skilled practitioners like you are needed to take care of them. This is one of the reasons nurse practitioners are in high demand.
Though enrollment in nursing programs is increasing, it is not sufficient to meet demand. This shortage is especially acute in areas such as education and for certified family nurse practitioners who can provide primary care without a doctor's direct supervision.
What is the long term outlook for a nurse practitioner? ›The report also listed nurse practitioners second on its list of the 100 best jobs of 2023, behind only software developers. These rankings come at a time when the nurse practitioner job outlook is strong. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 38% job growth for nurse practitioners between 2022 and 2032.
What is the future of nurse practitioners? ›NPs top the list of professions projected to grow the fastest over the next decade, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the profession projected to grow nearly 46% by 2031.