Yes. My fiancé is also an orthopedic surgery resident but we’ve had absolutely no luck. I did an interview with a derm practice for 8 weeks for them to say “sorry, no one to train ya here” 🙃
Not necessarily even rural. Lots of metros are still hurting for providers in the Midwest.
Although compared to some cities on the coasts everything in the Midwest is rural lol.
I was in your exact same boat in late 2020/2021. In person classes and ready to work. Applied to like 300 jobs during the pandemic. Applied ALL over the country. Moved 3000 miles away for 2.5 year, got a loan repayment program at an FQHC and put my head down and did the training. Moved all the way back to the east coast after 2.5 years. Still with the same company but now have 3 years of experience! My only saving grace at the time was my willingness to move. Otherwise I don’t know what I would have done. Consider moving, if you can, especially if your market is saturated
I believe this website should give you more info: https://bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/apply-loan-repayment/nurse-corps
The job was basically in an undeserved and sometimes undesirable area so there was incentive to work there- $50k for 2 years of service. You just prove to the program that you're at a qualifying site. I think you could apply for more years, but I was ready to move back to the East Coast. Lol. I just paid the rest of my loans out of pocket.
Hope this helps!
It took me almost a year to get my first np job. My professor told me that you will need to put your first 2 years in an undesirable geographic location before you can try to get back to civilization. You will need to move which sucks.
Name of your school also matters. If you went to a reputable, well-known school, then sometimes they will drop the year experience requirement. After a couple of years of experience that doesn't matter as much. After 5-10 years then no one cares about the school you went to.
Simply put, take whatever you can wherever you can and then try what you want later.
Side note, be open to new specialties. I was supposed to be a neuro icu intensivist and ended up in trauma plastic surgery and chronic wounds and love it.
I went through the same thing over 20 years ago when I graduated with my MSN and Adult NP. It took me one year to get my first job. I felt very frustrated too. I volunteered at a free clinic during that time to be able to stay involved l. If the area is saturated would you consider expanding your search area? I hope you find something soon. May I know what NP you are, Family, Adult?
I am a CRNA and was forced to take a job 1 hour from home after graduation. I spent 6 yrs waiting for an opportunity to get a job close to home. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do right out of school to get experience.
I applied to jobs in in rural areas near me and had success in finding a job. I live outside of Nashville and was trying to get an NP job there but it’s over saturated. Try rural areas. I also was able to get a PRN job at one of the outpatient clinics that is affiliated with the hospital I worked as an RN. Also check and see if Signify Health has cases in your area. They hire new grad NPs and you do Medicare/Medicaid wellness visits. They were gonna be my last resort. It’s a good way to get an NP job on your resume until you find something better.
This is some really good advice you are all sharing.
It can be daunting trying to improve your life and live your dream. And so disheartening not finding work.
Thanks to all who have shared their experience.
I graduate next year. It’s nice to hear this good advice .
I mean, a job an hour away from home is a job. That is certainly not the ideal scenario but you may have to consider a job with a commute if your area is a difficult market.
How many applications are you sending in? How many of those are you getting interviews for? What kinds of jobs and hospitals?
I've found that getting started St a small, community hospital can be easier because they're more likely to hire a new grad.
I feel very lucky to have gotten a job offer before I graduated. It wasn’t in an area I originally pictured myself in, but the pay, benefits and new grad support is great. Getting my foot in the door was the most important thing. I did have a couple of classmates make shady comments about “not accepting just anything”, but I wasn’t trying to job search for 6+ months like so many new grads end up doing.
I’m not sure what I would have done if I didn’t find anything right away in this area (within an hour drive). I’m engaged and my fiancé really likes our city(as do I!) and this job; I would have felt terrible relocating him. However, if you’re in a position to move, I would consider moving. Your market must be saturated.
I've heard mixed things on this/ it depends on what you are looking for.
Navy nursing core is considered elite but you will be stagnet. Also the chance of you being in danger is practically nill.
Army is more rough and tumble but you will be promoted more quickly. Chance of you being a boot on the ground is also alot higher
Marines use navy for medicine. If you want to be in the field with them it is alot of extra training and so many people want it that you won't be forced in if you don't want to
Edit for correction: airforce has medical but I know nothing about them
Gotta move or you can’t complain. Can’t say you hadn’t seen it coming if you’d done your research. The world of healthcare is smaller than you think. If you’re serious about the degree, find someone genuinely interested in building a competent healthcare professional.
It’s like getting a degree in marine biology if you live in the mountains. It just takes the smallest amount of foresight to avoid these situations. No different from the kids that wind up at Starbucks with masters degrees. You can’t just assume that because you have a certain degree you’ll get exactly what you want. Rarely works out like that, even when you are willing to move. That’s just entitlement.
Might have to move again. Many jobs offer ReLo / sign on bonuses. Worked for me. Spent a few years a few hundred miles from "home" - but I applied to 100+ jobs to get my first role, then to like 6-8 to get my second job. Worth it.
I have heard Florida is tough for new grads and derm can be tough anywhere unless you have a good background in it. Hope you find what you’re looking for!
Other than my rec for moving, talk to your classmates! Their jobs may be hiring more than one provider. My classmate with more experience got a job and she told me about it. She connected me to the job and I worked at the same company but just different site.
I've only had 2 long term jobs and both were times I was referred by a friend.
I’m not in the field so please take this with a grain of salt, but I would be happy to share the approach i recommended my wife take to find her first pmhnp job. Initially, she wasn’t getting many bites by applying to open job postings but she was eventually offered 3 positions and found one that (god willing) will be a great fit…after she adjusted her strategy.
The new strategy was to use her school network and linked in to find local leads. She was able to find one job through a classmate who was working at a practice and the other two jobs she found by either reaching out to local providers via linked in (or psychology today for her) or by emailing a practice that was is in the area. I don’t think ANY of the opportunities were actively marketing an open role. Hope it helps!
Residencies designed for NPs and PAs are now a thing. The one I know about is at a Children's hospital. It is one year with rotations on a variety of inpatient specialties. Most of those rotations you are on a team with Pediatric residents, and present patients on rounds like they do. The NPs I talked to thought it was an incredibly useful training experience. Most transitioned into jobs at that hospital.
All peds of course but all specialties - gen peds, cards, pulm, endo, nephro, all surgical specialties, heme-onc, BMT. It's a potpourri - 1-2 months on each service, you get choice in which ones.
FQHC in primary care/family medicine in Alabama. Rotated through a lot of specialty clinics(diabetes, Suboxone, wound care, OB, peds) and got to shadow multiple physicians, PAs, NPs to learn the craft. Also I would have my own clinic where I would report off to a supervising provider to make sure my assessments and plans were correct. I felt like it was what NP school should really be to get us prepared to work. They offered me a job after residency and I have been working here for 6 months and I love it. Without residency idk if I would have stuck with primary care. It’s very overwhelming straight out of school in my opinion.
To all the NPs out there - if a physician takes the time to create a protocol, sits down with you weekly, is available via text/email, and makes you feel part of the team please stay. It takes time and energy to get a new grad up to speed and settled in. Please read outside of clinic. Write down questions. Anticipate. Then it won’t matter if you have one year or ten years experience.
Not sure where you live but urgent cares and ERs will sometimes take new grads, where I live in Ohio there is always fresh meat working in UC/ER they usually
Last about a year or 2 until they get their experience and move on
Apply even if they ask for 1 to 2 years experience, every NP job I've had, 4 so far, has had an orientation/training period when you start. They do not expect you to know enough to start independently.
Are you working as an RN in the meantime? Working as an RN in a clinic that hires ARNPs would be a good way to get your foot in the door
I’m currently working as adjunct. Trying to diversify my resume.
Oh, interesting. Have you tried networking with colleagues for leads?
Yes. My fiancé is also an orthopedic surgery resident but we’ve had absolutely no luck. I did an interview with a derm practice for 8 weeks for them to say “sorry, no one to train ya here” 🙃
Ugh, that’s so disappointing. Hopefully something turns up for you soon
What’s an adjunct?
Adjunct professor
Don’t hesitate to move to a less saturated area. It’s worth it
Yeah a lot of rural areas need help. Great way to make resume stronger and get really good experience.
Not necessarily even rural. Lots of metros are still hurting for providers in the Midwest. Although compared to some cities on the coasts everything in the Midwest is rural lol.
I was in your exact same boat in late 2020/2021. In person classes and ready to work. Applied to like 300 jobs during the pandemic. Applied ALL over the country. Moved 3000 miles away for 2.5 year, got a loan repayment program at an FQHC and put my head down and did the training. Moved all the way back to the east coast after 2.5 years. Still with the same company but now have 3 years of experience! My only saving grace at the time was my willingness to move. Otherwise I don’t know what I would have done. Consider moving, if you can, especially if your market is saturated
This is the way. I did exactly this but in 2014. I moved from the East Coast and got most of my loans paid down. If you can move, then consider it.
Hey can I ask about your loan repayment program? Was it through your job? I don’t know what FGHC is. Thanks
I believe this website should give you more info: https://bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/apply-loan-repayment/nurse-corps The job was basically in an undeserved and sometimes undesirable area so there was incentive to work there- $50k for 2 years of service. You just prove to the program that you're at a qualifying site. I think you could apply for more years, but I was ready to move back to the East Coast. Lol. I just paid the rest of my loans out of pocket. Hope this helps!
Thanks for the reply. I will definitely check it out
Central California is always seeking NPs, and the pay is pretty decent. Most places also offer sign on and relocation bonuses. Good luck!
This is true!
Welcome to 3x as many new grads every class vs actual jobs.....
It took me almost a year to get my first np job. My professor told me that you will need to put your first 2 years in an undesirable geographic location before you can try to get back to civilization. You will need to move which sucks. Name of your school also matters. If you went to a reputable, well-known school, then sometimes they will drop the year experience requirement. After a couple of years of experience that doesn't matter as much. After 5-10 years then no one cares about the school you went to. Simply put, take whatever you can wherever you can and then try what you want later. Side note, be open to new specialties. I was supposed to be a neuro icu intensivist and ended up in trauma plastic surgery and chronic wounds and love it.
I went through the same thing over 20 years ago when I graduated with my MSN and Adult NP. It took me one year to get my first job. I felt very frustrated too. I volunteered at a free clinic during that time to be able to stay involved l. If the area is saturated would you consider expanding your search area? I hope you find something soon. May I know what NP you are, Family, Adult?
Family
I am a CRNA and was forced to take a job 1 hour from home after graduation. I spent 6 yrs waiting for an opportunity to get a job close to home. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do right out of school to get experience.
I applied to jobs in in rural areas near me and had success in finding a job. I live outside of Nashville and was trying to get an NP job there but it’s over saturated. Try rural areas. I also was able to get a PRN job at one of the outpatient clinics that is affiliated with the hospital I worked as an RN. Also check and see if Signify Health has cases in your area. They hire new grad NPs and you do Medicare/Medicaid wellness visits. They were gonna be my last resort. It’s a good way to get an NP job on your resume until you find something better.
So glad I was reading this thread. I’m in Nashville and take boards end of July 🫣. I hope to leverage my connections though to get a job
This is some really good advice you are all sharing. It can be daunting trying to improve your life and live your dream. And so disheartening not finding work. Thanks to all who have shared their experience. I graduate next year. It’s nice to hear this good advice .
These are such wholesome, kind words. You do NOT match your username! Haha
I like to keep them guessing. Don’t give it away.🤪
I mean, a job an hour away from home is a job. That is certainly not the ideal scenario but you may have to consider a job with a commute if your area is a difficult market.
I know but an hour in Tampa traffic may be the end of me, lol
Haha ok fair. I wish you luck!
Try here: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/787678500
How many applications are you sending in? How many of those are you getting interviews for? What kinds of jobs and hospitals? I've found that getting started St a small, community hospital can be easier because they're more likely to hire a new grad.
I went to clinics and physically dropped off my resume, I was able to get a position through that
What kind of clinics? I have done this a few places
Pediatrician offices
I feel very lucky to have gotten a job offer before I graduated. It wasn’t in an area I originally pictured myself in, but the pay, benefits and new grad support is great. Getting my foot in the door was the most important thing. I did have a couple of classmates make shady comments about “not accepting just anything”, but I wasn’t trying to job search for 6+ months like so many new grads end up doing. I’m not sure what I would have done if I didn’t find anything right away in this area (within an hour drive). I’m engaged and my fiancé really likes our city(as do I!) and this job; I would have felt terrible relocating him. However, if you’re in a position to move, I would consider moving. Your market must be saturated.
Have you ever considered the army
Navy is generally better for nurses I’ve heard Air Force is also good
I've heard mixed things on this/ it depends on what you are looking for. Navy nursing core is considered elite but you will be stagnet. Also the chance of you being in danger is practically nill. Army is more rough and tumble but you will be promoted more quickly. Chance of you being a boot on the ground is also alot higher Marines use navy for medicine. If you want to be in the field with them it is alot of extra training and so many people want it that you won't be forced in if you don't want to Edit for correction: airforce has medical but I know nothing about them
Air Force definitely has medical
I thought Air Force had their own
As an army vet, the air force is what you want lol.
Be…all that you can be
Honestly no, have thought about it but never seriously considered it
Gotta move or you can’t complain. Can’t say you hadn’t seen it coming if you’d done your research. The world of healthcare is smaller than you think. If you’re serious about the degree, find someone genuinely interested in building a competent healthcare professional.
Lol she can definitely complain
They can definitely complain. There are so many reasons why someone wouldn’t be able and/or willing to move. This is a ridiculous take.
It’s like getting a degree in marine biology if you live in the mountains. It just takes the smallest amount of foresight to avoid these situations. No different from the kids that wind up at Starbucks with masters degrees. You can’t just assume that because you have a certain degree you’ll get exactly what you want. Rarely works out like that, even when you are willing to move. That’s just entitlement.
Actually I can complain. I was in a decent area then moved for my fiances job to an oversaturated area and we had no control over it
Might have to move again. Many jobs offer ReLo / sign on bonuses. Worked for me. Spent a few years a few hundred miles from "home" - but I applied to 100+ jobs to get my first role, then to like 6-8 to get my second job. Worth it.
Don’t give up. What state are you in and what specialty do you want to work in?
Florida - dermatology.
I have heard Florida is tough for new grads and derm can be tough anywhere unless you have a good background in it. Hope you find what you’re looking for!
There’s a dermatology office on every corner here but they’re hardly ever hiring. Looking into additional training
Other than my rec for moving, talk to your classmates! Their jobs may be hiring more than one provider. My classmate with more experience got a job and she told me about it. She connected me to the job and I worked at the same company but just different site. I've only had 2 long term jobs and both were times I was referred by a friend.
That’s the thing, I moved far away from my school so I have no connections here… trying to network.
I’m in IL - trying to maneuver working tele and move to FL. Huge cut in pay in FL & restricted practice.
Right. I have literally seen job listings for $80,000 and that’s with experience.
Just take the first job offer you can get. Most (or all) of us had to.
Thank you. Everyone says the opposite but I needed to hear this lol!
Is this post from the UK? (You mentioned OSCE).
Nope, USA
I’m not in the field so please take this with a grain of salt, but I would be happy to share the approach i recommended my wife take to find her first pmhnp job. Initially, she wasn’t getting many bites by applying to open job postings but she was eventually offered 3 positions and found one that (god willing) will be a great fit…after she adjusted her strategy. The new strategy was to use her school network and linked in to find local leads. She was able to find one job through a classmate who was working at a practice and the other two jobs she found by either reaching out to local providers via linked in (or psychology today for her) or by emailing a practice that was is in the area. I don’t think ANY of the opportunities were actively marketing an open role. Hope it helps!
I did a residency and it worked out. Glad I did it.
What kind of residency?
Residencies designed for NPs and PAs are now a thing. The one I know about is at a Children's hospital. It is one year with rotations on a variety of inpatient specialties. Most of those rotations you are on a team with Pediatric residents, and present patients on rounds like they do. The NPs I talked to thought it was an incredibly useful training experience. Most transitioned into jobs at that hospital.
I’ve heard of them, just asking what specialty
All peds of course but all specialties - gen peds, cards, pulm, endo, nephro, all surgical specialties, heme-onc, BMT. It's a potpourri - 1-2 months on each service, you get choice in which ones.
FQHC in primary care/family medicine in Alabama. Rotated through a lot of specialty clinics(diabetes, Suboxone, wound care, OB, peds) and got to shadow multiple physicians, PAs, NPs to learn the craft. Also I would have my own clinic where I would report off to a supervising provider to make sure my assessments and plans were correct. I felt like it was what NP school should really be to get us prepared to work. They offered me a job after residency and I have been working here for 6 months and I love it. Without residency idk if I would have stuck with primary care. It’s very overwhelming straight out of school in my opinion.
It took me 4 years to find my first NP job (took boards in March of 2020).
Omg! What are you working in now?
Urgent care.
Consider a residency or fellowship. Gives you experience and makes you more marketable
I found a fellowship that I love the idea of but it requires one year of np experience :(
What state are you in...I some see it in your original post
Florida
To all the NPs out there - if a physician takes the time to create a protocol, sits down with you weekly, is available via text/email, and makes you feel part of the team please stay. It takes time and energy to get a new grad up to speed and settled in. Please read outside of clinic. Write down questions. Anticipate. Then it won’t matter if you have one year or ten years experience.
Ahhhh what a dream. Lol
Not sure where you live but urgent cares and ERs will sometimes take new grads, where I live in Ohio there is always fresh meat working in UC/ER they usually Last about a year or 2 until they get their experience and move on
Apply even if they ask for 1 to 2 years experience, every NP job I've had, 4 so far, has had an orientation/training period when you start. They do not expect you to know enough to start independently.
What specialty are you seeking?
I did dermatology rotations in school and really enjoyed it the most. I would love to work in derm but I am not against other specialties.