Nurse Practitioner????

[fireplug]

My wife is considering going back and getting her practitioner license. Not really sure what field yet, but wanted
to see if any of you guys had any advise as to weather its worth the trouble or not. She has many connections at
Baptist in Oxford and could easily land a job with one of those doctors, but we don't know what the going rate for
practitioners is in Ms.

You guys that are practitioners or have wives that are, what can we expect to make salary wise if she does go back
to school? She's been a nurse for a long time and has all sorts of certifications and has worked in critical care for several
years. She loves what she does, but is thinking about doing this to make more money for the family. Also this gives
me the opportunity to explore a different career without taking the big hit in the bank account.

Since we've been talking jobs lately, what are your opinions?

[leadsthebest]

Trust me it will be worth it!!!

[DanP]

My wife is about to go back for practioner or MBA to get in on administrative side, still up in the air right now. Salaries we've seen range from 65-90K, but generally come with a lot more stress and headache, specially in the Delta.

[merlebo05]

I would make sure she has a position available after graduation!!! The medical field is on hold right now with all the healthcare changes that could possibly be made.. I am speaking from experience!!!

[Blackduck]

PM feedcall. His wife is finishing up NP as we speak.

[Denduke]

Take a little tangent here, please fellars... A bud at work took his kid to the doctor. Ended up a NP took care of him. Blue Cross/Blue Shield of La. our HCP would not pay the bill cuz it wasn't a doctor! WTF? Wasn't the NP aiding/corroborating under the doctor, i.e. the bill still shoulda been by the doctor? I guess what I'm asking can NP work by themselves? Can NPs write scripts? I respect and admirer nurses cuz they're highly trained almost as much as some inept doctors, but what happened here? I don't know if my bud got this resolved yet. Better make sure you gotta doc onboard first, I guess...
Thanks for a clarification, later DL.

[insman]

DEFINATELY worth it!!! My wife is an ACNP and does well.

[BAY KINGFISHER]

My wife will be finishing her NP degree this DEC. she has been taking it online through South Alabama. The load has been pretty big, especially with my wife working full time!!! There are a lot of grants available, which has made this a little easier to handle, we have only payed for books!!! She has plenty of options down here on the Coast job wise(everyone she has used for clinicals has offered her a job). Reason for NP school: She has been an ER nurse for six years and is looking into a more 9-5 atmosphere (no nights, fewers drunks!!). The money is like anything else worth doing, it will be better....the trick is finding someone that will pay for you as a NP while you get your 700 hours after school. Salary offers have varied from 80-120 a yr this depends on what benefits and whos payin the taxes there is a lot of variables in this department!! Good luck, I say go for it!! NPs are the future of health care in the US!!! not saying its good, but its the direction were headed!!

[duckshooter.76]

Take a little tangent here, please fellars... A bud at work took his kid to the doctor. Ended up a NP took care of him. Blue Cross/Blue Shield of La. our HCP would not pay the bill cuz it wasn't a doctor! WTF? Wasn't the NP aiding/corroborating under the doctor, i.e. the bill still shoulda been by the doctor? I guess what I'm asking can NP work by themselves? Can NPs write scripts? I respect and admirer nurses cuz they're highly trained almost as much as some inept doctors, but what happened here? I don't know if my bud got this resolved yet. Better make sure you gotta doc onboard first, I guess...
Thanks for a clarification, later DL.

It varies state by state but in AL,NP's can write scripts just not narcotics.I believe a doctor has to at least look over thier charts at the end of ea. day,but doesn't have to be there when the Np see's patients.

[paraduck]

My wife is in NP school now finishes in May.She has several jobs to look at also on the Coast. The pay is wide open depending on what she wants to do. We are both RN's and she should nearly double her income when she finishes.We work in a ER that uses NP's. As for the question NP's can write scripts for all drugs in Mississippi.

[Squealer]

Mrs. Squealer is currently in NP school. It's a lot of work but will be well worth it in the end.

[fireplug]

Thanks guys. Yall have me talked into it.....I just have to get her to read these replies and see if I can get her
talked into it.

Doc & Nash recommended Vandy.... Any of you other guys recommend any good schools. We have a 5 year old and one due in
november so this will be something we will start next summer. We would probably try to go the shortest route as possible
to get it over with faster. She doesn't like much having her Bachelors so that should be quick, it's just the NP courses that
might take a couple years. Hopefully she has enough connections to get all her clinicals done quick.

[Doc & Nash]

My wife is a FNP who works for a Ortho surgeon here in memphis who specialized in Spine.

She went to Vandy because they have a "bridge program" basicaly if you have a degreee in the science field, you spent the first two semesters getting your RN lic. and then the next 4 semesters getting you Master in Nursing. It is a program that runs straight thru with no summer break.

When we moved back to Memphis, she was able to right her own ticket. She has her own DEA number and can write scripts for anything. She does work directly under a MD.

She also performs as a first assist in surgerys with the surgeon she works for. If your wife or anyone for that matter, is interested in this type of work I can attest that the couple of years it takes to get there is well worth it.

[leadsthebest]

Not sure how far you are from COlumbus, but MUW has a good program. My wife got her CFNP from there about 5 years ago, and another girl in her office just went thru not to long ago. I think you have to have worked a year or so after getting your bachelors, but It is basically a 1 year program. The whole year. That year will be tough, but it is def. worth it. She had people from all over coming to take it at MUW because of only 1 year of classes. It is not easy to get into.

If you have any questions you can PM me and we can let them talk.

[feedcall]

Mrs. Feedcall just finished her degree and got a job in jackson. Salaries range from 80-95 starting out, depending on years of experience. I will be able to tell you 12 months from now if it's worth it. Until then I will be paying for her student loan I'm sure! My line of thinking in her going back to school was what if something ever happened to me, and I could earn my potential earnings for some reason. Our kids are older now, and it was a good time for us too. I would do it, there aren't many reasons not to. Good luck!