average salary for NP and CNS

[prettymean]

Hi, I would like to know what is the average salary for NP and CNS. Thank you.

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[lloydchristmas]

Originally posted by prettymean
Hi, I would like to know what is the average salary for NP and CNS. Thank you.

Hey...

Check out npcentral.com for salary data. However, I would warn you that in my opinion (for whatever it's worth) the average salary figure for a NP is an arbitrary number. You can make 30 thousand a year or you can make a quarter million a year. Depends on how you negotiate your deal with the physician you are collaborating with. I landed a deal with a doc to take home 50% of all collected charges that I generate. If you do the math, that comes out to a whole lot... eg: 30 patients/day times $75/patient average times 5 days per week times 48 weeks per year (4 wks vacation) = $540,000 x 50% = $270,000/year. Most doctors don't make this much.

Yes, I'm assuming we collect 100%, but in the clinic I'll be working at, we do collect 100%.

 

[patriot_missile]

Hey how do you become a NP? Do you need a 4year nursing major? And that's it? And you work for an MD specialist or for whom?

 

[lloydchristmas]

Originally posted by patriot_missile
Hey how do you become a NP? Do you need a 4year nursing major? And that's it? And you work for an MD specialist or for whom?

It is now the standard for nurse practitioners to receive a bachelor's in nursing, then a master's in nursing with emphasis in whatever specialty you choose, ie Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric NP, etc etc. Most schools require at least a year of RN experience too. So, you're looking at 7 years education/experience total. Some schools are getting away from requiring the year of RN experience (I actually talked my school out of it, so I started the FNP program a week before I graduated undergrad). So, at least in my situation, you could theoretically be a NP in five and a half years if you went straight through, full time (assuming you get a BSN in 4 years).

Yes, you have to have a nursing degree (for most MSN programs). Check with the programs you are interested in to see the prereqs for admission.

You work for whoever wants you to work for them. This could be a family practice doc, a specialist, the government, a hospital, the FBI, etc etc etc. To work for a large group such as a hospital, gov't, etc would grant you lower salary (around 60K/yr now) but many, many great benefits. To work for a private doctor may or may not offer great benefits, but will most likely offer more money usually based on the money you bring in to the practice.

 

[AxisNP]

I was pretty shocked when the first offer I had as an NP was less than I made as an RN only. I'm still working on trying to make more than I did as an RN only.

50% is very good deal. And hard to get. I'm on a per diem, and it isn't even 30%. However, I do get to keep all co-pays and self-pays. We have never been able to get the full charge other than a self-pay. The percentage we get from the insurance company plus co-pay still doesn't equal the full bill.

A friend of mine has yet to find any job that gives her more than she made as an RN only. But then the state she works in is horrible as far as NP's are concerned. She can't even write for schedule II medications. So that is part of what limits her. I know of two physicians who would love to have an NP ( they are in her area), but they have to have someone who can write schedule II's.

On the plus side it does depend. I do know of one practice that is all NP's. They pay a fee to their supervising physician. So they keep the majority of their reimbursements minus over head.

So whoever said it can vary wildly is correct. It depends on what you can negotiate and the demand for NP's in your area.

AxisNP