This is a hard topic to discuss, but I think it’s an important one. This is especially true for NP students, new grads and those considering becoming an NP.

No one who is in NP school or recently graduated wants to talk about the elephant in the room, but we have to talk about it.

When I graduated it took me 6 months to land my first job. That was 7 years ago in 2014. The job outlook is much different in 2021. Now I’m hearing of new grads not getting their first NP job YEARS after graduation.

There are a few reasons why this is happening.

It could be that some areas are more saturated than others and that you just need to plan to relocate to a more rural area.

Maybe you’ve found a job, but the pay is WELL below the national average pay for NPs.

Or it could be to the proliferation of online schools with a 100% pass rate.

I’m not exactly sure what the cause is and maybe it’s a combination of more than one thing, but all I know is that if you’re considering going to NP school or are currently in NP school make sure you have a backup plan.

If you’ve already graduated from school not much can be done, but I urge nurses considering NP school to think long and hard before pursuing this career.

Make sure you have a plan A, B, C, D, and beyond if you need too.

Watch this video to see my thoughts on NP saturation.