FIGURE
In April 2003, The Nurse Practitioner published its well-received salary survey based on 1,495 NP respondents who mailed in their answers, participated online, or answered the survey at the journal's 2002 National Conference for Nurse Practitioners (NCNP).
To gain more current information on the salary climate in our field, we asked NPs attending the 2003 NCNP to complete a brief follow-up survey. Although the figures we collected cannot be construed as statistically valid, they do provide a snapshot update of salaries, benefits, and practice demographics.
Where and How Do We Practice?
From the 500 NPs who provided salary information, we can ascertain some practice characteristics. Most of the participants serve populations that are primarily suburban, while the second largest population they serve is urban middle or upper class. Most of the NPs from the Northeast region, on average, see about 11 to 15 patients per day. However, in the Southeast, Central, Midwest, and West, most of the NPs see an average of 16 to 20 patients per day. Most of the respondents report spending an average of 16 to 20 minutes with each patient, except for those from the Central region, who average 21 to 30 minutes.
Salary and Benefits
Our April 2003 survey showed a mean salary range of $60,000 to $65,000. When we checked in with NCNP attendees, they reported good news -a higher mean salary range. Attendees from the Southeast, Midwest, and West report earnings between $60,000 to $69,000, while those from the Northeast and Central regions say they earn $70,000 to $79,000. Further, their reported years of experience as an NP are similar to our April 2003 survey (5 years or less).
Particularly intriguing were the NP respondents' answers to the additional benefits they receive as part of their employment package. Health insurance, continuing education, and malpractice insurance are the top three benefits respondents say they receive as part of their employment package. Are you in the midst of negotiating your salary and work conditions? Perhaps this information can assist you in negotiating your own employment package.TABLE
Where do you and NPs in your region stand in regards to salary and benefits? The Nurse Practitioner's National NP Salary Survey will be conducted again in 2005. To offer feedback on salary matters, patient load, demographic information, and level of experience, consider sending a letter to the editor using the e-mail address below. [email protected]