My Job Hunt

kmchugh · Jan 19, 2003

OK, here is how I've handled my job hunt so far.

I decided to take the shotgun approach. I started at Gaswork.com, and looked at the jobs posted there in states where I might consider working. Generally, that meant the southeastern and midwest states. However, I also had the mindset that I was willing to go just about anywhere, provided the job was right. I also went to this site:

http://www.anesthesia-nursing.com/jobs.html

The guy who runs the site lists a number of different links for CRNA job searches. Some are agency links, others are not.

For EVERY job at any site that looked remotely interesting to me, I have fired off an email or other response inquiring about the position. One mistake I have made so far: I did not start out organized. I have received a number of responses, and keeping them straight has been very tough. I wish I had kept a log of all my inquiries.

Here are some of the things I had in mind when I began my search:

Salary and benefits: Though wherever I decide to work does not have to necessarily match my current salary and benefits, I am not interested in going somewhere to work for less overall compensation. Generally, the salary had to at least match what I make now (including my overtime pay). If the benefits were less than what I am receiving now, I am looking for an increased salary to make up for the lost benefit.

Work and time off: As most of you know, I am currently keeping a killer schedule. In the last two weeks, I have worked 119 hours, and there is no sign of slowing down. What little precious time off I do have is mostly spent sleeping. I want more time with my family, and less time spent in the OR. Where ever I interview, I will be particularly tuned to this factor. When I signed the contract for my current position, I was told that I could plan on average 50 hour work weeks. That was perfect from a time off versus overtime standpoint. Of course, for the last several months, a 50 hour week seems almost luxurious to me.

Independence and practice parameters: Where I work now is great for experience at certain things, particularly doing anesthesia for very sick (most of our patients are ASA III and IV), there are other areas where I hope for more independence. Depending on which doc is supervising, I may or may not get to choose the induction agents, place lines as necessary (and I have generally become quite adept at central lines), and so forth. The senior doctor in the group sees CRNA's as mostly babysitters. I have to have his approval for most of the drugs I use (and he is unfamiliar with remifentanil, so he doesn't like it), and generally am not allowed to do ANY procedures, such as place central lines, spinal anesthetics, and epidural catheters, when he is supervising. I want more independence to choose my own anesthetics, and more freedom to do my own procedures. I also found in school that I enjoyed doing some OB anesthesia, which our group does not do.

Location is not as important. Though I do have some standards, I spent 14 years in the military, and have found location is not nearly as important to a good life as is good work environment. Generally, to meet what I want, my wife and I have accepted that I will have to practice anesthesia in a more rural environment than where we currently live. That's OK, but the downside is that I won't be doing hearts and heads anymore. But don't kid yourself. Giving up doing those in order to have a good family life is a VERY SMALL price to pay.

Next weekend, I am traveling to rural Illinois for an interview at a hospital where, if I accept the position, I will be one of two or three CRNA's doing anesthesia. What I have learned so far is that IF you are on weekend call, you might make it to a 40 hour work week. There are no MDA's at this hospital, so my practice will be as independent as it gets, and they do some OB (I think about 80 - 100 deliveries per year) These folks have impressed me with what they have had to say about CRNA's, and have met all my requests for compensation. The downside is that I will be an employee of the hospital. But, that could be OK.

There is another position here in Kansas I am also considering. It is an all CRNA group, that offers a partnership with no buy in after one year in the group. The rewards of a partnership can be quite lucrative.

I'll keep you posted.

Kevin McHugh

Edited to add: I am a little reluctant to post the actual salary I am being offered, but I will say it is a greater than 50% increase over my current base salary.

New CCU RN · Jan 19, 2003

Just wantd to wish ya good luck with your job hunting

kmchugh · Jan 22, 2003

Update

Going this Friday to the interview. So far, the hospital has paid for all travel, hotels, meals, rent a car, etc. I am doing all of this through a head hunter who normally does only locum tenens work, but is doing a permanent placement as a favor to the hospital. I must say, I am impressed with both the head hunter and the hospital.

Kevin

TraumaNurse · Jan 23, 2003

Best of luck, Kevin!

kmchugh · Jan 24, 2003

I leave today for the interview. Won't have access to a computer till I get back, and won't be back till Sunday night. I'll let you all know what happens.

Kevin

g8rlimey · Jan 25, 2003

Good luck brother, wish you the best of bargaining powers!

kmchugh · Jan 27, 2003

Well, its been quite a weekend. The town was just about everything I expected. Small, rural, pop 5000. PO - DUNK. But, I have come to know that if a CRNA wants to make a better salary, then the CRNA has to look at more rural areas. And, as small towns go, this one is pretty nice. A few places to go, not too much trash, etc.

The hospital has 2 OR's, and does 2 - 10 cases a day. (It appears that the busiest days are not actually surgery days, but days that endoscopy is done.) There is also a pretty active OB department there, so there will be some after hours OB work. Primarily, that will consist of putting in epidurals, then sleeping in the hospital till delivery impends. Currently, there is one CRNA there, and she is leaving in about 18 months. In the time between, they are looking to hire two more CRNA's so there will be a total of three CRNA's.

Contract wise, I'm getting most of the same benefits I get now, though the retirement isn't nearly what I get with my current position. However, the couple of things that I'm not getting are more than made up for by a SUBSTANTIAL increase in salary. Though I'm not really at liberty to say what the actual salary is, it is greater than a 60% increase over current salary, so the differences in retirement and student loan repayment assistance are more than made up for. There is also a $10,000 sign on bonus, and all moving expenses are paid by the hospital.

I am not part of the nursing staff at this hospital, but considered part of the medical staff, with all the benefits any other member of the medical staff. I will not only be involved in OR and OB, but will advise on issues of ventilation management and critical care with the few patients who need that type of care. No heads or hearts. There is one general surgeon who does not seem to be afraid of doing any type of general surgery, up to and including whipple procedures. The nice thing is, looking at his credentials and experience, he is not overstepping, and is fully capable of doing what he says he can do.

I was a bit overwhelmed by the welcome we received in this town. On our arrival, the sign in front of the hospital had been changed to welcome us (by name) to the hospital. We were ushered into a conference room where a large wicker basket awaited. Along with various candies and cookies, these people had discovered what the interests of my family were, and provided small gifts for each of us. My 20 year old daughter received a Dixie Chicks CD, and the 3 year old got a Thomas the Tank Engine book and a Princess Barbie.

They had nearly all of my time scheduled with meetings with doctors and tours of the facility. We ate meals with the medical staff, so everyone had a chance to meet me and look me over, while I was afforded the same opportunity.

My wife was taken on a tour of the area by a local realtor, and found a 120 year old house within a five minute walk of the hospital that has been completely refurbished in the last five years. It is a gorgeous five bedroom Victorian. The back patio has been completely bricked in, and covered. It receives heat from the house, but is open enough to give an outside feel. Its great.

I have not yet committed to anything. I didn't want to act based on the overwhelmed feeling I had, so I am considering the offer. They are going to mail a work agreement to me this week, and if it includes all the items we discussed, I'd say there is a 99.999% chance that I'll be moving soon. (They even want to buy me out of my current contract.) In return for the bonus and moving expenses, I have only a one year committment to work for the hospital.

So, that's where the job hunt stands.

Kevin

London88 · Jan 27, 2003

Kevin

Without knowing all the fine details, it seems like this hospital has made it its mission to snare you. I would be feeling very special if I were in your place. It sounds like a great place to work. First impressions go a long way!

smiling_ru · Jan 27, 2003

It does sound like a great place. There is a lot of value to working in a facility where you are GREATLY appreciated. It sure seems that that will be the case if you go there. And, there is nothing better then an old victorian house!

MICU RN · Jan 27, 2003

Way to go Kevin! Did you ever think when you were an ICU RN that one day you would be treated so well by a hospital and medical staff? It is good to see a fellow nurse get treated so well and professional. Just think if they started treating RN's half that well what kind of difference it could make with the profession as a whole. After reading your experience it motivates me more to keep trying to become a crna. As a matter of fact, I start my grad. stats course today and hopefully I will start crna school next fall.

EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2003

Wow!! They really wined and dined you, huh? Congrats on your great offer! :balloons: :biggringi

Brenna's Dad · Jan 28, 2003

That's excellent Kevin. Good luck