Job Offer, but I have reservations.....

Specialties NP

Published

Was offered a job by my preceptor and medical director at a college campus clinic. I was honored, since I don't graduate until May, but was very disappointed at the starting salary. I've never considered being an NP for the money, but I make more working 2 days a week as a floor nurse than the offer salary. I already feel that higher education within nursing is not valued, and this further justifies my belief. As I think about it, a new grad RN working at my hospital will earn about $5000.00 a year more than I will if I do take the job (which is unlikely), how is that possible???

My preceptor took a significant pay cut ($65,000 a year) and says her quality of life is much better (no weekends or holidays, and the summer off), and I should consider more than salary when I become an NP. I do agree with her to a point. But I feel if NP's continue to accept such embarrassingly low salaries, then employers will continue to devalue the nursing profession as a whole.

I will keep the offer in my back pocket, but continue to search for other opportunities (I like retail healthcare, don't laugh...lol) as I get closer to graduation and taking the boards.

Anyone care to share their thoughts (sorry if this topic has been discussed already as I didn't do a search)?

Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I wanted to add that the low amounts that NP's in some areas of the country start at is exactly why I wanted to go back to school for my NP before I had a ton of RN experience (I will have 6 years when I graduate). My concern was if I waited 10 or 15 years or even longer it would not be financially worth it for me to make the transition from RN to NP. My nurse manager is actually an NP who went back to school after being an ICU RN for 20 some years and could not find a job making more than she was making in ICU, so she ended up never working as an NP. Instead she stayed in ICU until a management position opened up. Sad, really.

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac Medicine, Retail Health.

I knew eventually that my body would not hold up to continued floor nursing (bad back and knees) so I am thankful to not be shackled by the proverbial golden handcuffs...

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$65,000 yearly with the whole summer (3 months?) off seems ok to me...maybe I'm missing something.

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac Medicine, Retail Health.

If it were $65,000, my decision would be much easier.....:). Unfortunately its $49,000, which is not very competitive...

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

As others have said, college health positions are pretty low paying. They also can give you a pretty nice quality of life, especially if you enjoy working with that age group. Here's a couple of things to consider. Some college health services operate on skeleton staff if they have students over the summer, and that means additional pay above the 9 month salary if you work. Also, you can get free or reduced tuition for yourself or immediate family. If you have kids approaching college age, it's something to consider.

Good luck in finding a position you love!

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If it were $65,000, my decision would be much easier.....:). Unfortunately its $49,000, which is not very competitive...

ohhh....sorry :-( now i understand

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.
If it were $65,000, my decision would be much easier.....:). Unfortunately its $49,000, which is not very competitive...

Say what???

RNs in my area WITHOUT differentials make more than that. New grads.

I find that pay to be borderline insulting. I think NPs should be starting off with AT LEAST 65k/yr, and I'm not even factoring high cost of living where base rate should be higher.

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Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

Did you try negotiating yet? I say that as I have never ever negotiated my pay lol, but in this instance, it looks like it might be worth it. What do other clinic NP's in your area make? I think you would have to compare the salary that way to see if it's fair in your area. You can always get experience there and go elsewhere to make more money.

I was looking at NP jobs in my area to see if the pay was worth going back to school as an NP, etc, but every single one preferred experience. So....something to look into before rejecting it. I'm unsure what I will go back to school for in the future, but I am with you; I can't afford to take out loans for education and not make enough to pay them off in a reasonable period of time.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I think you should try to negotiate for a higher salary asking for more than you really want or expect so when they bargain down from there you still get a decent salary. I think it's a bad idea to just accept a lowball offer because that will be setting you up for a lower salary for years to come and is one of the reasons women get paid less than men. If you start low subsequent raises will be less and even if you switch jobs you'll still be at a lower salary.

Is the clinic a union position where the pay is set by the union or is there wiggle room. I would counter the offer and keep it on the back burner. But also look at the whole picture, consider if the college offers better benefits insurance and pension vs what you would get working for private practice. Private practice might not pay benefits, especially health insurance so consider that as well.

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Have you considered applying with the VA? Their NP's make more than what you have been offered. If you work in an Outpatient Clinic you would work weekdays with federal holidays off. Double retirement benefits.

The biggest benefit is you would be caring for our veterans!

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I may be completely wrong, but generally don't the benefits really make it worth it? You aren't going to be working as many hours per year, and I would imagine that the health and retirement benefits are exceptional. I'm not sure though, I just know that many of the people at my community college love where they are at because of the above reasons.

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Perhaps you can agree to the $49k per year and whatever benefits are offered, but also have them throw in a sort of debt forgiveness plan over the next three years or so. So if you owe (just to throw a figure in there) $30k for the education at the university to obtain your MSN, they could knock off $10k per year for three years along with the agreed upon salary and benefits package. Worth a shot, right? Maybe you can convince them to knock of $15k a year for 2 years and then get the hell out of there :)

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