I have a very unorthodox (I think) payment arrangment accompanying an unsolicited job offer. I just graduated and i do not have a license yet, and had no intention of even looking for a job until the end of next year. However, a family practice doc I knew from my RN job at the hospital called me at home yesterday and asked me to help him out in the office PT. He wants to pay me $50/h in cash, for any hours I feel like working. This would be like contract work, withholdings etc would be up to me to handle. He pays all of his office staff this way. He offers no benefits of any kind to anyone, strictly cash for a days work, no one is allowed to work more than 24 hours/week. He says that this is the only way he can keep his business afloat, can't afford to deal with benefits and payroll issues. FWIW, he takes no insurance of any kind either, it is strictly cash for patients too (although everyone knows he never actually makes anyone pay and gives away tons of his services for free). His office is chaotic but friendly, and he is extremely busy. He won't turn anyone away, so he's there un til 10pm many nights, makes house calls too. He does not see pts in the hospital. If his pts are admitted, they go to the hospitalist.
He's a very nice guy, likes and supports NPs, says he'd be happy to mentor me as a new grad. I told him I wasn't planning on looking for a NP job b/c I'm going straight into the DNP, and he said "that's great!". He was getting ready to place an ad, but one of his staff is a friend of mine, mentioned i just graduated and he thought I'd be great, so he called me first. I told him I'd have to think about it. My first instinct is no, but I don't want to pass up an opportunity to work as much or as little as I want, keep up skills, learn and grow a little. One downside that is concerning is that he has been ostracized by all the other docs in this community. They universally hate him. Long story, but basically he is a Patch Adams type. Unconventional in every respect and he told the hospital to go screw themselves a long time ago, and ditto medicare and ins companies. His patients love him, and while I've heard people look for ways to criticize his medicine, I've never heard anyone say he is incompetent. I don't know if i want to be tainted by his bad boy rep though, in case I have to get a real job in this community some day, lol.
I don't need the money and I don't need benefits. I do need to learn though, and I have no doubt he could teach me a lot and he'd be a fun person to work with in a nontraditional FP clinic environment. No clue how malprac would work, and I have no idea what questions to ask him. Your thoughts are appreciated!
I'd work for him in a minute! The other docs probably don't like him because he doesn't strictly follow EBM. Research, which most docs follow, has been shown to be up to 90% wrong. Ask him if he needs a PMHNP!
My husband and I have decided that this is not a good time for me to start a new job. I have DNP coursework and boards to take, several trips aborad planned, my oldest son is getting married in July, and I don't want to be pressured or rushed. I'm going to wait until fall, and if Dr. S still needs someone we will talk then. I am going on a medical mission w/ Dr S in Feb, and perhaps again in May, so we will get a chance to work together and see if we are a good fit w/o commitment. Thanks for your feedback!
Specializes in Anesthesia, Pain, Emergency Medicine.
You don't have to be an employee. Remember, you are a professional. You can open your own practice(in most states) if you want to. You can also work as an independent contractor, which is your own business. Its a great way to go.
zenman
1 Article; 2,806 Posts
I'd work for him in a minute! The other docs probably don't like him because he doesn't strictly follow EBM. Research, which most docs follow, has been shown to be up to 90% wrong. Ask him if he needs a PMHNP!