Contract negotiation

I'm curious too... Maybe the experienced NPs could answer? Jules? Boston? Sailor? Please :)

Be glad you have a contract! I worked for a National company for 8 years. I rose this site's situations to new heights. We were being told by the clients that they were immensely satisfied. The contractor who secured our services was also extremely satisfied. We had a 3 year appraisal of our facility similar to a hospital JCOAH assessment. At the final meeting we were told that this assessment group had been working together making these facility assessments across the country for ten years as the same group. During that period we were found to be the the second best facility they had assessed during that time frame. I had worked my way up from my original base pay to about 20% higher pay in those 8 years. Then a real "GI Jane" came in as the vice president for this state in this organization. Suddenly weeks after her arrival I was told they would no longer need my services. I was stunned. No severance pay. No notice. No repayment for accrued sick leave. Nothing just pick up your stuff and get out. They immediately brought in a new NP at my original base pay. within six weeks she balked at a request to send a 39 year old client to the Hospital as she felt she was about to give birth. The new shift charge nurse was there taking report from the previous charge nurse when the attendant from the infirmary screamed out "She is having a baby in the bed." That was one reason this company had lost a 4.5 million dollar a year contract with another big facility some two years previously. Because they had allowed another birth in that facility. Not to mention a personal law siut for 2.5 million brought by the woman who was not serviced properly. After that our orders were no "baby in the bed" scenarios. I had some significant OB experience many years prior, and was confident that would never happen on my watch. This replacement had a real attitude, and it was not what should have been there. They paid a lot more then they saved from firing me.

I did go to an employment lawyer and he heard my case and looked me square in the eye and said without a contract you are toast. So I say to you if you can go to these contract negotiations with a lawyer. Yes! It will cost you about $1,000, and I know you are healer, not a conniver, but you will get so much more out of it then you could ever imagine, including peace of mind. Good Luck!