Does your first job define you?

sailornurse · Oct 21, 2015

I started teaching. Had not planned on it. It was at the community college where I got my LPN & ADN. I ended up teaching in a BSN program for ten years. It was one of the best experiences I have had. So yeah any experience you get may help in another position. Right now I have 5 part time jobs, again, certainly did not plan that. I work in 2 urgent cares, do health risk assessments, cover one weekend a month at local inpatient psychiatric facility doing H&Ps/urgent consults, & work 2-3 days per week in allergy/asthma/immunology practice.

The psych exposure helps me in urgent care when I see psych med, the asthma/allergy job helps when I see psych patients with asthma/allergies, the family practice/women's health experience from the past helps me in urgent care/psych when I get gyn complaints.

So take any opportunity you can. I have been offered other teaching positions because of the 10 years teaching.

sauce · Oct 22, 2015

well.... i wouldn't work in a pain clinic for my first job. but otherwise as long as you don't suck it probably doesn't matter a whole lot.

Jules A, MSN · Oct 22, 2015

I believe your initial salary does set the tone for your future earnings. I have used my excellent rate as a stepping stone with every subsequent job. Imo if you start out making a low rate who in their right mind would offer you significantly more?

sauce · Oct 22, 2015

lol i applied for a job once then they offered me a pretty big pay cut. like almost in half.... they said they don't negotiate unfortunately. So i told them i already made more this year (this was back in july) than my salary would be there. Needless to say I didn't get the job offer. :)

Jules A, MSN · Oct 22, 2015

lol i applied for a job once then they offered me a pretty big pay cut. like almost in half.... they said they don't negotiate unfortunately. So i told them i already made more this year (this was back in july) than my salary would be there. Needless to say I didn't get the job offer. :)

That wouldn't hurt my feelings and in fact I think it is probably a learning opportunity for them, lol. I would actually enjoy saying "thank you so much for the offer but there is no way I'd consider that".

sauce · Oct 22, 2015

everybody needs practice interviews once in a while. I ended up with a much better paying job in a different setting in the ER. I am sure some poor sucker took that other job.

Jules A, MSN · Oct 22, 2015

I am sure some poor sucker took that other job.

And this is why some NPs are doing their own prior auths, vitals and I have been subjected to the comments from admin like "you expect us to pay a NP that?". The short answer is yes and they have but its still annoying.

MallysMama · Oct 22, 2015

I believe your initial salary does set the tone for your future earnings. I have used my excellent rate as a stepping stone with every subsequent job. Imo if you start out making a low rate who in their right mind would offer you significantly more?

What if I get a job working for the only academic hospital in the state....and they're known for paying less? Will that still hurt me when going to a different facility later on?

It's actually frustrating to learn what new grad NPs make around here. How can I negotiate when the whole area pays similar rates?

Jules A, MSN · Oct 23, 2015

What if I get a job working for the only academic hospital in the state....and they're known for paying less? Will that still hurt me when going to a different facility later on?
It's actually frustrating to learn what new grad NPs make around here. How can I negotiate when the whole area pays similar rates?

I'm guessing you knew this when you started NP school and if the whole area pays poorly you will probably be stuck in that range initially unless you have a working relationship with a physician who really wants you on their team.

For me personally there is no way I'd consider working somewhere known to pay bad even if it is a fancy teaching hospital. The people who are so enamored with a name and are willing to work for peanuts, imo, are chumps and detrimental to our profession.

I can't imagine expecting another employer to pay a premium wage if you have been willing to work for significantly less in the past. Hopefully if I'm wrong others will write in with their stories as I started out making fairly high end wages right out of school due to my area and the supply at that time so I do not have first hand experience with this.

MallysMama · Oct 23, 2015

I'm guessing you knew this when you started NP school and if the whole area pays poorly you will probably be stuck in that range initially unless you have a working relationship with a physician who really wants you on their team.

I actually didn't know this. ðŸ˜• I assumed that because the cost of living was so much higher than where I moved from- that the wages would match that. It's been disappointing hearing the averages recently. I'd like to fight for higher- but I just don't think it's possible (especially at the academic hospital).

But- not counting in $$$- could getting a first job in one specialty hurt my chances of changing specialties in the future?

Jules A, MSN · Oct 23, 2015

I actually didn't know this. ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ I assumed that because the cost of living was so much higher than where I moved from- that the wages would match that. It's been disappointing hearing the averages recently. I'd like to fight for higher- but I just don't think it's possible (especially at the academic hospital).
But- not counting in $$$- could getting a first job in one specialty hurt my chances of changing specialties in the future?

It probably isn't possible to do much negotiating with the teaching hospital. What is your draw to that facility? Is there nothing else around? The difference in pay can be significant.

No experience changing specialties but would guess that starting in a new specialty would be at least a little easier for an experienced NP to sell themselves as opposed to a new grad. ?? Good luck!