Experienced NP seeking Derm Job

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Hello. I have 5 yrs of NP experience and have been offered a job at a Derm clinic. They want me to work as an MA for 6 months and then train as an NP for another 6 to 12 months for $25/hr. Then I would be paid on commission and earn 22.5% of what I made for the clinic. Is this normal? If not, how were you trained and with what kind of salary. This clinic seems great but I feel like they may be xploiting me. Any advice would be appreciated.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Hunh!!!!!???? With 5 years experience they want you to work as a medical assistant!!!!!!??????

Uh no, no, no, no, no!!!!!!!! Run fast, run far.....

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I can understand a reduced salary during a training period. However, working as an MA for 6 months makes no sense whatsoever. This just seems too weird. Proceed with extreme caution.

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Ya, sounds crazy. Not sure why they would do that. Is really strange.

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Specializes in DHSc, PA-C.

absolutely.....NOT. A reduced salary for a few months because you are working side by side with the doc being trained, but beyond that is not the normal. Especially asked to work as an MA for 6 months before even being allowed to train as a derm NP.

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I don't get it. Is it bc the clientele is so snobby?

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In no way, shape or form is this acceptable. Even for a new grad NP. You are an NP - not an MA. To ask a RN to do this is unacceptable. Even if they paid you an NP salary while you acted as a MA it would be unacceptable. How many different ways can I say how unacceptable this is???

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

Is this real life? This sounds insane.

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I just really wanted to get into Derm and I did get another more normal offer, but this place was so close to my home and has better hours. I so busy don't know what normal compensation for a derm NP is. Obviously not $25 an hour...

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Obviously not $25 an hour...

That's less than a new grad RN earns. Come on now. I would decline that offer and explain to them exactly why. What a disrespectful and completely preposterous idea.

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Dermatology is one of the highest paid medical specialties, so it makes no sense for them to nickel and dime you. The MA thing is just ridiculous. However, let's say the MA was not an issue. Why would you accept $25 an hour for 6 to 12 months? It's not going to take that long to train you. You are an experienced NP and can start being productive in some ways immediately. You can quickly learn the simpler procedures and then gradually learn more complex procedures over time. So let's say that after one month, you can perform a couple of simple procedures by yourself. That would free up the MD to perform the more lucrative procedures. I would negotiate a stepped salary increase based on procedures learned, performed, and time - say an increase after 1 month, 3 months, etc. You should also get the 22.5% once you start performing procedures on your own. While I find this practice highly suspect, maybe they are just clueless, so it wouldn't hurt to try to talk to them. But there is absolutely no way you should accept this offer as it stands.

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Agree- I am an experienced RN. If I wanted to switch specialities, I would not accept a reduced rate of pay, even though there would be a training period. It's worth it to the employer because a well trained employee will pay off in the long run.

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