First NP JOB.. Should I stick it out

[newnp31]

I need some serious advice on my current job position. I am a new graduate FNP. I have been at my current job for about 5 months. When I interviewed for the job, I was told the position entitled seeing 15 patients max a day, this included hospital rounding with the MD, rehab patients/ and sometimes office patients. I was also told in the interview process that the hours were somewhat flexible ( I have two small children so this was a bonus for me) that I could round on my patients and take call/chart at office or home. This is not the case since day one. Literally day one I saw patients by myself. I see on average 20 patients in the hospital ( I round with the MD but I do all the charting and take all hospital calls, including ED admissions throughout the day. I then have to round on my rehab patients which is usually around 10-15 patients a day. If we get a new hospital admission during the day ( which we always get at least 1-3) I have to go back to the hospital at the end of the day to see them and dictate the h& p. This is a long process for a new NP, looking at the chart, going over medications and dictating. So needless to say I am usually at the hospital until 630-7 at night everynight. I get to the hospital at 730 am so I can go over patients labs etc. This was not expressed to me in interview either that I would have to stay at office just in case we got hospital admissions and for me to go back to the hospital. I also take call one night a week from the hospital ( which I am usually up all night taking calls) as well as one weekend a month which includes Friday -Monday morning call and having to round at the hospital on those on call weekends and chart etc... I AM ALWAYS WORKING!!! If I had been told all of this before then I would say suck it up but I am seeing 30 patients a day.working 12 hrs a day 5 days a week and taking call. I feel that I am working so warped speed that I am going to make a mistake and put my license at risk. I do like the MD, he is a good teacher and very kind, I have tried telling him I am overwhelmed and this is not what I was told, however it hasnt changed. ... I really want to stick it out for a yr but I am literally sick all the time from the amount of hours and stress. Any advice. Would it ruin me if I left bc of this, is this normal and I should just put my big girl pants on and deal with it? Any advice is much appreciated.

[TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN]

It sounds like you are being flat out abused.

Do you have a contract to fall back on? Any kind of per-patient bonus structure? Benefits? It's hard to tell just how badly you are being abused without further information on compensation, bonus structure, specifics of contract, etc.

And, no, it wouldn't ruin you or your career to move on for greener pastures. I think it is fairly common in the industry for new grads to be taken on their first job - wish it wasn't true but I see it more and more. Believe me, employers know and understand the game and I doubt it will be held against you so long as you leave in a professional way.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

I think it is time to have a serious talk with the MD. Tell him this is not what you signed up for. You like the MD for the above mentioned reasons but the workload is a burden and you are seriously considering moving elsewhere. As RNs we are used to being stepped on and there is a level of acceptance which is not advancing our profession. But that's a whole other discussion. You are an advance practice health professional and therefore have more weight than you did as a "measly" RN. Use it!

[TammyG]

You could be me, six months ago. I was working seven days a week, 14 hours per day. I had no time to do anything. I was miserable. I wanted to stick it out for at least a year, but finally I couldn't take it anymore.

I gave notice and found a wonderful job, working 40 hours per week for more money in a supportive environment doing work that I love. I never looked back.

Atleast half of my NP class quit their first job within the first year. There are a lot of bad jobs out there. If you want to stick it out, at least talk to your boss and set some limits. You are not being paid to work those kind of hours. It sounds like they will just take advantage of you ( as my employer did of me) until you quit.

[MamaPedsNP]

This sounds like abuse to me. I would talk to the MD and explain your very legitimate concerns and help him see that what's going on is not appropriate and even unsustainable. If things don't change, it is time to dust off that resume and walk.

Good luck.

[kitty9898]

Run don't walk away from that job! They are totally abusing you!

[GoodNP]

Rest assured, it won't ruin you to leave. However, I think it's only fair to give your employer an opportunity to change. Unless of course you have witnessed your peers try to speak up and get nowhere. I personally am learning that it is all about the bottom line for physicians. They hire NPs/PAs to make them more money. Point, the end. The more patients you see, the more money they make. And they expect you to work as hard as they do, even though YOU have no stake in THEIR business.

[MomAndSonInMD]

Rest assured, it won't ruin you to leave. However, I think it's only fair to give your employer an opportunity to change. Unless of course you have witnessed your peers try to speak up and get nowhere. I personally am learning that it is all about the bottom line for physicians. They hire NPs/PAs to make them more money. Point, the end. The more patients you see, the more money they make. And they expect you to work as hard as they do, even though YOU have no stake in THEIR business.

But the OP said they have already spoken up.

OP, I have worked for bosses like this, not in nursing, but in life. I lasted 8 years where our average turnover was 6 mos. due to burnout. I kid you not. We were *constantly* hiring. In my experience, if you've said it once and nothing changed, it's not going to change. As others have said, I'd move on to greener pastures.

[Alicia777, MSN, NP]

OP-you posted this back in December, any update?

I left my first job after less than a year too. Best decision I made. Don't look back!