How low would you go?

[Goldenfox]

So, an acquaintance of mine who lives in Florida's Space Coast area, a newly minted psych NP, e-mailed to ask for my thoughts about a full-time psych position that she is considering applying for.

In the spirit of fraternity and goodwill, I'm not going to tell you how much the pay is yet. First, you need to be sitting down and with no hot beverages in your hand. And all who take medications for blood pressure and nervous conditions should have had taken these.

What shocks me the most about this isn't so much the position itself, but the fact that she's seriously considering it. Her family situation is such that she is unable to move right now, and she cannot find another NP job though she has been looking for quite a while. I want to tell her that she would be better off staying at the bedside as an RN (where she's currently making more money anyway) than to stoop to applying for this job. But maybe someone else has a different opinion for a new grad in her type of situation who can't find an NP job.

Ok, are you ready? Check it out...

ARNP, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner job - ADVANCED MEDICAL & MENTAL - Melbourne, FL | Indeed.com

Would you apply for an NP job with that salary?

[Jules A, MSN]

So that's like 22 bucks an hour maybe? Didn't do the math but I think it's close.

Lol that pa is getting reamed. People are so ignorant jeez

My math = $20 an hour. Your statement about ignorant people might sound harsh but I can not believe the number of NPs I have encountered who never did the math and actually have no clue how much they make, or should I say don't make?, on an hourly basis. Its embarrassing and yet the schools keep cranking out under experienced, under educated candidates. Yippee.

[Aromatic]

My math = $20 an hour. Your statement about ignorant people might sound harsh but I can not believe the number of NPs I have encountered who never did the math and actually have no clue how much they make, or should I say don't make?, on an hourly basis. Its embarrassing and yet the schools keep cranking out under experienced, under educated candidates. Yippee.

They must get sucked up into the altruism bag or something Florence nightingfail came up with back in the day. Employers feed on altruistic people

[Jules A, MSN]

Employers feed on altruistic people

They love it! I cringe every time I hear or read someone expressing concern that a prospective employer will think they are greedy or overly concerned about salary. To me that is an open door to take advantage and it won't stop at the employment contract. These are also the NPs still doing RN or CNA duties, answering phones, completing their own prior auths etc. to "help out" or show they are a "team player". I make it very clear from the beginning what my salary requirements are and after I'm hired I don't ever do anything a MD wouldn't do.

Its worked so far although as more and more naive NPs are graduating I'm planning on either retiring early or working at McDonalds because the money will be similar and the responsibility much less. That nurses mock the physicians' strategic plan to preserve their foothold and high quality by limiting any Tom, Dick or Harriet from becoming a doctor is laughable and yet another indication of the lack of business sense that runs rampant in nursing. We are our own worst enemy many times.

[Goldenfox]

They love it! I cringe every time I hear or read someone expressing concern that a prospective employer will think they are greedy or overly concerned about salary. To me that is an open door to take advantage and it won't stop at the employment contract. These are also the NPs still doing RN or CNA duties, answering phones, completing their own prior auths etc. to "help out" or show they are a "team player". I make it very clear from the beginning what my salary requirements are and after I'm hired I don't ever do anything a MD wouldn't do.

Its worked so far although as more and more naive NPs are graduating I'm planning on either retiring early or working at McDonalds because the money will be similar and the responsibility much less. That nurses mock the physicians' strategic plan to preserve their foothold and high quality by limiting any Tom, Dick or Harriet from becoming a doctor is laughable and yet another indication of the lack of business sense that runs rampant in nursing. We are our own worst enemy many times.

Jules A, you are a person after my own heart. I follow your posts and just love your mind. I wish I were as good as you. But, the more that I travel and talk to people the less faith I have in the future of humanity on the whole. There is so much self-depreciative rhetoric out there now....willingness to be subjugated and underpaid by those who purposefully seek to berate and exploit us for their own gain.

[Jules A, MSN]

Jules A, you are a person after my own heart. I follow your posts and just love your mind. I wish I were as good as you. But, the more that I travel and talk to people the less faith I have in the future of humanity on the whole. There is so much self-depreciative rhetoric out there now....willingness to be subjugated and underpaid by those who purposefully seek to berate and exploit us for their own gain.

Awww shucks, thanks for the kind words. I'm not all that. I just have a knack for making money and am willing to work like a beast.