$29/hr--why am I still in this job!?

allnurses Guide · Jan 20, 2017

Ouch! Minute Clinic around here pays $55/hr.

Aromatic · Jan 20, 2017

What is the question though? That pay is awful, i mean especially at 10 years of experience. You know what you need to do

xenogenetic · Jan 20, 2017

Its like I tell my wife during snowstorms when I rant about why we continue to live in the northeast and not in a warmer state...they have invented planes, trains and cars, so why not consider moving?! Usually the answer is family related, as it is with us.

Jules A, MSN · Jan 20, 2017

Usually the answer is family related, as it is with us.

I'm just not that attached to anyone, relatives included, to work for such low wages. The remote places should pay more because most people don't want to live there and yet somehow they seem to exploit the fear that they are the only game in town. Oldest trick in the book, or one of them anyway.

I shudder to calculate the additional money that should have been made during a decade of practicing at what has to be close to 1/2 what other NPs in any area of this country are making. >$400,000

matthewandrew, NP · Jan 20, 2017

I hope the cost of living there is free.

ndnursepract · Jan 20, 2017

What is the question though? That pay is awful, i mean especially at 10 years of experience. You know what you need to do

Yep, no question. Mostly venting in what I hope is a safe place to do so. I know I need to have asked for a raise a 1000 times over, but then I figure I am so far behind the 8 ball at this point, he will probably give me $1/hr increase, so why bother. Starting a new job in September, and will not make the mistake of not asking for my worth again!

ndnursepract · Jan 20, 2017

I'm just not that attached to anyone, relatives included, to work for such low wages. The remote places should pay more because most people don't want to live there and yet somehow they seem to exploit the fear that they are the only game in town. Oldest trick in the book, or one of them anyway.
I shudder to calculate the additional money that should have been made during a decade of practicing at what has to be close to 1/2 what other NPs in any area of this country are making. >$400,000

Perhaps the remote places SHOULD pay more, but they definitely do not. Even RNs/LPNs make quite a bit less here than in the larger cities of the state. Still no excuse for my low wages. And despite the low wages, our clinic has amazing longevity among its employees. I'm still one of the more recent employees there!

I'm married to a farmer, so moving anywhere is not an option. We too have thought how much money we have lost in a sense from continuing this. I think every year I have thought, "this is the year he will give us a raise", but at this point, I can pretty well see it's not going to happen. Starting a new job in September, yet still have an odd sense of loyalty to this employer. I guess because he created a job for me and gave me a chance right out of NP school, and really has taught me a lot.

Jules A, MSN · Jan 20, 2017

I think every year I have thought, "this is the year he will give us a raise", but at this point, I can pretty well see it's not going to happen. Starting a new job in September, yet still have an odd sense of loyalty to this employer. I guess because he created a job for me and gave me a chance right out of NP school, and really has taught me a lot.

Congratulations on your new job! I hope you gave your present employer the option to match your new offer especially since it sounds like you enjoy working there and have a feeling of loyalty to him.

Whether your employer is miserly or uneducated on appropriate NP reimbursement or possibly both by sitting around waiting for a raise and allowing your emotions to contribute to a 10 year losing proposition unfortunately you have perpetuated the problem. I recently had someone tell me they had hoped their employer who was bringing in new grads at a higher rate than this long term employee would recognize and reward those who had been there for years. I was flabbergasted because while the employer absolutely should honor loyal employees if they are willing to slog along without requiring more money, as this person clearly is, the employer would be kind of stupid to pay additional money at someone who will stay regardless. We are making 6 figures and with thousands of dollars at stake imo we can't afford not to be competent at business negotiations.

xenogenetic · Jan 20, 2017

Perhaps the remote places SHOULD pay more, but they definitely do not. Even RNs/LPNs make quite a bit less here than in the larger cities of the state. Still no excuse for my low wages. And despite the low wages, our clinic has amazing longevity among its employees. I'm still one of the more recent employees there!
I'm married to a farmer, so moving anywhere is not an option. We too have thought how much money we have lost in a sense from continuing this. I think every year I have thought, "this is the year he will give us a raise", but at this point, I can pretty well see it's not going to happen. Starting a new job in September, yet still have an odd sense of loyalty to this employer. I guess because he created a job for me and gave me a chance right out of NP school, and really has taught me a lot.

Are you in an independent practice state? If yes, what does your employment agreement state about the possibility of starting your own practice on the side part-time that you could possibly transition into?

TicTok411 · Jan 20, 2017

I would work for $30 and hour if I could work from home via telehealth. Sit in my living room in my sweat pants drinking coffee while I cured the world.. LOL

Jules A, MSN · Jan 20, 2017

I would work for $30 and hour if I could work from home via telehealth. Sit in my living room in my sweat pants drinking coffee while I cured the world.. LOL

Too much risk for me. Prescribing and diagnosing are areas of high liability so I want to be well compensated regardless of if I'm wearing a business suit or my jammies. :)