It's Contract Time!

[SnowShoeRN]

So, for many reasons, I decided to go with job B (https://allnurses.com/advanced-practice-nursing/the-lesser-of-1034434.html) and am at the contract negotiation phase.

I've never negotiated a contract before and I'm lost as to how to do it and honestly just not sure if I should even be trying to negotiate anything.

I've been reading things on AN and other online sources as well as watching some Carolyn Buppert videos and I still feel really lost especially when it comes to the calculating-your-worth-thing because I really have no clue what the billing practices are at the facility where I would be working. They see a lot of medicaid/self-pay patients, but I don't know where to start. Basically, my starting salary would be $83,000 which is about 12K less than average for where the position is offered, but they also have great other stuff which may easily even it out. And I'm a new grad. And they're a non-profit federally qualified health center so there's that.

*Starting salary of $83,000 (Job "A" would have been 112K for all those wondering)

* Sign on bonus of $2,000

* Relocation $3,300

* CME $1,500 and 4 days

* Productivity bonuses from $6,400 - $9,500 a year

* Yearly wage increase of 3%

* Health, dental, and vision

* Short term disability paid by practice (I don't know all the details on this, just that I don't have to pay into it like I have with hospital jobs)

* 3 weeks combined vacation and sick time (accrues at start and increases with longevity)

* 9 paid holidays

* 1.25 hours admin time daily

* malpractice insurance (I'm in the process of finding out if it's occurrence or claims)

* 403b with employer contribution after 1 year

Other perks:

* Practicing in a non-restricted state (woo-hoo!)

* FQHC eligible for 60K+ for 2 years service

Do you think this is fair? It seems pretty fair to me, but I don't want to undervalue myself. Do you think I should try to negotiate anywhere? I've been told by a few people that the base pay "isn't really negotiable" but should I try anyway? My 2 main concerns with the terms are the vacation/sick time and the CME. I've read from a few places (including the ANA) that vacation should really be 3-4 weeks, sick should be 12-14 days, and CME's should be at least $2,500, but maybe starting out lower is fine if it accrues? I'm so lost...

Also, they don't pay for DEA and license, which is a bummer but not the end all be all. Their logic is that they've "gotten burned in the past" so I guess I get it even though it's annoying.

Once again I would really appreciate any help and insight you could offer. Thanks so much. :)