Job Offer--What do you think?

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I have a job offer to be "Clinical Director" of a facility that performs cosmetic procedures both surgical and nonsurgical.

My main responsibility would be running the non surgical side (med spa) and performing all the laser and fillers and doing sales. There are estheticians I would have to manage as well, I think 3.

When not busy in the spa I need to fill in where needed in the preop and PACU. There I would be doing surgical clearances and managing 2 RNs and 4 surgical techs/medical assistants. I would also have to fill in and do post op return visits if the doc is busy.

When not busy if the plastic surgeons were not available to perform a surgical consultation I would do it, selling the procedure (no comission on this).

I would also be expected to be on call 24/7! Which I am told works like this- first goes to the RNs, then to me, then I call Dr. I am also told that I'd only be getting like 2-3 calls per week mainly for "hand holding" type things with emotional surgical pts.

Here is the compensation package:

$75,000 base salary.

5% of gross sales on all injectables I do (still hashing out if laser procedures are included in that or not). I am told this would add at least $25k to my base.

2% of the growth from the non medical procedures that go on in the day spa area I supervise. I am told this would be about another $5k to my base.

2 weeks paid vacation

6 paid holidays

What I still don't know about: malpractice, (they have benefits but not sure how much I pay for that I know they do not contribute to 401k), no mention of CME $ or time off for that, sick day policy.

What do you guys think as is right now?

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Sounds good to me if that is what you want to do.

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I should add that the average salary for an ARNP in the cosmetic/skin care business according to the 2010 Advance for Nps Magazine survey is $105k. To me, the $75 base and simply doing the med spa procedures would put me at that $105 and I'm fine with that.

What my concern is that I'm really not being compensated for call, for management duties, for filling in in the pre and post op areas, for doing follow up visits and for doing surgical procedures consultations. I feel I should get more $$ to my base salary for that. Do you all think that is unreasonable of me? I'm not sure what to counter offer. What is the added value of doing all that stuff? Another $25k?

I should also mention that this company is trying to pressure me into taking the contract with no delay. I had the first interview on a Mon and called back for second one the very next day. An offer was made and hour after I left the second interview. When I said I needed to think about it they start in with how there are tons of people who want this job, they are interviewing this afternoon and would not want to waste people's time, etc. Doing a hard sell on me. I didn't like that.

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I'm really not qualified to judge whether that is a good job offer or not. However, just based on your own reservations you've mentioned it sounds like you are uncomfortable with it. First of all, does this job support your career goals? For all of your unanswered questions, what would you need to be offered to feel adequately compensated? If >25% of your salary is based on sales, how has the economy affected the industry? I think you have valid questions and observations. Trust your gut!

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Psych.

I have no idea whether or not this a solid job offer, but I worked as a medical esthetician in a med spa/laser clinic for a few years, and it is no picnic, especially in hard economic times. This is an industry that is HIGHLY sales oriented--do you have a quota for how much money you need to bring in each week/month? Are you expected to make a sale on a certain % of your surgical consultations? I went into that industry with a desire to help people, but soon realized that it is really nothing more than a retail sales job, but on a grander scale. Obviously what I did as an esthetician is far different from what your job responsibilities will be, but the whole med spa thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth. If it is what you want to do and you know what you are getting into, then I'd say go for it, but bear in mind that anything where sales are involved can get very, very stressful. I hope it all works out for you!

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Sounds interesting and it may be something that you might like if it's in line with your career goals. Are you an FNP or ANP? Do you think you would enjoy selling procedures? And managing other staff? I'm a little leary with the pay. I thought the base was too low and should be higher for all that you are expected to do. Then, I'm really concerned with the on call business and I know you may not get a lot of calls, but still that's kind of asking a lot, I think. Just not sure. If you are really interested, I would ask more questions and gather all of the information you need. Whatever you decide, I hope it works out for you!

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Thanks everyone for your replies and the awesome questions I need to still ask the employer. It's so helpful to get another's perspective.

As far as the cosmetic med spa business goes, sales and management, I am highly seasoned and comfortable with it all. I used to own my own spa doing this stuff. What worries me more is the pre/post op, call, follow up visits..lol, but I'm sure I can handle it with a little learning curve.

I just don't know if this is a "good" offer or not pay wise vs. all the work expected of me.

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What about medical/dental benefits, disability/life insurance? I think seeing a surgical patient and assessing them is one thing but to give an initial consult and try to "sell" the procedure is another- and something you should certainly receive compensation for - if the patient has the procedure. As far as the staff you would be managing, I think it depends on how much you have to do, would it be similar to the direction you would be giving to nurses, aids, etc? Good luck with what ever you decide!

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

It sounds like a really interesting job, but I'm not sure you're going to be compensated adequately for all you're going to be expected to do. Does the 24/7 on call entail just fielding phone calls, or would you ever be expected to go back to the center to see a patient? How many hours per week would you be expected to spend at the center? The salary is definitely too low if they expect you to put in 50-60 hours per week. I'm also concerned about the pressure they're putting on you to take the job. Is this a new position for the company? If not, you might want to ask why the previous NP left. Would they allow you to talk to current employees to get their feel for the company? Do you have to commit to any type of contract?

I'd go with your gut feeling. If something doesn't feel right, get it clarified before you make a decision. Best of luck to you!!

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It sounds like a really interesting job, but I'm not sure you're going to be compensated adequately for all you're going to be expected to do. Does the 24/7 on call entail just fielding phone calls, or would you ever be expected to go back to the center to see a patient? How many hours per week would you be expected to spend at the center? The salary is definitely too low if they expect you to put in 50-60 hours per week. I'm also concerned about the pressure they're putting on you to take the job. Is this a new position for the company? If not, you might want to ask why the previous NP left. Would they allow you to talk to current employees to get their feel for the company? Do you have to commit to any type of contract?

I'd go with your gut feeling. If something doesn't feel right, get it clarified before you make a decision. Best of luck to you!!

I did meet with the other staff including the collaborating docs (plastic surgeons), I met with each department's main figure heads. I got the impression that everyone was happy and worked well together. The docs basically wanted to know how good I was at dealing with emotional pt complaints/concerns. Call would not involve going back to office, just determining if the surgeon needs to get involved or if the pt's complications are emergency or not.

It's not a new position. The last NP was there for 4 years. The surgeons told me she didn't want to do the more permanent fillers, had difficulty handling complaining pts. The owners said she did really well for the most part but wanted more money. She was offered another job (which I think is less stressful by reading between the lines during the interview) and left.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Wow - I think $75 as a base salary is low. However, I don't know what part of the country you are in.

As to cosmetic/spa care: I would think there would be a huge difference between caring for a healthy person having elective surgery versus caring for someone who has had reconstructive/traumatic injury repair.

As to the 24/7 call: uh no! That's ridiculous! You don't get ANY time off!!!??? That means you never go anywhere, do anything, even having a glass of wine once in awhile would be out!

I don't have much of a life, but I still am not tied to my practice 24/7!

The benefits need to be added in too: if they don't contribute to a 401k then what is your retirement benefit? You need CME to keep your license up so that needs to be considered too.

And...in these hard economic times, are these folks making money?

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Wow - I think $75 as a base salary is low. However, I don't know what part of the country you are in.

This is for a very large well established surgical center in Ft. Lauderdale, been there 14 years. Any idea of how much more I should counter offer on the base?

As to cosmetic/spa care: I would think there would be a huge difference between caring for a healthy person having elective surgery versus caring for someone who has had reconstructive/traumatic injury repair.

As to the 24/7 call: uh no! That's ridiculous! You don't get ANY time off!!!??? That means you never go anywhere, do anything, even having a glass of wine once in awhile would be out!

Any suggestions to counter this, like calls after 5 per week reimbursed at x amt of $$? I don't think there's anyone else to take call at my skill level other than the docs. I'm fine with being on call (because my life is boring, don't drink or go anywhere) so long as I get paid for it.

I don't have much of a life, but I still am not tied to my practice 24/7!

The benefits need to be added in too: if they don't contribute to a 401k then what is your retirement benefit? You need CME to keep your license up so that needs to be considered too.

And...in these hard economic times, are these folks making money?

They tell me the non surgical side last year grossed $900k and that sales were down. Obviously I'd have to be able to look at the books if I signed on with them.

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