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.
I don't know...I'm no expert, but from what you're saying, I'd be very careful signing on with this place. First, I think you're being underpaid given the amount of responsibility you'll have. Most NPs in my area are being offered about $85-90K a year for just clinical duties, with no management responsibilities. Granted, salaries vary from place to place but the $75,000 seems low. I would also insist on being paid per hour for every hour you're on call. They want to own you 24/7-they need to pay you for it. I'd ask for at least $8-10 an hour for being on call. I'd also ask for more vacation and make sure you have some paid sick time. The fact that the previous NP left because she wasn't making enough money and she was stressed sends up a red flag. Was it that she never got a raise in her base, or was the profitability of the clinic not what they said it was? Was she working 60 hours a week plus being on call? Was she being dumped on by other staff as the clinical director? I don't know what the job market is like in Florida, but do you have any other possibilities? Obviously, you need a job and if the market is tight, this might not be a bad opportunity for you. Just make sure you're not going to be taken advantage of.
I'm unsure of what NPs make in FL but I think I've read that nursing salaries are pretty low, if I remember right.
The 24/7 call would be non-negotiable for me - they need to pay for my time and $10/hour plus $50/call would be doable. Plus, you do need some time off - how is that working.
"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."
I would try to negotiate a higher base salary and hammer out some details surrounding this 24/7 coverage especially when they made a point of mentioning complaining/difficult patients and that the last NP left their because he/she didn't feel they were making enough money and couldn't handle the complaining/difficult patients. If you can tweak the deal so that you feel more comfortable with it then it seems like a good idea to me.
Just wanted to update all of those who gave their excellent advice on this offer. I did not take it. I actually only think a fool would at this point. No malpractice, expect me to get my own to cover cosmetic stuff which can run from $8k+ with high deductables, no 401k, no CME or time to do it, no sick days, 24/7 call with no extra pay.
This was my first offer as a new NP. Lesson learned, go with your gut. Don't be so excited to be offered a job that you take it right away without investigating it and the company. If they pressure you into taking it "now, now, now, sign here" that is a red flag.
Back to the drawing board. Hopefully it won't be long before I can post with a good offer.
Thanks for letting us know the outcome. I think you made the right decision. Now you'll know what a good offer looks like when it comes around. Best of luck in your job hunt!!
I got another offer from a different aesthetics practice, it's only part time up to 32hrs/wk but I only want to do it p/t and get another more medically focused p/t job so as not to lose my NP skills. Here is what they offered:
$45/hr plus 5% of injectables, 7% of laser procedures and 10% if I get the person via my own networking to buy a procedure. They have malpractice. No call.
That's all I get as part time but I'm going to take it til I find something else, just to be working. I can set my own schedule and get all my own cosmetic procedures for free which is nice. This is just going to be my "fun" job while I look for NP work. I've been looking since last May!
I know this is an old thread, just curious if both these places were going to train you in all the procedures, or did you have some experience in aesthetics?
I am wanting to get into this field but not finding Medspa's that want to train someone.
I think you have an excellent follow up question....I am interested in working part time in this field as an NP as well, I would like to know after school is it wise to get some specialized training in this field (which can get expensive) or how/when will practices train you themselves? Is experience required in most jobs?
BCgradnurse, MSN, RN, NP
1,678 Posts
I don't know...I'm no expert, but from what you're saying, I'd be very careful signing on with this place. First, I think you're being underpaid given the amount of responsibility you'll have. Most NPs in my area are being offered about $85-90K a year for just clinical duties, with no management responsibilities. Granted, salaries vary from place to place but the $75,000 seems low. I would also insist on being paid per hour for every hour you're on call. They want to own you 24/7-they need to pay you for it. I'd ask for at least $8-10 an hour for being on call. I'd also ask for more vacation and make sure you have some paid sick time. The fact that the previous NP left because she wasn't making enough money and she was stressed sends up a red flag. Was it that she never got a raise in her base, or was the profitability of the clinic not what they said it was? Was she working 60 hours a week plus being on call? Was she being dumped on by other staff as the clinical director? I don't know what the job market is like in Florida, but do you have any other possibilities? Obviously, you need a job and if the market is tight, this might not be a bad opportunity for you. Just make sure you're not going to be taken advantage of.