Long Term Care Job?

[bethymaester]

My job search has been discouraging and the closest I've come to an interview (still waiting to hear back from a couple places) as a new grad without relocating is for a long term care facility in a very small town that would be an hour commute. So, two questions:

1. Any advice/opinions/concerns/questions I should ask about working in LTC as a FNP?

(I did have a semester of NP clinical in a LTC and actually enjoyed a lot of it).

2. Any advice/opinions/experience regarding a commute that long?

(I have a 2 year-old who will be in daycare but the director said the hours are fairly flexible as far as start and end time).

Thanks!

[IsabelK]

Thanks for the reply. Fortunately I haven't had a confidentiality clause in any of my contracts yet. I find it highly suspect and not at all employee friendly as I would imagine they don't want a discussion in an effort to not have to compensate others equally.

Actually it doesn't bother me. It's nobody else's business what I make. I don't need or want to know what my coworkers make.

[Jules A, MSN]

Actually it doesn't bother me. It's nobody else's business what I make. I don't need or want to know what my coworkers make.

Certainly your prerogative and if you are happy with what you make that is all that matters.

FWIW last year I caught up with a former classmate who was making $50,000 a year less than my base salary. I find that disgusting, there is no scenario that would make that palatable to me, unless of course the contract included a car and housekeeper, lol. My classmate used the information to make a positive change and are now thrilled to be making significantly more money with a schedule and staff they enjoy.

[Riburn3, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP]

Certainly your prerogative and if you are happy with what you make that is all that matters.

FWIW last year I caught up with a former classmate who was making $50,000 a year less than my base salary. I find that disgusting, there is no scenario that would make that palatable to me, unless of course the contract included a car and housekeeper, lol. My classmate used the information to make a positive change and are now thrilled to be making significantly more money with a schedule and staff they enjoy.

I agree. While I think sharing salary with fellow coworkers in similar positions isn't good and can lead to unnecessary animosity, I find it helpful when I share this info with friends or individuals here on this site that are on the hunt. Had it not been for this site and a few of my friends ahead of me, I would have gone blind into the job hunt, not knowing what to expect. This is especially true for peripheral benefits like license and CME reinbursement, which I had no clue was common practice.

[AllIcanbe]

Why is discussing salary with other APNs so confidential? No one is asking anyone to disclose their salary/ benefits in details. Except your real name and social security numbers are displayed online; how will an employer even know one's identity? You are not showing your paycheck to a bunch of strangers; rather you are aiding in promoting standardized pay for APNs. And sometimes that is why union is great; everything is laid out bare! The inferiority/superiority complex in nursing will always keep nursing behind. Funny that people can discuss other private issues like grades and pass/ fail exams openly and then become relugious when it comes to money!

[sailornurse]

I belong to a local NP group and we finally realized how powerful it was to know what salaries are locally.No one has to give exact numbers but you can give a salary range. We also have learned to discuss the other parts of NP contracts: CME days/money; vacation, being on call and what does that pay, mileage if you travel etc etc. When I first graduated, I had 2 physicians offer me $35 per hour which was my salary as a per diem RN. Locally base salaries range from $88,000-$100,000 as high as $115,000.

The amount you bring home depends on the Other parts of the contract.

[athomas2244]

This is very unrelated to this post and I apologize for this. My question is directed at Jules A, I will be graduating from my NP program soon and I would like to PM you for negotiation tips when searching for jobs if you don't mind. I have 2 soft offers at the moment, but I want to go into a specialty, since this is what my RN and personal experience is in and I enjoy it. Do you mind letting me pick your brain?

Thanks

[IsabelK]

Certainly your prerogative and if you are happy with what you make that is all that matters.

FWIW last year I caught up with a former classmate who was making $50,000 a year less than my base salary. I find that disgusting, there is no scenario that would make that palatable to me, unless of course the contract included a car and housekeeper, lol. My classmate used the information to make a positive change and are now thrilled to be making significantly more money with a schedule and staff they enjoy.

I don't mind discussing salary ranges. For example, in my area of NYS starting NPs tend to make 75,000 - 95,000. More experienced NPs can make closer to 150,000. I make well more than a starting NP. When I took my current job, I got a hefty pay raise. But the particulars--still nobody's business.

[Jules A, MSN]

This is very unrelated to this post and I apologize for this. My question is directed at Jules A, I will be graduating from my NP program soon and I would like to PM you for negotiation tips when searching for jobs if you don't mind. I have 2 soft offers at the moment, but I want to go into a specialty, since this is what my RN and personal experience is in and I enjoy it. Do you mind letting me pick your brain?

Thanks

Wow thanks for thinking of me and I certainly don't mind PMs but for both your interest to get a variety of opinions as well as possibly helping our peers I'd recommend you start a thread. I'll be sure to check it out and throw in my two cents. :)