This is the same that I am hearing from my friends that I went to NP school with, that a 2-3% raise per year is typical. I know that I bring a lot of revenue to the practice, as I regularly see 20-25 pts a day consistently. I bill accurately, and have no issues with time management. I do not receive medical or vision. I have dental that is very bare minimum. I get $1500 CME per year, and 20 days PTO (including 5 days for CME), with 7 paid holidays. My base salary is where I would have like to have been my first year starting. My bonuses are quarterly, and amount to about 6k before taxes each bonus. There is not a lot of transparency in our practice, I don't know how much they gross annually, I don't know what the docs make.
Hello all--FNP for 2 yrs here. Working in primary care. Recently, I asked my office manager to inform the docs who I work with (3 partners) that I am due for my annual review, as that is what I have come accustomed to from working in the hospital for 7 yrs. I asked if there would be an opportunity to review my salary and possibly increase my PTO days, she replied with a discouraging email, saying that they typically have not done that in the past, only giving a raise "every few years". She said, "I don't know how they would feel about that, but I'll mention it."
Last year I had a raise in my salary and bonus incentive--enough where I felt appreciated after feeling low balled in the beginning (as a new grad, I decided the lower pay was OK, as I was excited to just get my feet wet). Now, I feel I am where I should have started to even the playing field.
My question is how much is a reasonable annual raise? Do you even get one? Is it the norm? I feel no raise at all defeats the purpose of employee retention and morale. Any feedback is appreciated!
I've been hearing it is getting a little better. A friend of mine just moved from NM with 1 yr RN exp. and was hired at a local rehab hospital here in Gilbert, AZ (20 min from PHX). I also heard that there has been some turnover at Banner and they are hiring--some of the positions being open to new grads. It all depends on the tides-if there's a turnover, jobs pop up. If they just got filled, it is harder to find openings. Just keep a positive outlook and remain persistent and patient. Sometimes your first job isn't your dream job, but at least it gets your foot in the door and some experience. Good luck.
Just trying to get a feel for what the etiquette is or if anyone has had a negative experience either way. This is the first time I've had 2 jobs, so it's just never come up. I'm probably going to just tell them. Better to hear it from me than someone else. Thanks for your guys' input.
I've been working at a family practice for over 1 year now as a new grad NP. I am there full time and work 5 days a week. Recently, I started moonlighting in a different area (about 30 minutes away from my practice) on a Saturday only per-diem basis. The demographic is an underserved/vulnerable population and I am learning a lot with this patient population. My full time job is in an upper middle class area where everyone has commercial insurance and easy access to healthcare.
I am trying to figure out a way to tell my office manager about my 2nd job that I picked up for extra income. There is nothing in my contract addressing that I cannot work for two practices at the same time, just that I may not practice within a 5 mile radius for 1 year if I decide to leave. I don't have any intention of leaving my current full time position, but I just want to make sure I deal with this the best way possible. Does anyone have any insight or advice? Thanks
Medscape (not sure if it's on Ipad, but I had it on my Droid) saved my butt during clinicals. Also, Rescuscitate! is free on iPad, kind of lets you play the provider role as they give you a case scenario and you have to choose DDX's and order diagnostics and interventions. There's also a little book called the practitioner's pocket pal, written by a PA, and it is a helpful little reference for assessment skills, ddx's, lab values, etc...perfect size for a lab coat pocket. Good Luck
DNPstudent, I am in the same boat as you, as far as learning what is an acceptable pay range as a new grad NP. I am specializing in Family Medicine and have 6yrs exp as an RN in LDRP and ICU settings. I am MSN prepared and was offered a job at my first interview with a busy, well-respected practice in my area (5 min. commute, oh yeah!). I just went over contract negotiations today and was offered a $72K salary w/15% profit sharing paid quarterly. Now, being an RN at a large hospital franchise, I have become used to hourly wages and the incentives of working overtime and holidays to gain a bigger take home pay...so this number startled me. Now, I agree with you, it shouldn't be about the money and there are other things to consider. So, I have devised some pros and cons to this:
Pros: short commute, well established practice, 31 hrs required patient time, which leaves plenty of time for paperwork, ample support as a new grad (they are moving the more experienced NP to another office location that has a new doc, and I am taking her place w/the seasoned docs), no pressure to see 20+ pts right off the bat--my orientation pace is basically up to me, OTJ training for in-office procedures by the docs, 15 days PTO, 5 paid CME days, 1K toward CME, malpractice w/$1 and $3 million, 401K with 3-5% company match, licensing/DEA fees all paid. No weekends, no major holidays, 1 hr lunch breaks, 2 hr lunch break on Wednesdays, and pharm reps that cater lunches (this could be a bad thing lol).
Cons: No medical/dental-I will have to shop for private insurance for my spouse and child, not to mention we might add on to our little family in the near future and the kid needs braces.
In sum, the salary number alone irked me, it was hard for me to maintain my smile when they said it, but after discussing the average annual profit sharing within the practice amongst other NPs, I decided this job will be well worth it (you get what you put in, and I'm getting peace of mind to be in such a positive and supportive learning environment). I am hoping that by the end of my first year, my salary + profit sharing will amount to around 85K. I will definitely be asking for productivity reports to monitor my worth. I still haven't signed the contract, and may ask for a couple more vacay days and maybe another $500 for CME, since the next AANP conference is in Nashville (far for me).
But if you plan on working long hours, have a long commute, expect to have a very stressful first 6-12 mos of being thrown to the wolves, I would ask for something that definitely reflects the average to upper average pay scale for your area. I have a classmate who relocated her whole family to a God-forsaken city that's light years behind compared to the rest of the country to accept a position as an FNP at a state prison. She is making 120K/yr w/full medical bennies and PTO. Is it her dream job/setting? No. Is the pay good? HELL YES. Is she learning? You know it. Is it stressful? Like she never would have imagined. But it's working for her and she is getting great experience...will the money make up for the lifestyle change and environment? Only time will tell. Or maybe it will end up being her dream job. We just gotta get our feet wet and start somewhere.
Everyone at work rants and raves about the skechers shape ups and danskos. Try them on first to make sure they fit to your foot. I'm still in search of the perfect 12 hr shift shoe that prevents sore feet and back.
a day on my unit, which is pretty small for the area that i'm in (we do about 80-100 deliveries a month), is usually filled w/inductions and schedule C/S. A lot of interaction w/patients is education, educating on the meds, infant care, self care, etc. We also have a 95% epidural rate, so I'm usually assisting the CRNA w/the procedure, in which I need to make sure she is positioned right, hydrate her, monitor VS, and monitor the baby (if possible, because sometimes the position they are in loses the fetal heart tone tracing). In the case that a strip "gets ugly", I never freak out or panic, especially around the patient, because it tends to cause more harm than do any good, and it clouds your judgment and critical thinking. Most times, things are fine, and we end up with a nice, smooth delivery and recovery. Our unit is also a postpartum unit, so sometimes I get to have my patient that I had in Labor for when it's my turn to do PP. Hope that helps!
Hello, I'm a FNP student wanting to know why you all wanted to become a NP? Any pearls of wisdom to share regarding school and the things you've learned from experience as a NP?
MCC alum here, and GCU alum. Did the ADN program, got a job as an RN, finished the RN-BSN program and had my facility pay for it. Did it change how I practiced patient care? Not really, but it did give me a glimpse into a bigger picture that I didn't see before. It helped me grow as an individual to go through the program, but I still care for my patients in the same compassionate way. To each their own, and you're either a good nurse or you're not. :0)
I did a traditional 4 year ADN program in AZ, then continued on for my RN-BSN after getting a job as an RN. The benefits are great, my hospital paid for my tuition up to $5K/year, and the theory and concepts that were discussed in class were tangible, as I had already put them into use in my clinical practice. When you are a student going for your BSN, you have minimal clinical practice to correlate with the theory, so some concepts are more challenging to understand. The pace was slow and steady in the RN-BSN program, so I wasn't TOO stressed. Unfortunately, it didn't make a difference in my base pay, but it does open up other doors for opportunities in education, case management, nursing informatics, and continuing on even further. Many will say that there is not a difference between an ADN & a BSN nurse, but it's simply not true. Clinical care may be the same, but the depth of thought processes are deeper and more holistic. I think an RN-BSN is the most effective way to absorb the concepts and theory and apply to clinical practice.
Anxiety medication is not as uncommon as you think it is, and for healthcare professionals to think they are excluded from things like anxiety, depression, postpartum depression, and any other mental health conditions, THAT would be foolish. Your doctor should respect your privacy, and treat you as a patient with respect and professionalism. If you feel your doctor cannot do this for you, then it's time to find a different doctor. Maybe the anxiolytics will help you get to the point where you can function on an everyday basis, but living like how you described isn't going to last long. Take care of yourself, exercise, get enough sleep, eat right (generic and cliche, but it will do wonders), do something that relaxes you. Leave work at work! Do your best, and NEVER let anyone intimidate you into NOT asking questions...that is what leads to mistakes, and is a scary quality in a nurse. Hope this helps :0)
We use k-Pads or get a blanket out of the blanket warmer (we have both adult & infant), as well as ice packs for their peri area. Ours are made out of condoms with a mesh cloth wrapped around to soften it up. The volunteers fill them up and put them in the freezer for us. Sometimes we use the Pampers and rip the top of them open and put ice chips in them and then fold them up so they don't leak out. Our moms also have "SAM" kits (self administration medication) that contain tylenol & motrin, stool softener, & Americaine spray. also, a hot cup of chicken broth always helps. i encourage all my pts. to take a hot shower whenever possible, because it always makes them feel soothed, refreshed, and clean.
This is the same that I am hearing from my friends that I went to NP school with, that a 2-3% raise per year is typical. I know that I bring a lot of revenue to the practice, as I regularly see 20-25 pts a day consistently. I bill accurately, and have no issues with time management. I do not receive medical or vision. I have dental that is very bare minimum. I get $1500 CME per year, and 20 days PTO (including 5 days for CME), with 7 paid holidays. My base salary is where I would have like to have been my first year starting. My bonuses are quarterly, and amount to about 6k before taxes each bonus. There is not a lot of transparency in our practice, I don't know how much they gross annually, I don't know what the docs make.
Hello all--FNP for 2 yrs here. Working in primary care. Recently, I asked my office manager to inform the docs who I work with (3 partners) that I am due for my annual review, as that is what I have come accustomed to from working in the hospital for 7 yrs. I asked if there would be an opportunity to review my salary and possibly increase my PTO days, she replied with a discouraging email, saying that they typically have not done that in the past, only giving a raise "every few years". She said, "I don't know how they would feel about that, but I'll mention it."
Last year I had a raise in my salary and bonus incentive--enough where I felt appreciated after feeling low balled in the beginning (as a new grad, I decided the lower pay was OK, as I was excited to just get my feet wet). Now, I feel I am where I should have started to even the playing field.
My question is how much is a reasonable annual raise? Do you even get one? Is it the norm? I feel no raise at all defeats the purpose of employee retention and morale. Any feedback is appreciated!
I've been hearing it is getting a little better. A friend of mine just moved from NM with 1 yr RN exp. and was hired at a local rehab hospital here in Gilbert, AZ (20 min from PHX). I also heard that there has been some turnover at Banner and they are hiring--some of the positions being open to new grads. It all depends on the tides-if there's a turnover, jobs pop up. If they just got filled, it is harder to find openings. Just keep a positive outlook and remain persistent and patient. Sometimes your first job isn't your dream job, but at least it gets your foot in the door and some experience. Good luck.
Just trying to get a feel for what the etiquette is or if anyone has had a negative experience either way. This is the first time I've had 2 jobs, so it's just never come up. I'm probably going to just tell them. Better to hear it from me than someone else. Thanks for your guys' input.
I've been working at a family practice for over 1 year now as a new grad NP. I am there full time and work 5 days a week. Recently, I started moonlighting in a different area (about 30 minutes away from my practice) on a Saturday only per-diem basis. The demographic is an underserved/vulnerable population and I am learning a lot with this patient population. My full time job is in an upper middle class area where everyone has commercial insurance and easy access to healthcare.
I am trying to figure out a way to tell my office manager about my 2nd job that I picked up for extra income. There is nothing in my contract addressing that I cannot work for two practices at the same time, just that I may not practice within a 5 mile radius for 1 year if I decide to leave. I don't have any intention of leaving my current full time position, but I just want to make sure I deal with this the best way possible. Does anyone have any insight or advice? Thanks
Medscape (not sure if it's on Ipad, but I had it on my Droid) saved my butt during clinicals. Also, Rescuscitate! is free on iPad, kind of lets you play the provider role as they give you a case scenario and you have to choose DDX's and order diagnostics and interventions. There's also a little book called the practitioner's pocket pal, written by a PA, and it is a helpful little reference for assessment skills, ddx's, lab values, etc...perfect size for a lab coat pocket. Good Luck
DNPstudent, I am in the same boat as you, as far as learning what is an acceptable pay range as a new grad NP. I am specializing in Family Medicine and have 6yrs exp as an RN in LDRP and ICU settings. I am MSN prepared and was offered a job at my first interview with a busy, well-respected practice in my area (5 min. commute, oh yeah!). I just went over contract negotiations today and was offered a $72K salary w/15% profit sharing paid quarterly. Now, being an RN at a large hospital franchise, I have become used to hourly wages and the incentives of working overtime and holidays to gain a bigger take home pay...so this number startled me. Now, I agree with you, it shouldn't be about the money and there are other things to consider. So, I have devised some pros and cons to this:
Pros: short commute, well established practice, 31 hrs required patient time, which leaves plenty of time for paperwork, ample support as a new grad (they are moving the more experienced NP to another office location that has a new doc, and I am taking her place w/the seasoned docs), no pressure to see 20+ pts right off the bat--my orientation pace is basically up to me, OTJ training for in-office procedures by the docs, 15 days PTO, 5 paid CME days, 1K toward CME, malpractice w/$1 and $3 million, 401K with 3-5% company match, licensing/DEA fees all paid. No weekends, no major holidays, 1 hr lunch breaks, 2 hr lunch break on Wednesdays, and pharm reps that cater lunches (this could be a bad thing lol).
Cons: No medical/dental-I will have to shop for private insurance for my spouse and child, not to mention we might add on to our little family in the near future and the kid needs braces.
In sum, the salary number alone irked me, it was hard for me to maintain my smile when they said it, but after discussing the average annual profit sharing within the practice amongst other NPs, I decided this job will be well worth it (you get what you put in, and I'm getting peace of mind to be in such a positive and supportive learning environment). I am hoping that by the end of my first year, my salary + profit sharing will amount to around 85K. I will definitely be asking for productivity reports to monitor my worth. I still haven't signed the contract, and may ask for a couple more vacay days and maybe another $500 for CME, since the next AANP conference is in Nashville (far for me).
But if you plan on working long hours, have a long commute, expect to have a very stressful first 6-12 mos of being thrown to the wolves, I would ask for something that definitely reflects the average to upper average pay scale for your area. I have a classmate who relocated her whole family to a God-forsaken city that's light years behind compared to the rest of the country to accept a position as an FNP at a state prison. She is making 120K/yr w/full medical bennies and PTO. Is it her dream job/setting? No. Is the pay good? HELL YES. Is she learning? You know it. Is it stressful? Like she never would have imagined. But it's working for her and she is getting great experience...will the money make up for the lifestyle change and environment? Only time will tell. Or maybe it will end up being her dream job. We just gotta get our feet wet and start somewhere.
Everyone at work rants and raves about the skechers shape ups and danskos. Try them on first to make sure they fit to your foot. I'm still in search of the perfect 12 hr shift shoe that prevents sore feet and back.
a day on my unit, which is pretty small for the area that i'm in (we do about 80-100 deliveries a month), is usually filled w/inductions and schedule C/S. A lot of interaction w/patients is education, educating on the meds, infant care, self care, etc. We also have a 95% epidural rate, so I'm usually assisting the CRNA w/the procedure, in which I need to make sure she is positioned right, hydrate her, monitor VS, and monitor the baby (if possible, because sometimes the position they are in loses the fetal heart tone tracing). In the case that a strip "gets ugly", I never freak out or panic, especially around the patient, because it tends to cause more harm than do any good, and it clouds your judgment and critical thinking. Most times, things are fine, and we end up with a nice, smooth delivery and recovery. Our unit is also a postpartum unit, so sometimes I get to have my patient that I had in Labor for when it's my turn to do PP. Hope that helps!
Hello, I'm a FNP student wanting to know why you all wanted to become a NP? Any pearls of wisdom to share regarding school and the things you've learned from experience as a NP?
MCC alum here, and GCU alum. Did the ADN program, got a job as an RN, finished the RN-BSN program and had my facility pay for it. Did it change how I practiced patient care? Not really, but it did give me a glimpse into a bigger picture that I didn't see before. It helped me grow as an individual to go through the program, but I still care for my patients in the same compassionate way. To each their own, and you're either a good nurse or you're not. :0)
I did a traditional 4 year ADN program in AZ, then continued on for my RN-BSN after getting a job as an RN. The benefits are great, my hospital paid for my tuition up to $5K/year, and the theory and concepts that were discussed in class were tangible, as I had already put them into use in my clinical practice. When you are a student going for your BSN, you have minimal clinical practice to correlate with the theory, so some concepts are more challenging to understand. The pace was slow and steady in the RN-BSN program, so I wasn't TOO stressed. Unfortunately, it didn't make a difference in my base pay, but it does open up other doors for opportunities in education, case management, nursing informatics, and continuing on even further. Many will say that there is not a difference between an ADN & a BSN nurse, but it's simply not true. Clinical care may be the same, but the depth of thought processes are deeper and more holistic. I think an RN-BSN is the most effective way to absorb the concepts and theory and apply to clinical practice.
Anxiety medication is not as uncommon as you think it is, and for healthcare professionals to think they are excluded from things like anxiety, depression, postpartum depression, and any other mental health conditions, THAT would be foolish. Your doctor should respect your privacy, and treat you as a patient with respect and professionalism. If you feel your doctor cannot do this for you, then it's time to find a different doctor. Maybe the anxiolytics will help you get to the point where you can function on an everyday basis, but living like how you described isn't going to last long. Take care of yourself, exercise, get enough sleep, eat right (generic and cliche, but it will do wonders), do something that relaxes you. Leave work at work! Do your best, and NEVER let anyone intimidate you into NOT asking questions...that is what leads to mistakes, and is a scary quality in a nurse. Hope this helps :0)
Oh, this was so helpful! Thanks for posting, you're awesome.
We use k-Pads or get a blanket out of the blanket warmer (we have both adult & infant), as well as ice packs for their peri area. Ours are made out of condoms with a mesh cloth wrapped around to soften it up. The volunteers fill them up and put them in the freezer for us. Sometimes we use the Pampers and rip the top of them open and put ice chips in them and then fold them up so they don't leak out. Our moms also have "SAM" kits (self administration medication) that contain tylenol & motrin, stool softener, & Americaine spray. also, a hot cup of chicken broth always helps. i encourage all my pts. to take a hot shower whenever possible, because it always makes them feel soothed, refreshed, and clean.