Need advice

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Ok, so here is my dilemma. I am an FNP employed with a large regional hospital. I have worked here for nearly 10 years, but only for the last 1 1/2 as an NP. I feel that I am compensated fairly well. My current salary is 88,500 with 3 weeks vacation, 1 week paid for CE and 3000.00 for CE. I signed a contract for student loan reimbursement of 10,000 a year x 4 years, which I have only taken 10,00 so far. The position that I was hired for is as an FNP in a mobile care clinic, which I basically started from the ground up. I am the first and only NP in this clinic. Initially our clinic hours were basically 9-5 or 9-6 weekdays with an occasional Saturday. About 2 months ago our boss announced that our clinic was changing hours and is now open 9a-9p Mon-Fri and 11a-5p Sat and Sun, and will soon be open holidays as well. I am pretty upset about this, understandably. Most NP's in our organization are paid based on RVU's, but my clinic (as well as 1 or 2 others) is not. So I have no oppurtunity for bonus as this point. My clinic volume is not that high anyway, we can see 20 patients max per day, which we don't hit very often. My clinic is for self-pay adults only, and it is free.

I am seriously considering leaving my position. I have expressed my frustration to HR and the NP recruiters, and they say they will let me know if anything else opens up, but I haven't heard anything for 3 months. My boss is the wife of the CFO of the hospital and I'm sure she has told them that she doesn't want me to leave.

I hate working until 9pm, as I have 2 small children. I also hate working every other weekend.

I have interviewed for another position outside the hospital which would be in a corporate location. A brand new clinic inside the plant for employees and their spouses, focusing on wellness. No work comp involved. My 2nd interview is next week. W haven't discussed salary much, except for when they asked about my current compensation. I was very up fron about that.

My question is, am I just being a baby about the new hours? Should I just get over it and be happy that I have a decent job?

Another problem is if I leave now, I will owe the 10,000 that they paid towards my loans, plus 3000.00 in taxes I guess.

The new job would be Mon-Friday 6a-2p, no weekends, call or holidays.

I'm just not sure what kind of salary I should ask for if I decide to leave my current position. I really can't afford to take a pay cut, but I feel like I'm getting the shaft in my current position.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

Wait, did I just read that you will be required to be present M-F 9A-9P, every other Sat/Sun 11A-5P? Oh, @#%* NO, that's what I would say. What about they hire more NP's.

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Juan,

No, I am not required to work all those hours...they have brought in a temporary NP to fill in some of the hours, so we are each working 37-40 hours a week right now. I did work several extra shift the last pay period though because the other NP was sick. They haven't found anybody permanently yet, I imagine because of the crappy hours. The temporary NP will only be here for another 3 weeks. For extra shifts the pay is 250 for anything less than 4 hours and 500 for anything over. So, it doesn't benefit you much to work a full 12 hour shift, that doesn't even cover my normal hourly wage.

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

I don't think you're being a baby at all. It really sounds like the new schedule will cut into your life. Have they told you what your obligations will be re: evenings and weekends, or is that all up in the air?

The new position sounds better, IMHO. See what they have to offer in terms of salary and bennies, and go from there.

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My current schedule has been basically work 2 days, then off 2 days, then every other sat, sun and mon. It works out ok most of the time, I'm just bitter about being here until 9pm and every other weekend. If they would have told me that when I interviewed, I never ever would have accepted the position. Even the urgent care clinic here is only open until 8! Thanks for your advice, I appreciate it :)

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Specializes in ICU, ER, OR, FNP.

I think you should look back and remember why you became a FNP. I personally couldn't stand the 12 hour days 7 days a week in the ER and being on call 24/7 in the OR - voila - I work m-f in a 0730 to 1630 clinic. If you became a FNP to work 24/7, then it sounds like your dream job. If not...

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

The new hours sound like a big change to me. If you don't like them, look for another job. And try to keep at the same or higher salary. Your boss might want to figure out a way to keep you, ie hire more NP's, but maybe not. It is a different job from the original job you signed on to and it may be time to move on.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

The salary is ok, only because of the tuition reimbursement. That 10K is the only thing that makes it OK. Without that, it sucks. Schedule change or no, you have to bail the day you finish milking that cow. The vacation and bennies are standard.

As far as a job change, I'd get the new employer to pay the contract off as part of a condition of hiring you, so don't worry so much about that. They do that all the time, cost of doing business. So, without some kind of differential, no way in hades I'd agree to that schedule change. Did you sign a contract? What does it say? You might be able to make that work for you. Mine says "hours to be mutually agreed upon." So if you have similar language, just don't agree to that nonsense! It comes down to the fact that they have to hire someone else. you cannot work all those hours yourself, so you tell them to hire someone for the 5-9 and weekend shifts, or you are gone, end of story. If they say OK, then so be it. You don't want to do those hours anyway, so you move on.

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