Hello my fellow nurse. I hope everyone is having luck with their job search. I know I'm not!
So here's the story. A friend of mind who see's a psych doctor mentioned me to her and the doctor asked my friend to have me call her. So I did and she wants to drop by at her clinic. I arrived 20min. early and waited about 40min for the interview.
She interviewed my while she was talking to the other two gentlemen who was also waiting for her to discuss about abilify. So it was like a conference/interview and she introduced me to these gentlemen as well and I have to act or pretend that I am listening to them while they explain to the doctor about the drugs. And when the speaker turn to other person the doctor would asked me questions. And so basically every questions that she asked me and told me about the job description was heard by at least 4 people. And I think the most embarrassing part was when she said the pays $10 per hour.
When I first arrived at the clinic I introduced myself as a nurse to the staff and I looked as professional as I can be. And then there I was, in the middle of a conference offered a job for $10/hr.
I was excited and all because at first she said "well this is a part-time job and you will mainly check pt's VS and report to me and write my prescriptions" and the mentioned that I can either work 2 full days 9-6 or work 4 half days and i can choose whatever day i want.
oh, and another thing, she said that I will not actually hold a position as an LVN and all I will do is VS, answer phone calls and or other front desk clerical jobs, but she said mostly I will be her assistant. ( I think even clerks or receptionist or other UAP get paid way more than $10)
Now, my dilemma. I have a 2 year old who goes to a preschool when of course I need to go work for her. $10 wouldn't even enough for one day at the pre-school?
But the bright-side is, she works at St. Joseph hospital in Orange county (I am from Orang btw) so I think if I can work for her I can have her refer me to that hospital? if she even agree to do so?
I feel like I have been insulted somehow and I just want to cry! But at the same time I think it's better than nothing? or at least this will get my feet wet?
Please Please Please! I need somebody to tell me that there are jobs out there so I don't have to take a $10 job just to get my feet wet!
CNA's start at $10hr where I work and medical assistants are paid that low. I would hold out for something better, sounds like the other guys were drug reps and just happened to be there pitching their wares. Good Luck! Plus isn't orange county an expensive area to live, how could you live on $10/hr?
In my area, LPN's with years of experience get paid about $15 per hour, in a hospital. RN's get paid around $25, more or less. I can see your point about daycare~ why work if you have to give everything you make to the daycare. Good luck in your search.
Who on earth would interview a job candidate with random strangers in the room? The is very rude and disrespectful to you, and shows that this employer does not value you at all. Move on.
Um, yeah. Let's see here - $10 an hour for a licensed healthcare professional. In Orange County, CA. Home of Disneyland, and some of the highest costs of living in the state.
My take - pass. Why? I make $9.00 an hour working in San Bernardino as a CNA - new grad, no experience. This doofus needs to stick a crowbar in his wallet and buy himself a frickin' CLUE!
There's an entry level LVN job listed - $3000/month, that'll get you some actual real-world experience that PAYS. LVN I - Corrections (sounds worse than it is - it's working Probation, so you're dealing with folks that've done their time). My guess is that there are opportunities closer to home, but this is at least do-able.
Best of luck with whatever you decide.
----- Dave
p.s. In'N'Out burger starts their staff at $10/hour, just for purposes of comparison.
Yes Dave brings up a good point--check out corrections! I think they are more willing to hire new grads at this point than others (LTC, home health,etc..)
It could never hurt to negotiate pay, and it is flexible... Which means you could continue looking for something that better suits your needs. Just a few years ago in central Illinois, (as an experienced hospital RN) I briefly took a job in a hematology/oncology office. The hours were flexible, no weekends or holidays, home with the kiddos after school,but the pay was 16 an hour... HUGE pay cut from what I was making. Start with this for something and keep your ears open. Best of luck, hope things fall into place for you! :) ivanna
I wouldn't take this job even if she grudgingly upped the pay to $15 an hour. Why? Because she has already demonstrated to you that she is disrespectful and really, really cheap.
Who conducts an interview and listens to a sales pitch simultaneously? You might let a drug rep give you his spiel while the microwave is heating your coffee or the little fridge in the corner is keeping your sandwich cold. But if you can do it while also vetting a job candidate, that might indicate that you view the interviewee as a potential appliance. Someone to be plugged in at will and given a good smack when they don't perform to your standards.
The pay is just the unfrosting on the non-cake.
And consider this. If you have student loans, many times the payments can be deferred if you haven't yet found a job. But once you start earning a paycheck, the bill comes due and you have another monthly amount to budget for.
This might not be a factor in your situation, but even so, the job doesn't sound like it has much to offer you except grief. As for your thought that she might give you a referral to the hospital where she's an attending, good luck with that. I'd bet dollars to donuts that she'd either deny such a request or give you a bad report to keep you dependent on staying with her.
People who treat their "underlings" the way she treated you during the interview and who offer subsistence wages in hopes that you're desperate enough to take an ill-fitting job cannot, I repeat, cannot, be trusted.
Thank you all for your replies. It certainly enlightened me. I thought I was just thinking too much of my ego but yes it was a bit of insult. I message the doctor and professionally declined her job offer. Then she replied saying If I ever changed my mind she would love to have me work in her office. Then I thought I would negotiate on the salary, so I asked for at least $15 and believe or not, she declined it saying she usually starts that low and then maybe go $12 after 2-3 months and up to $15.
I think it's rather hilarious!
Anyhow, I do agree that she is very unprofessional in so many ways. At the end of her email she said " but I will think about it". Well you know what? I have decided that I do not want to work with her even if she offers me $20/hr.
Now $20 an hour is the low end of a decent LPN salary, but that wouldn't make up for being treated like an aside to more important drug reps (or family visitors, or the neighbors from the business across the street, or anyone else who just wandered in off the street). Good luck on your job search.
Around here office setting new grad MAs/CNAs make the minimum wage, and a LPN would make about $10-12 an hour. My friend just hired a really fabulous LPN with 30 years experience and an outstanding work history and references for under $15 an hour. So the salary is not shocking or "insulting" to me. However, the conduct of the provider is. I agree, I would not work with her for any sum.
Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.
What a slap to the face!
You're a nurse.
Going rate for LVN is about $19.00 (LTC) and $13.00 in the hospital. I live in Texas.
Outrage aside.
Isn't the pay low in a doc office, anyway?
It's experience, but I'd pass. Do you know why?
...because I'm currently a CNA earning $9.50 an hour. You're telling me that NURSE should be paid at this level?
It's not just a 'nurse ego' kicking in. I felt the same way when I shot xray/ct.
"Are you kidding me? I'm a CT tech - a professional, dagnab it! I wipe my butt with this!"
LOL
If I did take a $10.00 job, I surely wouldn't be a nurse. I'd work at a call-center. Less stress, frustration and craziness.
We're talking about a nurse, here? C'mon - you go to school and put up with BS for a good while. Look what you're trained to do? You're in charge of lives, here.
You're a PROFESSIONAL!
This is worth more than a few pennies thrown in your direction. If these people pay low? It's because they think they can... Surprise them.
brandy1017, ASN, RN
2,910 Posts
CNA's start at $10hr where I work and medical assistants are paid that low. I would hold out for something better, sounds like the other guys were drug reps and just happened to be there pitching their wares. Good Luck! Plus isn't orange county an expensive area to live, how could you live on $10/hr?