New job and I am happy = WIN!

Specialties NP

Published

For anyone who remembers my previous post regarding negotiating my salary, here's an update:

I settled for a low salary (lower than my RN rate) to get that NP experience and with the hope that i will get a huge pay increase after my 90-day probation. The doctor that hired me promised me a pay increase after she's seen me seeing more than 15 patients a day. She justified my low salary by saying i'm a new grad.

After merely 6 weeks, i was up to speed. I have seen 15 to 20 patients a day. Although I had to study at home to make sure i provide the best care to my patients, I didn't mind. Long story short, I re-negotiated with the doctor. She could only increase it to 5k. Well, the total amount is still lower than my RN pay.

On top of everything else, i was miserable. I didn't have 30-minute lunch breaks daily that i so deserve. I also didn't have remote access to our EHR which forced me stay in the office until 9pm. However, i am still prohibited to have keys to the office. Therefore, I am not able to finish my charting. I felt so unsafe, felt like there will be a lawsuit coming and i won't be able to defend myself because my charting is incomplete and locked by the doctor. There are also other billing issues in her practice that I didn't agree with. Also, I was forced to sign medical clearances for psych issues. I was very unhappy.

Even though i knew that leaving the practice would ruin my resume, reputation, and burn bridges, i looked for another job. Life is too short to be miserable. I can't stay just because i have to maintain the beauty of my resume.

In summary: I found a new job. It's been 3 weeks and I am very happy. Great pay, great incentive bonuses, $5k CME, more vacation time, more education PTO. Plus, i get my own desk, 2 laptops, 2 exam rooms, and my exclusive MA. FYI: I didn't even have to negotiate. The CMO accepted the pay rate I wanted.

Life is good!!! I hope this becomes a lesson to any NP who is new to the business.

Don't settle for anything less than what you deserve. Don't believe anyone who would tell you that you deserve a lower pay because you're a new grad. You are an advanced practice nurse with an advanced education. You are crucial to any practice and deserve a great pay.

Thank you for reading ;-)

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Specializes in Tele, Cardiac Post Op, ER.

Congrats!!!! :)

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Specializes in Surgery.

Good for you! Great to hear positive stories from someone who has taken a chance at finding a better job, like me, after less than expected stay at their first NP job. You are right, believe in yourself and what you have to offer.

👍👍🎉

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Specializes in Hospital medicine; NP precepting; staff education.

I've been thinking of you. So happy to hear that. Congratulations!

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Specializes in Peds Med/Surg; Peds Skilled Nursing.

congrats.... that's awesome!

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Specializes in NICU, telemetry.

Awesome! Congratulations!!

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Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! I'm very happy for you. I know the feeling of expecting something great and it actually happening.

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Thank you very much, everyone! ;-) such a great feeling...

I could finally workout every morning, eat right, be happy, and feel healthy. It is a plus when you could sleep every night.

Oh by the way, I could finally have time to check AN and post. I love the new job!

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Good for you! Great to hear positive stories from someone who has taken a chance at finding a better job, like me, after less than expected stay at their first NP job. You are right, believe in yourself and what you have to offer.

👍👍🎉

Yes, it took me a while to finally find another job since most people discouraged me from changing jobs after merely 2 months at the first job. But you know what, life is short, i am getting older, i have no time to tolerate an miserable job. ;-)

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I've been thinking of you. So happy to hear that. Congratulations!

Thank you WK! Just saw ur message yesterday and thought i would write an update for u and all the new grads out there ;-)

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Specializes in Medical and Behavioral Health.

I know thats right!! Sometimes you have to settle what you can get as a new NP. But once you get experience 6 months to a year find something better. I had the same experience. Congrats to you.

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Congrats!!! I would have definitely left the first office too... They sounded very unsupportive.

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