NP Fellowship?

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So I decided to go check out a clinic which offers a fellowship for new graduate NP's. It is a Internal medicine practice.

It seems like a great place to work, and the Doc would be willing to work with my schedule (2 days/week, because it is private practice and does not qualify for my loan repayment as a facility i would have to continue to work at my current RN job through Oct. til my contract with the government ends)

Which also means I would be working ~50hrs/week

He doesn't know if he will have a full-time job available in Nov or not. It would be a job that either one of us could end the job at any time.

He would see all the pts, as well, i guess sort of like clinical but you get paid.

I had talked to him last Feb. and he said it paid 50K for 6 months, then you would "graduate" from the informal program and your salary would increase proportionately.

Now today, he said several times it doesn't pay much. Then he finally said it only pays $100/day, for 8 hour day.

ummm.... I"m not all about the money but $12.50/hr seems awefully low..

On the one hand i'd like to stay in Colorado and still get some experience (i will have easier time getting a job come Nov. when I am not bound by this government contract) but I also don't want to be used.

I'm not sure if the wage is negotiable. I think it is probably not, since he was pretty non-chalant and doesn't seem to care if he gets someone or not. (although he does have one full-time NP going on maternity leave) he said he will just pick up the slack.

Does this seem worth it to do 6 months? Or does it seem like getting used?

Neelia:bugeyes:

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Personally, I wouldn't work for $12.50 as an RN let alone as an APN! Don't sell yourself short.

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I guess because he calls it a "fellowship" and you get mentored or basically another 6 months of clinicals times he doesn't have to pay you.

I feel the same, I worked my butt off for my degree and for my ANCC certification, and feel I should be worth at LEAST what I am making now as a RN, which is 2.5x that, even if it is a "fellowship"

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

And the fact that you think the doc is nonchalant about it is kinda of a red flag that he doesn't value the position much. Is there anything else? If this were my only option, I would just stay a staff RN until November when you will have more flexibility.

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Yeah, and I'm not in a position where I am desperate. I am in a good position where I can move ie. no kids/husband. I am looking in Texas (see my other post today..)

I'm am just a little worried if I were to just stay as a staff RN that i might not get hired because people might think I was just being lazy or such since it would be 9 months since i graduated.

I"m not worried. I'm pretty sure i can get a job in TX or something part-time here.

Oh and it seems to me the guy just wants cheap, practically free labor, and since the market for PA/NPs here is tight he probably CAN get someone to work for that esp. if they can't move r/t kids/husband's job etc..

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Yeah, and I'm not in a position where I am desperate. I am in a good position where I can move ie. no kids/husband. I am looking in Texas (see my other post today..)

I'm am just a little worried if I were to just stay as a staff RN that i might not get hired because people might think I was just being lazy or such since it would be 9 months since i graduated.

I"m not worried. I'm pretty sure i can get a job in TX or something part-time here.

Oh and it seems to me the guy just wants cheap, practically free labor, and since the market for PA/NPs here is tight he probably CAN get someone to work for that esp. if they can't move r/t kids/husband's job etc..

You see PA fellowships like this occasionally. Most are one year for $40-50k. They are accredited and usually command a little higher salary for grads. On the other hand I can think of at least one that is two years long and pays less than $40k. Thats about free labor not teaching. I'd be suspicious of this. If its who I think it is check the physician license under the state BOM.

David Carpenter, PA-C

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I checked the license, no complaints or anything against the license.

I don't think i'm gonna do NP work for CNA/MA pay though...

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

ummm.... I"m not all about the money but $12.50/hr seems awefully low..

I

Does this seem worth it to do 6 months? Or does it seem like getting used?

$12.50/hr?

You gotta be kidding me!!!:uhoh3:

I think I may have made something like that as an LPN, starting out, years and years ago. Maybe.

Used. Definitely, used.

I think he thinks that he's come up with the perfect way to get some help really, really cheap. "Fellowship." Yeah. Sure. Right.

I think, if you have to finish out your RN commitment where you are and not work as an NP for a few months, it shouldn't hurt you in the long run. Explain to future employers what your situation is, that you are finishing out a commitment, which they should respect (they would want the same consideration) and that you are being selective about your first NP position. I don't think that will hurt you.

Good luck, and don't give this guy the time of day.

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Specializes in ICU.

Cripes! That's cheap labor!! You could quadruple that salary (if not more) working at a Minute Clinic! He's taking advantage of the situation and I would back away ASAP.

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So if anybody reads this I am getting really discouraged with job hunting interviews. I get my hopes up then they all just keep falling through. (and i do see this as God shutting the door)

I have an interview tomorrow here in Colorado but not holding my breathe.

I have a few options,

#1 just to stay where i am as Staff Peds RN, til November.

#2 try to get something additional part-time, i would do the Wal-mart clinic or such, but I don't have prescriptive authority (takes 1 yr full-time work here in Colorado) so i don't think they would hire. Also trying to get ANYTHING here in Colorado is difficult, and not sure if anyone would hire a new grad part time

#3 There was a job in Ft.worth that the lady pretty much offered me and I still see the position open. The reason I didn't take it (although i LOVED the facility, the people that worked there, etc) It was a pre-op assessment job, no diagnosing, no management, just basically pre-op assessments.

I would really like working there I believe. Would just doing pre-op assessments be better than just working as a staff nurse till Nov when my gov. loan repayment contract ends? I'm thinking maybe. And at least i think i would be happy, the staff was REALLY nice i was really impressed.

#4 just keep applying

Also i think it would be fun to do locums/travel jobs but i think most would want at least a year experience. I'm wondering if a job such as just pre-op assessments would count or not. If i did that job it would probably be 4 days/week and i could try to get a job at a mini-clinic or such, because i would have prescription authority in Texas.

thanks for any thoughts

Neelia

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So if anybody reads this I am getting really discouraged with job hunting interviews. I get my hopes up then they all just keep falling through. (and i do see this as God shutting the door)

I have an interview tomorrow here in Colorado but not holding my breathe.

I have a few options,

#1 just to stay where i am as Staff Peds RN, til November.

#2 try to get something additional part-time, i would do the Wal-mart clinic or such, but I don't have prescriptive authority (takes 1 yr full-time work here in Colorado) so i don't think they would hire. Also trying to get ANYTHING here in Colorado is difficult, and not sure if anyone would hire a new grad part time

#3 There was a job in Ft.worth that the lady pretty much offered me and I still see the position open. The reason I didn't take it (although i LOVED the facility, the people that worked there, etc) It was a pre-op assessment job, no diagnosing, no management, just basically pre-op assessments.

I would really like working there I believe. Would just doing pre-op assessments be better than just working as a staff nurse till Nov when my gov. loan repayment contract ends? I'm thinking maybe. And at least i think i would be happy, the staff was REALLY nice i was really impressed.

#4 just keep applying

Also i think it would be fun to do locums/travel jobs but i think most would want at least a year experience. I'm wondering if a job such as just pre-op assessments would count or not. If i did that job it would probably be 4 days/week and i could try to get a job at a mini-clinic or such, because i would have prescription authority in Texas.

thanks for any thoughts

Neelia

The first job is always hardest to find. You are at a substantial disadvantage since no employer knows how you will work as an NP. My advice to new grad PA students is that any job is preferable to no job (you have the advantage of working as an RN which most PAs don't have). Usually my recommended criteria are:

Nothing illegal

Nothing unethical

Pay more than 25-30% of average salary for the specialty or greater than 40% of the new grad salary.

Once you have 1-2 years of experience you are in a much better position to name your price and position. Also you have the advantage of having a license and a track record.

I think that you will be surprised on what is involved in pre-op assessment. In some ways its an ideal new grad job since you will be exposed to patients with a variety of comorbid conditions. Also, you will see a variety of undiagnosed conditions that will need work up. Depending on how your pre-op is set up that will be your job. You should also get fairly proficient at reading 12 leads and CXR.

Just my thoughts.

David Carpenter, PA-C

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any job is preferable to no job

That's kind of what I have been thinking.

If you love peds,

this is a great job. It is very cerebral in nature. We are a group of

two FT0 and one PT PNPs. One FT PA and one FT FNP...so we have a good

mix. We have 40 CRNAs and 16 Anesthesiologists. We do over 19,000

anesthetics a year. We are a tertiary center, so we see a lot of

interesting cases. The position involves working up these kids as far

as a pre anesthesia assessment is concerned. Some actual H&Ps in

addition to an anesthesia history and physical assessment. Lots of

teaching. Not very procedural oriented, but could be if there was an

interest. It's a great group and a wonderful place to work.

Actually not sure how involved this job would be since a pediatric hosp. but at the interview i had she did say they had a lot of chronic kids, genetic disorders, etc..

Thanks CoreO

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