NP in neurosurgery group.

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I am interested in learning more about the experiences of an NP in a neurosurgery group/field. What are your duties, specifically? Patient load? Clinic? Hospital? Comfort level? Pay? Background?

There is not much discussion about this, but I know several, just not well enough to pick brains yet, but I am working on it! Any reference to an existing thread would be welcome!

-NP student

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, CVICU/SICU/Flight.

Hi Kevognia,

I am a student graduating in 3 weeks. Just my comprehensive final awaits me. I have been interviewing and have an offer with a neurosurgical group. I split my final practicum between neurosurgery & neurology and humbled to have offers from both

Neurosurgery: I have an offer to work in the hospital managing the service while the 2 residents and 2 attendings are in the OR. I negotiated 4-10 days....starting at 6:30 (before OR) to round with residents, write notes, and see pts. in the ICU and step-down neuro floor. Avg numbers look to be 3-4 ICU; 6-7 floor. I would manage all issues (within scope of course)...orthstatic hypotension, referrals in ER/house, placement of lumbar drains, art & central lines after being competency verified. I would see post ops and dc them, work with dc planners as needed. I know the attendings well and the residents rotate every 6 mos. There is a dedicated neuro icu/floor. My salary will be close to 6 figures, with 3% profit sharing paid quarterly, 4 weeks vacation, 3K & 1 week for education, parking, No weekends/call UNLESS I want to take call. Call is paid 1K a day on the weekends (so I may do a little here and there). I have not accepted the position yet, still negotiating a few finer points.

I am negotiating another position with a neurology team (12 residents, 25 attendings) associated with a university, similar feel but has the inpatient and clinic experience, volume likely higher, no profit sharing, but state retirement package, and university setting. Still deciding, should know in the next week where I go.

If there are any more specific questions let me know.

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Hi Kevognia,

I am a student graduating in 3 weeks. Just my comprehensive final awaits me. I have been interviewing and have an offer with a neurosurgical group. I split my final practicum between neurosurgery & neurology and humbled to have offers from both

Neurosurgery: I have an offer to work in the hospital managing the service while the 2 residents and 2 attendings are in the OR. I negotiated 4-10 days....starting at 6:30 (before OR) to round with residents, write notes, and see pts. in the ICU and step-down neuro floor. Avg numbers look to be 3-4 ICU; 6-7 floor. I would manage all issues (within scope of course)...orthstatic hypotension, referrals in ER/house, placement of lumbar drains, art & central lines after being competency verified. I would see post ops and dc them, work with dc planners as needed. I know the attendings well and the residents rotate every 6 mos. There is a dedicated neuro icu/floor. My salary will be close to 6 figures, with 3% profit sharing paid quarterly, 4 weeks vacation, 3K & 1 week for education, parking, No weekends/call UNLESS I want to take call. Call is paid 1K a day on the weekends (so I may do a little here and there). I have not accepted the position yet, still negotiating a few finer points.

I am negotiating another position with a neurology team (12 residents, 25 attendings) associated with a university, similar feel but has the inpatient and clinic experience, volume likely higher, no profit sharing, but state retirement package, and university setting. Still deciding, should know in the next week where I go.

If there are any more specific questions let me know.

I must say that I'm shocked that you're being offered these types of jobs right out of school. I would think someone would have to work for years as an ACNP in neuro before being offered jobs like those. I'm assuming you are an ACNP b/c the duties you mention are way beyond the scope of a FNP.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, CVICU/SICU/Flight.

Like I said, I am humbled by the opptys presented to me. I will graduate with my ACNP, but I have been a NP before in another specialty years ago (neonataology)and was "grandfathered" in. I am back to get ALL the formalities. I share my information only to "share" nothing more, my goal is not to do anything other than that. I hope my information has helped others.

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i was thinking the exact same as ANPFNPGNP.

It is great that you have that kind of opp. but not what a normal new grad can expect.

i did work with a FNP and PA during my clinicals on a neurosurg rotation, and i think the FNP might have started there, i think she had been there for 5 years and specifically wanted to do that, perhaps she had a neuro/ICU Rn background, i'm not sure. But her role wasn't as broad as what you mentioned. She rounded and did a lot of "resident" type work, she didn't do any 1st assist, and I don't think the midlevels had the final say in anything, pretty much everything was run by the attending. This was in a large teaching level 1 trauma center.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, CVICU/SICU/Flight.

hmm, interesting. I guess it shows the various areas NPs can go into and how the roles are utilized. The opptys I presented before are that opptys, I am now going through the interviewing process but most of the offers I have had even outside of neuro are offering similar compensation packages with salary ranges between 88-110K. The role utilized has been very different, some rounding, others in the office, some with suturing in the ER etc... But the questions was specific to Neuro and thats what I have experience thus far. Just trying to be helpful and give specific answers to Kevagonia. Any more questions PM me, I wont be giving any more specifics on this one.

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hmm, interesting. I guess it shows the various areas NPs can go into and how the roles are utilized. The opptys I presented before are that opptys, I am now going through the interviewing process but most of the offers I have had even outside of neuro are offering similar compensation packages with salary ranges between 88-110K. The role utilized has been very different, some rounding, others in the office, some with suturing in the ER etc... But the questions was specific to Neuro and thats what I have experience thus far. Just trying to be helpful and give specific answers to Kevagonia. Any more questions PM me, I wont be giving any more specifics on this one.

I don't think we were meaning to be critical, we are just suprised. But since you've been a NP already makes sense!

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