NP salary negotiations

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I'm currently in an FNP program in Oklahoma, and have been approached by a hospital in my hometown about coming to work for them. I remember reading a long time ago on here about a PA, maybe his name was David...Carpenter (its been sooo long) and he talked about how to negotiate a salary and something about getting a bonus of a % of what you bill...I look for the post and cannot find it. I know they are ready to start negotiating, but I want to go in their with all the knowledge about this bonus thing. Please reply or show me where that posting is!!! Thanks!:pumpiron:

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Congrats on accepting a job! Keep us posted.

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

Congrats, Nursetim!! I'm happy for you!!

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

Thank you to everyone! You have offered very valuable information.

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Wow, I can't say I'm surprised from what I've read, I'm stil shocked at the lowball salaries. My wife has been torn between NP and staying where she is at for the last year. She runs a Occ. Health Clinic now, but her salary is over 77K with great benefits now, so we're unsure what she is going to do. Probably will go back to school for a NP for the enjoyment and challenge, but boy I wish the pay was higher.

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Specializes in ER, HH, CTICU, corrections, cardiology, hospice.

UPDATE I just accepted the job in NM working in a prison. I'll start from the beginning.

I get a call from a Health Service Coordinator about my resume. We talk and after a while she asks what I am looking for salary wise. I tell her $70k/yr. She told me no, $45/hr, being dense I tried to correct her and said I thought it worked out to $35/hr. She said NO, YOU want 45/hr. The nickel finally dropped and I parroted 45/hr.

I talk to a few other people and they want to wait until I pass boards before they bring me out there. I pass and out I go. The HSC has been in touch a couple of times between first contact and my trip out there, congratulating me on my boards and generally being supportive. She meets me at the airport in Albuquerque and she leads me to the hotel I was to stay at. As we are walking in she says,"You know you have the job if you want it." I was a little stunned but rolled with it.

She takes me to region HQ to meet with the jeffes and things go well there. Then it's off to the prison, 80 miles outside of ABQ! Things go well there, no hard cases, no DON trying to freak me out by saying that an inmate might knock me on the head and steal my clothes and I'll be stuck there until they figure out who I am, or anything like that. So I'm good. Now for the negotiations.

I was told a recruiter would call me in a day or two. Two days go by and nada. I finally get the call and they want to offer me the job. Let me stop here and say that for my ignorant idea, the relocation funds was a biggie and I told the HSC that.

So the initial offer was 42/hr plus 5k relocation, malpractice, health, dental, vision, 401k, 200 hrs time off, 5 days CME and 1k CME allowance to be approved by corporate. I ask if I can think about it and get back to her. She says okay and leaves it at that.

I talk to the HSC and my wife. My wife clues me in on the fact that the relo is a one time thing and the hourly is a better deal in the long run, besides we can write off the relo on taxes. I agree and make a counter offer of 45/hr no relo. They got back with me yesterday with 42/hr and four 3k bonuses over two years as long as I make that killer commute, and no relo.

I was disappointed that they would not budge on the hourly and that I would hemorrhage half of the bonuses in taxes. The recruiter puts it on one of my jeffes about the hourly. That's okay, I'll play poker with him some time and fleece him for the difference. :D

All in all I'm not disappointed in how I made out. I am going to get terrific experience, the people are nice and NO CODING :rckn::yelclap::w00t::cheers:

The no coding may come back to bite me if I change practice venues. Now I pack and get my butt out to ABQ.

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Thanks Nursetim for sharing your experiences! Congratulations on the job! Enjoy alb....The hot air balloon festival in the fall is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen!

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Congrats!! Pretty good deal I would say.......good luck and keep us posted.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I think you negotiated well and good luck.

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Specializes in ER, HH, CTICU, corrections, cardiology, hospice.

To be honest, there was not much in the way of negotiations. It was more of three choices A or B, C was SEE ya.:bugeyes:

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Specializes in ER, HH, CTICU, corrections, cardiology, hospice.

Another update: The 80 mile drive is KAPUT! We came out and I drove her once and she put her petite little foot down with a thunderous boom and said NO! Luckily they had a position in Santa Fe that I got. I lost the bonuses and $1/hr, but no 1 hour commute. I am good with it. Housing is frightfully dear, but for matrimonial harmony, it is worth it.

As I was leaving the admin building I saw a sign at eye level that said "beware of rattlesnakes!" Man I am in the West now! I start Monday, I can't wait. I just need to find a place to live.

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David,

Based on your ability to so thoroughly and fully explain this topic and how beneficial it is to all of us who wish to get paid what we are worth it seems like you could really monetize this information for yourself through both paid publications (books, etc.) and a consulting business. This is very valuable information...I would certainly hire you as a consultant to assist me in negotiating my worth with a prospective employer and/or in developing a business plan for opening my own practice. Not sure what your background is other than the PA but it is apparent that you have practical business knowledge beyond the average health care provider. You don't happen to have your MBA too do you? Anyways, just a thought...you probably have enough info just in these postings to publish a book and you could do it as one of the self published books for say $0.99 to $2.99 as a download to test pilot it then tweak it for formal publication based on feedback. In the mean time I will just be grateful for your support of the nursing community!

DNP student in AZ

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