Other Jobs

Jules A, MSN · Oct 1, 2015

I have always worked more than one job. Usually this includes a weekend position, a 0.5FTE with benefits and a PRN or two. The way I juggle is by having everything in my calendar so I know where I'm supposed to be each day.

PG2018 · Oct 1, 2015

Idk. I have a moonlighting gig I've yet to work, but I was pretty upfront about only working non-holiday Fridays. My regular job is Monday -Thursday, 8a-6p/leave when I feel like it. Nights and holidays can kiss my bum. I paid my societal penance years ago in another profession. I loathe being inside hospitals, but I've been considering an occasional weekend inpatient gig...ick. I don't need the income, but I feel like I should be an inpatient attending at some point in my endeavors. I haven't done a lot of acute stabilization so I mainly want the satisfaction of being efficacious. But otherwise my life is a chore magnet so I've began living by Google Calendar because it syncs and is sharable.

Other than Jules, I don't know any psych NPS who work multiple jobs. The income doesn't necessitate the strain.

Jules A, MSN · Oct 1, 2015

Other than Jules, I don't know any psych NPS who work multiple jobs. The income doesn't necessitate the strain.

Its probably a personal preference but no strain here. By working multiple jobs I have had exposure to many excellent professional contacts which are invaluable. I know how to navigate 6 different EMRs and have seen different approaches to the same issues we all face in psychiatry. I have learned far more by seeing what a hundred psychiatrists do in different situations than I ever could have if I was slogging along with trial and error by myself in an OP office.

As for off shifts, I love the weekends and holidays, if all the sudden I'm worth 50% more without administrators milling around getting on my nerves count me in.

PG2018 · Oct 2, 2015

Its probably a personal preference but no strain here. By working multiple jobs I have had exposure to many excellent professional contacts which are invaluable. I know how to navigate 6 different EMRs and have seen different approaches to the same issues we all face in psychiatry. I have learned far more by seeing what a hundred psychiatrists do in different situations than I ever could have if I was slogging along with trial and error by myself in an OP office.
As for off shifts, I love the weekends and holidays, if all the sudden I'm worth 50% more without administrators milling around getting on my nerves count me in.

I hope you didn't take my remarks as defamatory. Really, you're just the only person I know that works so much. Albeit not for me, I think it's admirable, and it's definitely a series of learning experiences. I'm pretty partial to slogging along, lol.

Jules A, MSN · Oct 2, 2015

I hope you didn't take my remarks as defamatory. Really, you're just the only person I know that works so much. Albeit not for me, I think it's admirable, and it's definitely a series of learning experiences. I'm pretty partial to slogging along, lol.

Lol, oh definitely no offense taken! I'm not bright enough to slog along on my own, I need the uber smart Docs for augmentation.

I also don't know any NPs who work like I do but plenty of physicians who do. Although I know you make bank something I think hinders NP income in general is the desire for a sit down M-F 9-5 job with no call. Few Docs work like that and I figure if I want that provider status I have to roll with their routine. I'm hoping my willingness to work whatever, care for the less affluent and take call will give me some longevity as the tide changes with the DNP becoming more common, FNPs trying to lay on our psych mattress and me getting older and more decrepit.

PG2018 · Oct 2, 2015

Lol, oh definitely no offense taken! I'm not bright enough to slog along on my own, I need the uber smart Docs for augmentation.
I also don't know any NPs who work like I do but plenty of physicians who do. Although I know you make bank something I think hinders NP income in general is the desire for a sit down M-F 9-5 job with no call. Few Docs work like that and I figure if I want that provider status I have to roll with their routine. I'm hoping my willingness to work whatever, care for the less affluent and take call will give me some longevity as the tide changes with the DNP becoming more common, FNPs trying to lay on our psych mattress and me getting older and more decrepit.

I think suffering through undergrad, being pimped out in med school, and then working through near indenturement during residency underscores the ambition and aggressiveness that most physicians have. Of course, being stuck with four grand in loan paybacks every months helps stimulate the American work incentive. It also seems so much easier to get a job as a doc. Me as a NP getting hired and doing orientation was super easy. I skipped it, they filled out my papers for me, and I signed. For docs, it's often easier than that. They get in with those "services," establish their credentialing, and can drop in on clinic, facilities, etc. work a shift, and bounce. I see them still doing paper charting, having nurses transfer it to the EMR, and then escape to their and drive home.

Regarding the income, I never gave it any thought. I know docs working A LOT making >500k in nonsurgical fields. I go to a wealth manager, the new phrase for financial planners, and he works almost exclusively with physicians. He told me flat out one day that most of his doc clients make a tremendous amount of income and still find themselves paycheck to paycheck each month. It's really quite surprising.

Jules A, MSN · Oct 2, 2015

Regarding the income, I never gave it any thought. I know docs working A LOT making >500k in nonsurgical fields. I go to a wealth manager, the new phrase for financial planners, and he works almost exclusively with physicians. He told me flat out one day that most of his doc clients make a tremendous amount of income and still find themselves paycheck to paycheck each month. It's really quite surprising.

This is a great lesson and maybe easier for those of us who as previous nurses are probably a bit more blue collar. For physicians there is more pressure to have an expensive car, home and toys. It is way more acceptable for me to park my $30,000 car in the physicians parking lot than it is for them.

Its tempting to jack up your lifestyle as you make more money. I have always lived fairly simply and although I now do spend considerably more on some things I try to be mindful of how easy it is to spend a lot of money on things that don't seem so important when the credit card statement is due. Look at some of the celebrities who have made millions and go broke from over spending. I still do a fair amount of saving and investing as I have no plans to work into my 60s or be dependent on social security as my only income in my dotage.

Alicia777, MSN, NP · Oct 2, 2015

I work my full-time position 4 days a week and then moonlight for another hospital a couple Saturday's or Sunday's per month.

It's half my weeks pay for one 12 hour shift (which I spend sometimes watching TV in the call room or working out). Hard to pass it up...

Oh, I'm not a psych NP, just noticed your post title