Planned Parenthood NP

[OCRN3]

Hi all,

Another opportunity has been brought up to me about working at planned parenthood. Currently working family practice. Any NPS work there who love or hate it?

On paper the benefits look great, the pay is ok but I think the benefits outweigh the low pay? Any one with thoughts about this?

[BCgradnurse, MSN, RN, NP]

I know of 2 NPs who have worked for PP and really enjoyed it. They were passionate about bringing quality GYN care to women who otherwise may not have access to preventative care.

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

Hehe.

I am a full time CNM at planned parenthood. I turned down 2 full scope OBGYN positions in order to take this job, and I have never been so happy. I love my work, and I love the organization. We really are a "mission driven" organization, and it shows.

I can only speak to my affiliate (PPSNE), but it truly is a fantastic place to work for so many reasons. And despite the rabid political rhetoric and the falsehoods spread by the anti-choicers, the vast majority of the population supports us.

I do everything from medication abortions (non-MDs can't do surgical ABs in most states, but that will change) to every type of birth control under the sun, colposcopies, biopsies, limited primary care, all manner of GYN complaints, diagnosing and treating STIs, cryo, LEEPs, providing transgender care, miscarriage management, menopause care, endocrine disorders, men's sexual\/repro health, initial prenatal care (some PP clinics actually do full scope prenatal care based on the needs of the community, would love to do that too), and a zillion other things. I am well supported as a new grad, have great benefits, and am given endless opportunities to increase my skill set. I LOVE IT! And our docs are great, always just a text or phone call away.

We do good, moral work here. I feel like I make a profound difference in people's lives, every day.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I have never worked for our local PP, but a friend has. She said the pay was not the best, but benefits were ok. She also said providing care for those who had no where else to go was VERY rewarding. That is what kept her there for many years. She left when she had to move to help care for her Mother.

[Nurse Leigh]

Hehe.

I am a full time CNM at planned parenthood. I turned down 2 full scope OBGYN positions in order to take this job, and I have never been so happy. I love my work, and I love the organization. We really are a "mission driven" organization, and it shows.

I can only speak to my affiliate (PPSNE), but it truly is a fantastic place to work for so many reasons. And despite the rabid political rhetoric and the falsehoods spread by the anti-choicers, the vast majority of the population supports us.

I do everything from medication abortions (non-MDs can't do surgical ABs in most states, but that will change) to every type of birth control under the sun, colposcopies, biopsies, limited primary care, all manner of GYN complaints, diagnosing and treating STIs, cryo, LEEPs, providing transgender care, miscarriage management, menopause care, endocrine disorders, men's sexual\/repro health, initial prenatal care (some PP clinics actually do full scope prenatal care based on the needs of the community, would love to do that too), and a zillion other things. I am well supported as a new grad, have great benefits, and am given endless opportunities to increase my skill set. I LOVE IT! And our docs are great, always just a text or phone call away.

We do good, moral work here. I feel like I make a profound difference in people's lives, every day.

Just love this entire post. Wish our local PP were still open. Women's health was never something I really wanted to do, but the more I feel women's rights being supressed, the more I want to be involved with fighting the good fight and improving the health of women and men.

The whole debate over PP annoys and confounds me; I want abortion to be SAFE, LEGAL, and RARE, and PP (and other like minded health clinics) make all that possible by providing birth control, education (that's actually backed by science), healthcare, and safe access to abortion in a supportive environment. My thanks to those who provide these all important services!

Good luck, OP!

[Maevish, ASN, RN]

I could never do it because of some of the things I might see or be forced to think about, but a couple of my nursing school friends have done it and like it. They make good money as well, this being California, but they're really passionate about women and their health so it's a good fit even if they didn't make the $$.

PP does so much more than abortions (which I won't discuss here because everyone has their views on it and things can get ugly quickly)! It's complete care for women experiencing loads of other issues/medical problems! It's become a term for "death" and that's only a small portion of what they do there.

xo

[JerseyTomatoMDCrab, BSN]

I have never worked at PP but I was a patient at one for MANY years when I had no health insurance. Say what you want about their practices, but I can tell you that without their services I wouldn't have had gynecological care until age 23. They offer an invaluable service to the communities where they work. I was treated with respect and care as a patient and am proud to say I support them. If you have a problem with the unplanned pregnancies they terminate, stop for a second and think of the unplanned pregnancies they PREVENT by offering low cost gynecological care and birth control options for women who wouldn't have it otherwise.

[Psychcns]

I did my OB nursing rotation at an inner city Boston hospital and I was shocked with how many women were there for therapeutic medical abortions and how many women had had more than 20 of these therapeutic medical abortions in their lifetime. PP can help with education and services for these situations so abortion is not used as birth control.

[Nurse Leigh]

^^ This is one reason I think IUDs are a wonderful invention! Pills are too easy to forget.

Although we also need to be sure people understand that to prevent transmission of STIs, condoms and dental dams etc need to be properly used.

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

I did my OB nursing rotation at an inner city Boston hospital and I was shocked with how many women were there for therapeutic medical abortions and how many women had had more than 20 of these therapeutic medical abortions in their lifetime. PP can help with education and services for these situations so abortion is not used as birth control.

TWENTY ABORTIONS?! Good lord. That poor woman.

I will never understand how one can be anti-abortion and also anti-birth control. Well, actually I DO understand- it's because they are't really "pro-life," they are anti-healthy sexuality. Everyone deserves to have an awesome, juicy sex life, and everyone deserves the tools and education to control their fertility.

[RisaW]

It's great to see so many positive comments regarding PP. I've known several NPs who have worked as clinicians at different Planned Parenthood affiliates, and their experiences varied greatly based on their local political climate and the size/strength of that particular affiliate. Locations that are more liberal, that allow for greater independence for the clinician and that are more financially secure will result in a more pleasant experience than if you work at a Planned Parenthood in a conservative state, or a smaller affiliate where you're the only clinician in the health center. One of my former classmates is the only clinician at a PP clinic, and even though she has vacation time available it's always a struggle for her to get away because she has to find someone to cover the clinic for her - they can't close the doors and not see patients. She complains about protesters who take pictures of her license plate, hold offensive signs and yell at her as she enters and leaves the building. She knows what to do in case someone tries to follow her car home, because it is a real risk. On the other hand, I have a colleague who works at a larger center where she is one of several clinicians and has no problems requesting days off. She doesn't have to worry about backlash from protesters.

You also don't want to have to worry about being verbally assaulted in the grocery store for wearing a Planned Parenthood t-shirt, or have to worry about whether the state will force the clinic to close based on trumped up charges, or dread the inevitable "so where do you work?" question when meeting new people.

Planned Parenthood does great work in providing healthcare for un- (and under) insured women, I love the organization and think it's a disgrace what some of their employees and patients have to deal with.

All of this is to say that because it is a mission driven organization there are certain drawbacks, and that you should really make sure that it's right for you.

Good Luck!