Qka

I recently made a stupid mistake and got caught ,had a meeting with my HR (prescribing medication for myself). They offered me to self report and gave me the deadline. Now, my question is how to self report? Should I just describe the dry facts? Can I be emotional and more descriptive to explain my wrongdoing? Or it does not matter? Should I self report at all or wait for them to report me first? The second question is regarding lawyer representation. I am in FL. Any recommendations? I called a few and facing a choice to pay flat fee for the case (rather high) or to pay hourly towards my retained price after which it will be additional. I don't know how long it will take... Should I start with a lawyer before I self report? I am on a personal leave until further notice Right now I am so shaky....

I am about to start my first NP job (already accepted the offer, tomorrow is my first job). I accepted their offer without counter offer, although I did not like on thing on it: CME $500 per year. It seemed to be low in comparison with what I've seen here on the forum. Job is in primary care M-F, 8-5, no calls, no weekends, no rounds. 25 miles commute. Big corporation. Annual salary is comparable with other offers I received in my area. Patient load is on the low side (see walk ins of the current practice). 3 weks PTO, medical, dental,vision plans (I wont use them, they are very expensive for out of pocket part in comparison with my husband's benefits) Malpractice covered. But I have not seen it yet, they said I will see it on the first day, tomorrow. No non-compete. 5K bonus. 90 days notice if I decide to leave. I took it because it seems ok: Low pressure, they provide good orientation, salary is local average, patient volume is low. I also hope to transfer to another location of this company (closer to me). Plus, I need to start somewhere. What do you think? Can I discuss the offer once I started? I will see malpractice contract, what about I don't like something in it?

Thank you everybody who took time and aswered my question. I do not know how accurate it that website salary estimate, but I do not have much to compare it with. I only know 2 NPs who disclosed this info with me. One makes about 90K (specialty), one classmate just got hired and said offers were from 74-85K (Internal medicine). I do not want to start too low. At the same time I want to be prepared with this financial stuff (which I do not feel comfortable with). I only went to one interview. Specialty that I am HIGHLY interested into. I did not get an official offer and was not offered a job. One of the questions that I was asked was about the salary. It was just the discussion of salary, not an offer. I wanted MD to make me an offer first and describe benefits. Of course, I did reserach prior and found out that mean for my area in this specialty was 98K. MD made me name it and I said 90K, he answered that yes, 98K is an average mean salary, but I am unexperienced and can not receive that much, bla, bla, bla. Did not discuss it further. He offered me to shadow him for a day and I did. After that I was denied a job. I just don't know if I made a resonable offer or asked too much. Was it a deciding factor? Why he offered me to shadow him then? But we just touched this topic and moved on. I dont know if there are other benefits like med insurance, malpractice, etc. This time I want to be more prepared for a question like this. I have an interview in a walk in clinic. All I know, it is M-F, every other Saturday (1/2 day), no hospital, don't know about on call, holidays off, 2 weeks PTO, don't know the rest. From my classmate who just got an offer in my area and told me the range 75-85K. Can I ask closer to a higher end of this range? I have 5 years hospital RN experience, mostly med surge, some peds, females (if it matter). That classmate had only 5 months RN experience. That is the reason why I started this topic.

Quick question. Let's say, I do a research of NP salaries in certain specialty in my are. Mean is 90K, low 80K, high 112K. As a new grad what can I reasonably ask for?

I am planning to buy some review course (unsure which one yet). It consists of a book + CDs. I wonder if CD is the reading of book information or is it additional information? I am not a great audio learner, I might be able to buy just a book, maybe even used book to save money. Thank you!

Contrary to the other responders, I do not see anything wrong that you try to plan you future. I did the same. It seems weird but it worked for me. I was almost in your situation. I got a master degree from abroad before we moved to the USA and I faced a dilemma what to do with myself. I went in to RN school although some people told me I could take advantage of my MS. Although I always wanted to be an MD, I did not consider medical school because of its cost and length of study. I could not afford it. I did not know much about PA back then, there is no such a profession in my country of origin. Anyway, there was no PA school locally and I did not consider relocation. So, I went into nursing. Now I am finished FNP school working as a nurse. But my situation is slightly different than yours. If I were you, I would go to PA school to save time. Going for RN, then BSN, then NP is too long and $$$$ and the end result is equal to PA. Unless you are not sure if you want to continue studying after BSN. Another thing that I did not know about nurses is how much exhausting this job is. Nurses work very short, they are required to perform more and more tasks. I know many nurses are burned out. The pay is an okay in my opinion, but for that kind of pay you can get an easier job somewhere else. The only good thing I can tell is that the schedule is very flexible and job market is great when you are a nurse. You want have a problem to find a job comparing to other specialties. You are able to raise kids and work full time. You can work nights, weekends, whatever.

I am in my final semester and deciding what exam to day.

What are requirements for FNP recertification through AANP and ANCC? Which one is easier? I read their websites, got some idea, but it is not quite clear to me. I am trying to decide with exam to take and reading posts about it. Somebody wrote that AANP recertification is easier. Do I understand it right? I almost decided to take AANP after reading about the exams. Just need to know one more thing. Thanks!

Thanks! I test okay usually. Sometimes very good.

If there is one, I am not aware. But it is a good idea to look for one for me as well as I am in my final semester:) Thanks for the hint:) Overall, if I have to appy again, I would still to apply to USF since 1) it is state college, accredited program 2) I live locally, commute is like 30 min for me 3) cheaper than other schools around. I did not consider those online no name schools at all.

I have Fitz CD review from 2011 from my friend...I think i need something more current. Thanks for your reply!

First year you can take all classes online, there is an option to take some in the form of regular classroom class. But if your goal is to do it online as much as you can, you can take them online up to advanced diagnostics class. I believe it is like a year into the program doing it part time like majority of students. Then, you have to come to campus at least a few times per semester if not every week for lectures. When you start clinical part of the program, in Adult I i took it online, so i did not have to come to campus for lectures. But in Adult II there was no option for online class. Online classes fill in very fast, so might not be able to register for them even if they are offered. I don't know how it is going to be in the future though. It seems like they change from semester to semester. The classes are only at the main campus-Tampa. Clinicals are everywere, on average I have to drive like 40-50 miles from my location and I live in Tampa. Clinicals are about 2 times/week. The program itself is ok. Not perfect, but I can't compare it to others. I don't like USF bureaucracy and parking. The content is okay, teachers are good for the most part. Some are awasome:). I did not have horrible teachers:) P.s. I had (MODERATOR EDIT OF NAME - PLEASE DO NOT POST NAMES OF THOSE IN YOUR PROGRAM PER TOS) for patho, I just looked in my files. I liked that class, it was totally online with recorded lectures over PP.

I am in FNP program at USF. I did this class online. Forgot the teacher's name but I think it is (MODERATOR EDIT OF NAME - PLEASE DO NOT POST NAMES OF THOSE IN YOUR PROGRAM PER TOS). Got an A in the class. She recorded lectures as she was talking over power points. They were like 4h a week. The tests were fair.

I know NPs who work as RN like once a month, but they are experienced RNs and they work that once day because of the pay (double for extra). But as a new grad I don't see it possible because of all education and orientation they will make you go through in the beginning. Plus, you won't be able to make you schedule when you are right after orientation.

Since I did not get replies in the student sub forum, I want to raise this question here. How different is review from 2015 and previous years? Were there any changes in the exam? The question is about different reviews, Fitzgerald or Berkeley for example. I am considering to buy a used cd review , but I only see 2014 and earlier editions.