Requesting thoughts on negotiating with an employer

Trauma Columnist · Aug 3, 2007

Okay here goes:

1. Do the FAFSA form first to see what type of financial aid you can get first.

2. Negotiate for the bare minimum that you need. If you can pick up some of the cost, do so. Makes the indentured servant time less.

3. Have you decided on what type of NP would work well for you? It seems as though the FNP gives you more flexibility.

4. How will your retirement be affected if you have to drop to less than full-time during this period. What about benefits?

5. Are you SURE you want to stay with this practice? If it is only one MD, there should be some provision put in place in case he dies suddenly or the practice folds or he merges with a larger group.

6. As to the exact amount of time you will give back in payment, I wouldn''t be willing to commit to much more than a 1:1 deal: for every year of schooling, I will work for you.

7. What are you to be paid during this time of repayment? Again, you should certainly get a significant raise from your RN salary but then would you get another raise when your debt is paid off?

8. Get your duties set on paper too. For instance, I do call at two hospitals 55 miles from my home one weekend per month. That is factored into my salary. However, we have one NP going out on maternity leave and that means that I will be picking up another weekend every month. So...we three that will pick up the extra weekends are negotiating for extra pay.

9. Good luck.

buster4 · Aug 6, 2007

Thank you very much for your suggestions!! They are greatly appreciated...

When does N.P. students start the clinicals, what part, first year or second year, Are they all day or several days a week clinicals??? I am just trying to get an idea of what it will be like.

Any replies are greatly appreciated!!!!

Trauma Columnist · Aug 7, 2007

Clinicals are dependent on the particular school - I would ask them.

yellow finch, BSN, RN · Aug 7, 2007

Thank you very much for your suggestions!! They are greatly appreciated...
When does N.P. students start the clinicals, what part, first year or second year, Are they all day or several days a week clinicals??? I am just trying to get an idea of what it will be like.
Any replies are greatly appreciated!!!!

Each school will have their own set of didactic courses to take prior to your first semester of clinicals. Depending on whether you're ft/pt/or slower you will essentially begin clinicals with your Health Assessment class. That's typically where they will check you off on your assessment skills before allowing you to see patients.

Clinicals, themselves, are different (at least in my experience) from undergraduate school. I pick my own preceptors, and attend work with them. I set my own hours, keep track of how much time I spend with each patient, and submit all that information to the instructors. It can get complicated at times!

Good luck!

buster4 · Aug 7, 2007

Thank you for your reply...

I will be going part time, will not start until next fall, I am getting all my applications, recommendations, etc. done currently...

I work full time... daytime at a physicians office, the classes are during the evenings, so that will work out, I was just curious about how far into it, you have to be away from your job to do the clinicals... I am very excited about going to school.. I am 39, my birthday is in a week or so and will be the big 40!!!

My goal is to be a N.P, by the time I reach 44 or latest 45...

again thanks anyone who takes the time to reply or make suggestions or comments about their own experiences..