I am graduating this May....(in 107 days to be exact) and I am so torn. I have always longed to move from this small town since obtaining my BSN. I ultimately didn't make the move because a staff nurse's schedule was not kid-friendly for a single parent with no close family nearby. I don't regret my decision because it led to me pursuing my MSN degree (a little sooner than originally planned). Now at the end of my journey, I long to move again if I'm able to secure a 9-5 M-F position with no weekends, holidays, or on-call. It's doable after a little sifting through the many job advertisements that don't require experience.
BUT....I have fallen in love with the practice that I am currently completing my practicum at. My preceptor definitely wants to hire me, but nothing is set in stone as of yet. He is a great doc and open to training mid-levels (wife is a PA). His dream would be to utilize all the mid-levels between the office and the other docs within the hospital so that we would be trained in all areas. His wife has been a PA for 5 years (EMT for several years prior). She has worked in the ER (solo "under hospitalist"), performed several small procedures in the office, and now is taking over the stress test at the hospital. The new NP who graduated this past May (started working in August) is now working in wound care center two days a week as well as the office and SHE LOVES IT. I'm sure their prior experience has helped catapult them into specializing, but I just love the freedom doc gives them. Speaking with the new FNP, doc trusts her to admit patients under his care based on her clinical judgement and she loves that he has her back.
I completed my Adult 1 clinicals with him and am now coming back for my practicum. He's promised to give me experience in every avenue allowing me to spend one day with the surgeon to watch procedures. One day with him or his wife at the ER. One day with the FNP at the wound care center (she's promised to teach me to suture and learn certain procedures). He's also had the radiologist agree to let me work with him one day to learn to read films (something we are not even taught in school). He's doing all this to help me build my resume whether I take a job with him or not. Although I am a student he trusts me with his patients and will follow my suggested plan of care. Even if he does not agree, he's so patient and doesn't mind explaining things in-depth.
My dilemma is, I don't want to stay. Its a small poor town, pay is not comparable to national average and frankly its full of people going nowhere fast. The experience and the fact that I would receive excellent training and could even specialize to an extent is the only reason I want to stay. I'm so scared of trying to move as a new FNP and being thrown to the wolves by a practice or not having a nuturing environment.
So experienced FNPs, what do you think is more important as a new graduate? Would you sacrifice your plans and income potential for a great MD or would you take the risk and move as planned.
Speaking with the FNP who started in Aug 2013, here are the stats:
Salary: $70k (currently not being paid for wound care clinic days/ supposed to be asking for some type of differential)
Benefits: CME $1000, Health insurance (dental &vision too), 401K retirement, Not sure how many sick/vacation days, malpractice insurance paid by practice
Bonus: Given $5k sign-on bonus
Schedule: 9-5 M-F No holidays, weekends, or on-call. (BUT there are talks of converting part of office into urgent care 8A-8P M-F with weekend hours 10A-4P)
I guess I should mention that the office manager is currently working on getting practice approved as site for national health service corps. The county is rated an 18 on the scale and probably would be approved for loan reimburstment. I have mentioned that this would be big incentive for working in the practice because the program pays up to $60k of loan back up front for 2 year agreement to work at an approved site.
Thanks so much for your advice. I am looking to take the job offer if still available. My preceptor has expressed many times that he would like for me to stay for several reasons with the main reason being all the patients seen thus far really like me. I have one child who is six years old. The elementary school is alright for the area, not a bad school system overall. He's in the first grade now so if I do stay, I still have years to go before he ends up at the middle school (that's where things become sketchy). You are right, 70k a year is nothing to sneeze at. I think me working PRN bringing in that amount and more has spoiled me these last 2 years. But as I discussed this with a friend she pointed out that I have no benefits, no guarantee of hours, and I'm also on 12 hour shifts. So 70k a year with great hours, benefits, supportive environment, and low cost of living is great. Everything being considered, I think staying a few more years gaining great experience is better than taking the big risk by moving.
jaznia15
211 Posts
Thanks so much for your advice. I am looking to take the job offer if still available. My preceptor has expressed many times that he would like for me to stay for several reasons with the main reason being all the patients seen thus far really like me. I have one child who is six years old. The elementary school is alright for the area, not a bad school system overall. He's in the first grade now so if I do stay, I still have years to go before he ends up at the middle school (that's where things become sketchy). You are right, 70k a year is nothing to sneeze at. I think me working PRN bringing in that amount and more has spoiled me these last 2 years. But as I discussed this with a friend she pointed out that I have no benefits, no guarantee of hours, and I'm also on 12 hour shifts. So 70k a year with great hours, benefits, supportive environment, and low cost of living is great. Everything being considered, I think staying a few more years gaining great experience is better than taking the big risk by moving.