The word is "serendipity'.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Well, guys, my time in the land of rampant nepotism is fast drawing to a close.

In the past week, I have gotten not one, but THREE job offers. And all of them are offering 10-plus dollars more an hour than I'm making now. There's a rub, though. Y'all feel free to tell me if I'm crazy for considering this.

Remember that crazy doc that I worked for/trained under before I graduated? The one that had her OM do all the dirty work? Well, she called. Personally. Eating crow, raw and without salt. She's managed to cheese off 14, count em, 14, nurse pracs since she fired me. Burned countless bridges in 3 counties.

She offered me a set price per hour, I countered with a ballpark of what the other offers were. She agreed. Came up $5 per hour from the initial offer. Made the comment, "I'll do whatever you want." I'm calling my lawyer tomorrow and having a contract drafted, in detail. I'm taking no chances. Yes, I know, she's crazy, but better the witch you know, and all that.

After I spoke with this doc, I told my OM that I needed to talk to her, but that tomorrow would be fine. Now, this woman has not taken a call from me or returned a text in 6 months. Over lunch she was blowing up my phone. It was driving her crazy. She finally called me this evening after I had left the clinic. I told her the situation and gave her the opportunity to match the offers, as I had planned to do from the beginning.

She started out by asserting that they were already paying me that salary. Then she realized, hey, this girl can actually ADD, and the salary that they ARE paying me is less than most RNs make. So, she said that there was no way they could match that salary, right now. (Remember when I said that they told me that the salary I started at was a starting point? Yeah, that was 10 months ago, no raise, no hint of one, and even an outright refusal to go halves on my med mal insurance.) However, they can afford to hire a helper for the brother who can't handle a reception job, and they can afford to recruit a 2nd doc, to the tune of $300,000 plus a year.

So be it, then. I did tell her that, if I accepted the offer (can we say no-brainer?) I would work a notice, of course. She responded with, "Will they hold the position that long?" I was puzzled, because most employers would anticipate a 2-week notice before one can start, until I realized that this woman thought she could con me into staying for my 'notice' until she found and trained my replacement! I mean, how unreal can you be?

So, we've determined that I AM leaving. I do have another offer on the table besides the one from the crazy doc, but it's less money and in a neighboring state, and a farther drive.

I know I'm not the same person she fired 3 years ago. I'm smarter now. I will go in with a contract for exactly what I want, and if she agrees, well and good. If not, next state here I come.

But am I nuts for even considering her?

[RNnbakes]

Why has she gone through 14 NPs in 3yrs? That is crazy :no: . The patients at the practice would surely notice that there is something wrong.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Because she treats them like garbage and they either quit or she fires them. In the scenario we will have this time, she won't even be at the same practice location I am. She will just be my collaborating doc.

I make no bones about the fact that it's ( insert emoticons here), but its' also familiar, and I have a spine now. And if I have a contract in place, I'm protected. I plan to stipulate a guaranteed year's employ, or payment for six months' salary in the event I am let go for a reason other than by my decision. For all I know, she may not go for it. But it'll be fun to try.

[RNnbakes]

The stipulation should at least make her think twice before firing you. Congrats on the new job.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

That was the whole point. What didn't kill me did serve to make me a whole lot smarter. Thanks!

[Hoozdo, ADN]

I don't think you are crazy. I think it is easier to work with a known "difficult"

person than an unknown. You can count on their disposition every day. Money talks!

Congrats!*wine

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Too much drama!

Who would want to work in this environment - take one of the other two jobs.

Anytime there is this much conflict in the workplace, errors will be made and in come the lawyers.

Also, most APN positions require 1-3 month notice, not the typical 2 weeks notice.

I wish you well, but honestly, after reading all your posts which all involve some type of drama - you are just asking for more of the same.

I doubt your sincerity in making a go of this position either as you seem to crave attention and attention-seeking is not a good attribute for APNs.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Thank you, Hoozdo!

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Trauma, you're welcome to your opinion, of course. However, mine's a bit different. I can assure you, I'm NOT seeking this kind of attention.

If I could just go in, do my thing, and come home, I'd be ecstatic. In this field, where I live, though, it's rarely that easy. I don't consider myself an attention-seeker. I'll admit I'm a wild card, I'm bouncy and boisterous, but it seems to work with my patient population.

I've no illusions that any new job will have its own level of stress. I know that. What I also know is that, given the current family dynamic, I'm in a no-win situation, I'm being paid a pittance, and I'm being treated like the proverbial red-headed stepchild. Yep, I'm whining, but after a near year of busting my considerable rear at this place, you'd at least think some of the bs would have simmered. Instead, it's at a near boil.

If I do take the job with the crazy doc, it'll be tantamount to running my own practice. That'll be a relief, and a welcome one.

Thank you for the info on notices. I wasn't aware that that was the accepted norm.

Signed, one very unwitting drama magnet. (LOL)

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Agree with traumaRUs in that most professional notice is 1-3 months with the latter pretty much the norm (in my experience).

Also, agree that you might be back here posting later about the "crazy doc" again and that in and of itself is not professional either.

I'd be concerned about my identity on the WWW. Be careful the bridges you burn.

Good luck.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

FWIW: My contract requires 12 weeks notice to resign, and I get 12 weeks severance if they fire me, so I agree that that seems standard.

No, I would NOT go back to work for the physician with whom you had a previous negative experience. Nor would I stay in the present situation. There are a great many professional, collegial, mature and emotionally stable people out there. I would hold out for a position with those people.

Good luck.

[nursel56]

My memory may be fuzzy on this -- but was crazy doc the doc with the staff who were a bunch of manipulative and immature brats?

I've worked with some difficult people -- it isn't impossible as long as you expect it and figure out ahead of time how you will respond. At least you have the advantage of knowing something about her personality going in.

Anyway, it sounds like you've thought it through - so I'll say good luck!! It would be great if you could come back and give us a progress report. :) I'm always interested to know if it's really possible to adapt to a crazy person and what are successful coping strategies.