What questions to ask potential employers?

Specialties NP

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I graduate in May and have just started circulating my resume. I really want a 3-4 day/week position with benefits that is reasonably close to home.

Well I have my first interview coming up. It is at a internal medicine clinic that serves low-income/medicaid/uninsured/underinsured. It is about 50 minutes from my house in good weather and we live in a snow belt. The ad was for full-time, but I specifically sent a generic cover letter, not mentioning the ad, and indicated I was interested in part-time employment in any of their offices. Well, no mention has been made of part-time versus full-time, but they emailed me to schedule an interview for their open IM position (the one advertised as full-time). I figured I would at least go for the interview.

Anyway, my question is what questions should I ask at this and other interviews?

Hours/Call responsibility

Daily patient load

Will I be managing chronic illnesses or only seeing acute visits

What else??????

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I am in the same position as you, and also have an interview coming up. Graduates from my program compiled a list of good interview questions--

--who makes up the staff (MD/PA/NP), how many of each?

--how often to MDs and NPs meet? (In my state MD/NP collaboration is required--this depends on where you're from)

--how do I get my patients? what are the rules around the patients I see and treat? How often must they see the MD, and can I do the initial visit? How long for sick/urgent visits? Follow ups? Physicals?

--what kind of practice protocols are used in the office?

--how is productivity and quality assurance monitored?

--how long of an orientation period? will I have a mentor?

--who will be my supervisor?

--what are the benefits/salary/cont ed/vacation/sick time/health insurance?

--are the costs of license renewal, prescriptive authority (controlled substance #, DEA#) , and covered by the practice?

And of course the questions you mentioned.

I, personally, am kind of nervous about asking these questions as I'm not a very bold person by nature. Being new and inexperienced, especially in this economy, I feel that anyone who gives me a job is doing me a favor. But I know that's just a feeling of a newbie. I know I'll be a very good NP and valuable to any practice, so when I interview for the first time I plan to pretend I already feel confident.

Good luck!

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

These are great questions. Are the positions you're applying for salaried or hourly? I've seen both in my area, and not sure which way is best. Any thoughts?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

From my experience, hourly is definitely better. I currently have a salaried position where I put in way more than 40 hours and I also work part time on an hourly basis and that is much better.

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

Are there any good websites (other than salary.com) you'd recommend to research salaries by geographic location?

Thanks!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I like to look at states' advanced practice nursing organizations. Usually you can visit the site and get salary info w/o joining.

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