Fellow NPs, I am in a predicament as to which job to chose. New grad. FNP trained.
Job 1: With community health. 1-1.5 hours travel one way. Pay 104k. Benefits are so so. CME $1500, 7 days. Will have good support. Will see 18 pts/day. Work M-F, 8-5.
Job 2: With Neurosurgery team. 15 minutes away from home. Pay, waiting to find out. Benefits are great. CME $2700+, 7 days. Will also have great support. Will be paired with a neurosurgeon. Will have to cover clinic, inpatient, and OR. Work M-F, 7-4. Some weekends and holidays.
I have already accepted Job 1. Haven't signed the contract yet. The Same day, I accepted the Job 1, I got the second offer. Another hesitancy with Job 2 is that I am primary care trained. I have neurosurgery experience as an RN only. In some ways, I do not even know what I need to know for this job. But I am positive that I will have great guidance. I will definitely get first assist and acute care cert for Job 2 to stay within the scope, but after starting the job. That's additional 2-3 years of continued training and education + full-time job.
I just want to think about all the pro and cons. And I know all of you have some great experiences and insights on this kind of decision making. So, I would love to hear your thoughts.
I am *positive* neuro will pay you more. I would totally take that job- assuming you are clear about what "some weekends and holidays" mean. And no call or inpatient shifts?
I've worked in reproductive health for my entire career. I do sometimes feel that lack of general medicine training. But not really, to be honest. I am glad I am only responsible for my certain area of expertise because it's way more interesting than any other area of medicine. I am incredibly happy in my specialty, going on 11 years. I love it.
Do neuro, if the schedule is reasonable! If only to save yourself the commute. Plus! You are guaranteed to continue your education if you take this job. That is a huge benefit.
With your experience the neuro job should pay more. Not to mention you'll be in your comfort zone. Post what the base will be when you find out.
Base pay for neurosurgery is 115K.
Thank you all for your suggestions. In many ways, Neuro is a much better option both pay and commute wise. But I decided to take the community healthy because I do not want to go back to school right away and get First assist and acute cert back to back. That is alot of schooling. Second, the direction the consensual model in Washington is taking. Third, I think I will be very happy working for the population that the community health serves.
But I also realize based on what you all have suggested, I will probably be miserable due to the commute and from being over worked. Either way, I will be sure to share what my experiences will be like in the future and if I regret my decision :)
Thank you all for your suggestions. In many ways, Neuro is a much better option both pay and commute wise. But I decided to take the community healthy because I do not want to go back to school right away and get First assist and acute cert back to back. That is alot of schooling. Second, the direction the consensual model in Washington is taking. Third, I think I will be very happy working for the population that the community health serves.
But I also realize based on what you all have suggested, I will probably be miserable due to the commute and from being over worked. Either way, I will be sure to share what my experiences will be like in the future and if I regret my decision :)
You'll be fine. my first perm job as FNP was 1hr 40mins ONE way and 1hr 40 mins back M-F and some Saturdays. Couldn't afford to buy a house there because it was expensive oil boom town. Loved the patients, learned a lot. The drive does get tiring. So after 10 months I left and went locums only to rural areas out of state and in my home state. Never regretted it, I had a great experience and I learned to be independent because I was the only provider at the clinic at that time with just my supervising MD a phone call away.
As someone who has an hour commute several times a week let me just say it gets old QUICK. I would totally do the neuro job. I specialized right out of school and it was fine. Now looking for something else. If you like neuro I'd do that.
cayenne06, MSN, CNM
1,394 Posts
I am *positive* neuro will pay you more. I would totally take that job- assuming you are clear about what "some weekends and holidays" mean. And no call or inpatient shifts?
I've worked in reproductive health for my entire career. I do sometimes feel that lack of general medicine training. But not really, to be honest. I am glad I am only responsible for my certain area of expertise because it's way more interesting than any other area of medicine.
I am incredibly happy in my specialty, going on 11 years. I love it.
Do neuro, if the schedule is reasonable! If only to save yourself the commute. Plus! You are guaranteed to continue your education if you take this job. That is a huge benefit.