How Prestigious?

[brazilbrowneyes]

Ok Professional PA's, question:

I've been talking with a recruiter about a position at a VERY prominent Children's hospital, and they are opening up a new inpatient pediatric neuroscience institute that they're interested in me for. The salary (as a new grad) would likely be around 95-100K, shifts would be 3/12's and the shifts would be decided as a "team" at the institute between the PA's/NP's that work there as it will need 24/7 coverage. The recruiter had mentioned that this would be a very good resume builder and very exciting opportunity to be one of the firsts there and be there to help make decisions about policy and how the institute operates. Nobody else's shoes to fill, etc.

Is this true in the long run? Is this something I should take more seriously (I REALLY do NOT want to work nights), or is this just the recruiter doing her job recruiting?

[SocialMedicine]

It sounds like a wonderful opportunity. Salary is good for the work in my opinion. The only advise I would offer is ..... do not trust any comment that goes like this ... "we will get you off nights as soon as possible". Unless it is in writing assume you could be working nights for awhile.

[Contrarian]

How long have you been practicing as a PA....???
How long have you been practicing neurology....???
How long have you been practicing developmental/Pediatric neurology...???

What special skills will YOU bring to this position/Job DIRECTLY related to Pediatric Neurology...???[

If you can't give substantial answers to the above questions.... then YES:

... is this just the recruiter doing her job recruiting?

[ventana]

recruiters lie

get it in writing

nights suck and will just about kill you

new grads need a ton o hand holding....... being offered the job to fly alone only means you will crash....

new departments are REALLY tough even for a higly experienced PA to enter (lots of roll defining) not a place a new grad should be....

[EMEDPA]

hard to find a position without at least some night coverage either as shifts or call.
almost any EM, surgery, Hospitalist, ortho, etc position will require some night responsibility. even in primary care you may need to take call for new admits through the er, etc
remember docs hire pa's to do the work they don't want to do at times and places they don't want to do it. and docs like their sleep just as much as you do....

[brazilbrowneyes]

and docs like their sleep just as much as you do....

True that.

I'm pretty sure it won't be "just me", and I agree entirely that I'll require a LOT of hand holding. I am entirely prepared for the first two years to be like unto drinking out of a fire hydrant. I'm not so naive to not know that.

By way of answers to Contrarian's questions- I'll be a new grad. My undergrad is in neuro. And I also will have had a peds. neurosurg rotation before I graduate...But that's the end of my "contribution list". I come with more than the average new grad by way of neurological understanding, likely, but still as green as they come.

[physasst]

You're going into this with the right attitude it would seem. A lot of this to be honest can't be answered without YOU answering some more questions:

1. Where do you see your career long term? Academics, Research, Rural practice, a mix?

2. Do you love pediatric neurology?.....Seriously....do you love it...

3. Are you willing to accept some limitations on practice setting in order to become an expert in a subspecialty?

4. Are you willing to work with multiple physicians, all of whom MAY have some personality and practice variability, or do you prefer to work with just one doc all the time?

5. Are you willing to see the worst of the worst? These (as you likely know) won't be kids with mild neurologic disorders, but will be real, real sick kids.....that can wear on many people.


Answer those, and maybe you can see whether this is good or not...