Hemegroup Posted July 23, 2011 This is what I was told on an interview earlier today, along with "you're expected to call your SP before you prescribe any narcotic." I finally asked about salary, and heard, "for you, 50-55." I was about ready to stand and say goodbye, when it was added, "an hour". I said, "oh, I'll call my SP ... I'll call my SP for every patient if you want me to!" But seriously folks ... it was like sitting across from CAdams, with a wall-size American flag on the wall (I mean the biggest USA flag I've ever seen), and a framed picture of Sarah Palin next to it. Granted, there was a picture with the Democratic governor next to it, but they are definitely Republicans lol. The salary sounds WOW, but the whole 'call your SP' for every little thing suggestion makes me wary ... as does the, "you're an Assistant." Granted, it was a NP who stated this (he's the brother of the MDs who also work there), so I shot back, "it must be nice to work in one of the 14 states where you can practice independently", to which he gruffly backed down (slightly). When I told them I didn't even know my SP was on vacation until he got back, they sort of gasped and sat back in their chairs. But after all was said and done, they made an offer that floored me ... I know you weren't there, but, what you would think if you were me?
Hemegroup Posted July 23, 2011 Author This is what I was told on an interview earlier today, along with "you're expected to call your SP before you prescribe any narcotic." I finally asked about salary, and heard, "for you, 50-55." I was about ready to stand and say goodbye, when it was added, "an hour". I said, "oh, I'll call my SP ... I'll call my SP for every patient if you want me to!" But seriously folks ... it was like sitting across from CAdams, with a wall-size American flag on the wall (I mean the biggest USA flag I've ever seen), and a framed picture of Sarah Palin next to it. Granted, there was a picture with the Democratic governor next to it, but they are definitely Republicans lol. The salary sounds WOW, but the whole 'call your SP' for every little thing suggestion makes me wary ... as does the, "you're an Assistant." Granted, it was a NP who stated this (he's the brother of the MDs who also work there), so I shot back, "it must be nice to work in one of the 14 states where you can practice independently", to which he gruffly backed down (slightly). When I told them I didn't even know my SP was on vacation until he got back, they sort of gasped and sat back in their chairs. But after all was said and done, they made an offer that floored me ... I know you weren't there, but, what you would think if you were me?
Hemegroup Posted July 23, 2011 Author 55 an hour... not bad! Right??? Floored me. Stupidly, I said, "wow ... that's really high!" Which is when the Admin chimed in, "now Bob, we usually start our new grads at 45-50..." To which I reminded them that I've been seeing 20 patients a day for the last 4 months. I think I could easily start at 50, at least. But then again, it's not all about money, and I was a little offended at the "you're an Assistant" comment ... on the other hand, it's sort of nice to know that they encourage support from the SPs.
Hemegroup Posted July 23, 2011 Author 55 an hour... not bad! Right??? Floored me. Stupidly, I said, "wow ... that's really high!" Which is when the Admin chimed in, "now Bob, we usually start our new grads at 45-50..." To which I reminded them that I've been seeing 20 patients a day for the last 4 months. I think I could easily start at 50, at least. But then again, it's not all about money, and I was a little offended at the "you're an Assistant" comment ... on the other hand, it's sort of nice to know that they encourage support from the SPs.
winterallsummer Posted July 23, 2011 What would be the downside to taking the job and finding out it's not right for you? The salary sounds nice but nothing will make up for lack of respect. That being said, it may turn out to be a great place to work and as you commented, the demeaning conversation may be from the NP and the NP alone. Can you meet with the MDs and ask them about expectations and scope of practice?
winterallsummer Posted July 23, 2011 What would be the downside to taking the job and finding out it's not right for you? The salary sounds nice but nothing will make up for lack of respect. That being said, it may turn out to be a great place to work and as you commented, the demeaning conversation may be from the NP and the NP alone. Can you meet with the MDs and ask them about expectations and scope of practice?
JFarnsworth Posted July 23, 2011 Money is good, but putting up with disrespect and being subtly or not so subtly denigrated isn't so good. I think there's a name for someone who does that... at least that's how I felt when I did it. I had a surgeon snap his fingers at me in the ICU and from across the room tell me to "do that (charting) later, come with me to the TCU". Just my opinion.
JFarnsworth Posted July 23, 2011 Money is good, but putting up with disrespect and being subtly or not so subtly denigrated isn't so good. I think there's a name for someone who does that... at least that's how I felt when I did it. I had a surgeon snap his fingers at me in the ICU and from across the room tell me to "do that (charting) later, come with me to the TCU". Just my opinion.
Contrarian Posted July 23, 2011 Had a frustrated interventional Cardiologist fling a pager down the hall and scream, "Somebody get that"... I picked it up... threw it back down the hall in his direction and screamed, "Its for YOU"... He was NOT having a good day.
Contrarian Posted July 23, 2011 Had a frustrated interventional Cardiologist fling a pager down the hall and scream, "Somebody get that"... I picked it up... threw it back down the hall in his direction and screamed, "Its for YOU"... He was NOT having a good day.
Omppu27 Posted July 23, 2011 This is part of the reason why i think the profession needs a name change... I'm Pre-PA and even when i tell my friends what i want to do when i graduate from school, they have no idea what i'm talking about. They think it's just like becoming a nurse or that it's some low-level sidekick job (not saying that a nurse is a low-level job). I'm not getting into the profession for prestige or for making good money, but i do think that the name should be changed to give a better first impression of what a PA actually is...
Omppu27 Posted July 23, 2011 This is part of the reason why i think the profession needs a name change... I'm Pre-PA and even when i tell my friends what i want to do when i graduate from school, they have no idea what i'm talking about. They think it's just like becoming a nurse or that it's some low-level sidekick job (not saying that a nurse is a low-level job). I'm not getting into the profession for prestige or for making good money, but i do think that the name should be changed to give a better first impression of what a PA actually is...
Contrarian Posted July 23, 2011 They think it's just like becoming a nurse or that it's some low-level sidekick job .... I get what you are saying but ... LOTS of PAs ARE perfectly ok with being treated as "low-level sidekicks"... and/or performing at the level of a overpaid MA/LPN who happens to know a lot of medical trivia and would make a great "Jeopardy" contestant. So... some of this perception is fostered and re-enforced by PAs.... then when YOU come along and expect/demand respect and to be treated as a "provider" and NOT as "ancillary staff"... they laugh. YMMV Contrarian
Contrarian Posted July 23, 2011 They think it's just like becoming a nurse or that it's some low-level sidekick job .... I get what you are saying but ... LOTS of PAs ARE perfectly ok with being treated as "low-level sidekicks"... and/or performing at the level of a overpaid MA/LPN who happens to know a lot of medical trivia and would make a great "Jeopardy" contestant. So... some of this perception is fostered and re-enforced by PAs.... then when YOU come along and expect/demand respect and to be treated as a "provider" and NOT as "ancillary staff"... they laugh. YMMV Contrarian
medman2007 Posted July 23, 2011 yes, i can definitely understand the "disrespect" part. Was this interview in Cali? Just ASSuming it was based on your profile. Pretty sure NPs in Cali can't practice independently. But if another state, it was just an NP bustin' balls. I think they respect you a little more than u think with a salary offer like that.
medman2007 Posted July 23, 2011 yes, i can definitely understand the "disrespect" part. Was this interview in Cali? Just ASSuming it was based on your profile. Pretty sure NPs in Cali can't practice independently. But if another state, it was just an NP bustin' balls. I think they respect you a little more than u think with a salary offer like that.
Contrarian Posted July 23, 2011 . I think they respect you a little more than u think with a salary offer like that. Nahhh.... In Kalifornia... anywhere really worth living in ... $50/hr is or atleast was close to minimum wage when you run the numbers considering COLA... :heheh: I recall that in the late 1990s... it was common to hear of new grads being offered $80k/yr to start. Problem was, 1,200sq Ft tract houses on busy 4-6 lane boulvards, next door to gas stations... jammed together, backed up against the freeway costed $550k-$700k.
Contrarian Posted July 23, 2011 . I think they respect you a little more than u think with a salary offer like that. Nahhh.... In Kalifornia... anywhere really worth living in ... $50/hr is or atleast was close to minimum wage when you run the numbers considering COLA... :heheh: I recall that in the late 1990s... it was common to hear of new grads being offered $80k/yr to start. Problem was, 1,200sq Ft tract houses on busy 4-6 lane boulvards, next door to gas stations... jammed together, backed up against the freeway costed $550k-$700k.
physasst Posted July 23, 2011 Nahhh....In Kalifornia... anywhere really worth living in ... $50/hr is or atleast was close to minimum wage when you run the numbers considering COLA... :heheh: I recall that in the late 1990s... it was common to hear of new grads being offered $80k/yr to start. Problem was, 1,200sq Ft tract houses on busy 4-6 lane boulvards, next door to gas stations... jammed together, backed up against the freeway costed $550k-$700k. No doubt...I was thinking that 55 an hour was okay, but certainly not great. LOTS of PAs ARE perfectly ok with being treated as "low-level sidekicks"... and/or performing at the level of a overpaid MA/LPN who happens to know a lot of medical trivia and would make a great "Jeopardy" contestant. So... some of this perception is fostered and re-enforced by PAs.... then when YOU come along and expect/demand respect and to be treated as a "provider" and NOT as "ancillary staff"... they laugh. Completely and utterly agree with this. This is the bane of my existence. So many PA's just want to work their hours and go home. When they don't participate in committees, admin projects, and research, the Attendings look at us differently. Why? Cause they ALL do all of that extra stuff. I have earned their respect by doing my own research, and publishing, and sitting on several committees, the problem is.....I'm only one person. It's not about me...it's about getting ALL of us to do that.....
physasst Posted July 23, 2011 Nahhh....In Kalifornia... anywhere really worth living in ... $50/hr is or atleast was close to minimum wage when you run the numbers considering COLA... :heheh: I recall that in the late 1990s... it was common to hear of new grads being offered $80k/yr to start. Problem was, 1,200sq Ft tract houses on busy 4-6 lane boulvards, next door to gas stations... jammed together, backed up against the freeway costed $550k-$700k. No doubt...I was thinking that 55 an hour was okay, but certainly not great. LOTS of PAs ARE perfectly ok with being treated as "low-level sidekicks"... and/or performing at the level of a overpaid MA/LPN who happens to know a lot of medical trivia and would make a great "Jeopardy" contestant. So... some of this perception is fostered and re-enforced by PAs.... then when YOU come along and expect/demand respect and to be treated as a "provider" and NOT as "ancillary staff"... they laugh. Completely and utterly agree with this. This is the bane of my existence. So many PA's just want to work their hours and go home. When they don't participate in committees, admin projects, and research, the Attendings look at us differently. Why? Cause they ALL do all of that extra stuff. I have earned their respect by doing my own research, and publishing, and sitting on several committees, the problem is.....I'm only one person. It's not about me...it's about getting ALL of us to do that.....
LESH Posted July 23, 2011 For the location (the cost of living is way cheaper than LA, SD,or SF) and the type of practice (primary care in rural HPSAs, MUAs, with MUPs, ) that is a good salary. Even a great salary for a new graduate when benes are factored. It is usually a gig where one goes for NHSC LRP does the two years and moves on. Like many of the FQHCs, CHC, RHC, MHCs, and IHS clinics they have a high turnover because of that.
LESH Posted July 23, 2011 For the location (the cost of living is way cheaper than LA, SD,or SF) and the type of practice (primary care in rural HPSAs, MUAs, with MUPs, ) that is a good salary. Even a great salary for a new graduate when benes are factored. It is usually a gig where one goes for NHSC LRP does the two years and moves on. Like many of the FQHCs, CHC, RHC, MHCs, and IHS clinics they have a high turnover because of that.
Acebecker Posted July 23, 2011 Hemegroup, As the others have said, use a lot of caution and do a little more homework on this one before jumping in with both feet. The salary sounds good, and I can only dream about a salary like that as a new grad. But I wouldn't take a job wherein the providers aren't willing to trust you with your patients. As Contrarian astutely points out, we are more than technicians, we have brains that we are to use to critically evaluate our patients' conditions and make decisions about how to treat them. I can understand if they want a "feeling out" period, but they should be willing to quantify that and set limits as to how long of a proving period you'll need before you get to utilize your license and skills to their fullest extent. Good luck to you! Andrew
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