NP Career Coach

Un-Retiring

2009-11-18T19:08:00Z

Is retirement on your radar? Last week I wrote about the "disappearing" jobs phenomenon, and this week I promised a few words about returning to work after a period of retirement. The recession has brought about the interesting, but not surprising, trend of retired NPs wishing to re-enter the workforce. Not a bad idea in theory, if your retirement savings are down and you have loads of experience to offer, one would expect you would be welcomed back into the workplace with open arms. Unfortunately,...(read more)

Where Do the Jobs Go?

2009-11-04T16:41:00Z

The good news is that there are still jobs out there, the bad news is that the overall number of job openings has decreased. Those of us in healthcare have always had certain smugness about our profession, after all, "There will always be sick people," we like to say. So how it is that employment can decrease? It seems counterintuitive since the number of patients certainly has not seemed to decrease. I mean, someone has to take care of them, right? So where DO the jobs go? Well, it's sort of like...(read more)

Resume Writing for NPs

2009-10-27T13:29:00Z

I just can't say enough about the importance of a good resume. It's critical to landing the interview. And since you only get one shot at it, the resume you submit better be good. Unfortunately, no one really teaches NPs how to write a good resume. Occasionally as a student we will get some advice, usually from well meaning "career placement" folks who are really not familiar with the style and content that potential employers are expecting from NP candidates. We also get some guidance from NP faculty...(read more)

Responding to Fewer NP Job Posts

2009-10-08T13:16:00Z

Over the last few months I have watched the job market for NPs shrink steadily, each week I see fewer and fewer ads. The Sunday "healthcare" job section has gone from several pages in length to just a few columns, and typically only 1-2 of all the ads are looking for advanced practice nurses. Wages appear to be flat lining as well, it's been a long time since I have seen employers touting big sign on bonuses or relocation incentives. And when it comes to layoff and cutbacks, NP's no longer feel immune...(read more)

Add Nonclinical Experience to Your Nurse Practitioner Resume

2009-09-23T18:33:00Z

Usually when we think of beefing up our resume we tend to start with an inventory of our skills, and then maybe we consider taking a workshop for additional training. Some of us even consider going back to school, getting our DNP or perhaps adding another certification. These are all great goals, but we shouldn't limit ourselves to growing only in the clinical arena. I challenge NPs to think bigger and broader for their personal and professional growth opportunities. In the course of my career I...(read more)

Nurse Practitioner Employment Offers

2009-09-15T14:09:00Z

Previously we've discussed many aspects of the job search and interview process. What should happen after you receive that phone call or e-mail informing you that you've been hired? Employers should follow up with details in writing, and because you are a savvy job seeker, you'll request it in writing if it's presented verbally! Miscommunications readily occur, and having everything written down can save you heartache later. Your offer should clearly state the compensation. Your base compensation...(read more)

Should NPs Join Their 'Union'?

2009-09-10T13:12:00Z

A couple weeks ago I attended a healthcare "listening" event with our new state senator. The meeting was hosted by my state's nursing association. Not much new was said, and by recent standards the meeting was pretty tame. In Minnesota the nursing association functions more like a union, so this meeting was their opportunity to have the undivided attention of our new senator. As is typical of a union, there are specifics issues and causes they tend to rally around. Concerns such as safe staffing,...(read more)

Negotiating On-Call Pay

2009-08-27T17:26:00Z

Is it a sign of spending too much time online when you write a blog in response to a blog? (Wait, don't answer that.) Naturally, I am a "fan" of Advance for NPs on Facebook and this week I noticed Jill wrote a post about "call" compensation . Now today I see another blog post about an "on call fiasco ." So if you can stand one more post about call this week, I will try to demystify call and give you some tips to avoid "call" remorse. Jill is right, call can indeed be mysterious. Not only is the method...(read more)

Cultivate Your Garden

2009-08-19T11:36:00Z

I love this time of year for several reasons. One reason is my garden. It is in full bloom, and I can really see the tangible results of all my hard work as the plants mature and grow. I was thinking about how important good structure and foundation plants are for a successful garden, and I began thinking about the new NP students who are getting ready to start their foundation work. The process is not unlike the labor of love a garden requires. I remember how challenging juggling a career, family...(read more)

Here's What I Can Do for You ...

2009-08-13T12:16:00Z

What is the value of a good interview? A job offer. Although it is possible to have a great interview and still not get the job, the opposite pretty much never happens. It is virtually impossible to perform poorly in an interview and still get the job. To do well in an interview you must be prepared, and in order to be prepared you first must understand the purpose of an interview. I know that sounds rather elementary, but before you read further, see if you can sum up in one sentence what you believe...(read more)

Nurse Practitioner Liability Coverage

2009-08-05T17:44:00Z

As I was reviewing our insurance coverage today I wondered how many NPs really understand the difference between types of professional liability coverage and why it matters. One can only practice to the best of both clinical and professional abilities and then hope to never be named in a suit. The following questions will guide you when examining your group's coverage, and are taken from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Web site. Am I protected individually under the policy? (i.e.,...(read more)

Secure Your NP Job With Tech Savvy

2009-08-03T12:39:00Z

Don't underestimate the value of being "tech savvy" when seeking a new job or ensuring security in your current position. My 20-something son made a comment the other day that caught my attention. He said, "It's really noticeable how my generation adapts and uses technology so much easier and faster," and he related a story of assisting a supervisor struggling to complete a task online, a task that to my son seemed almost second nature. That's not to say that it's always the younger folks that master...(read more)

Reference Check Strategies for Nurse Practitioners

2009-07-22T12:53:00Z

Your cover letter and resume were spell checked and polished, your attire was professional and you clicked with your potential employer. A second interview is sometimes the next step in the process, but what always follows is a reference check. 1. Don't wait until after the interview to begin thinking about potential references. Professional references are contacts that can speak with regard to your clinical and interpersonal skills and will do so in a positive manner. They should have a good overall...(read more)

Watch Out for This Job Hunting Scam

2009-07-15T16:10:00Z

In the past week I have twice heard news of scams involving phony job ads and fake recruiters. This sort of thing has always been around and tends to increase when the economy decreases. Unfortunately when unemployment rises the scammers come out of the woodwork to prey on desperate job seekers who are anxious to find work. The job scams all share one common goal -- to gain personal information such as a social security or license numbers from an applicant for the purpose of committing identity fraud....(read more)

Nurse Practitioner Employment History Gaps

2009-07-13T13:11:00Z

We receive many resumes and talk with hundreds of amazing candidates each year. One recent question was how to address a gap in employment history. Successful candidates will want to address this question directly. Usually there are a couple of reasons we see employment gaps. By law, employers are prohibited by asking job applicants about their personal life. However, the most common reason for a lapse in employment is fairly personal. We see many baby boomers caring for elderly parents and relative,...(read more)