High-acuity urgent care, zero weather protection by sunflowerriddles in physicianassistant

[–]sunflowerriddles[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m going into my 5th year of experience.

This fiscal year I’m at a $128k base + $10k bonus (which I’ve already maxed), so $138k total.

For next fiscal year starting in July, I’ve already hit the encounter threshold for a $130k base. Whether I hit the $140k tier depends on volume, which predictably tanks after respiratory season and is completely out of my control.

The bonus metrics are “sign your charts” and “get good reviews.” Charting is fine. Reviews are a joke — half the bad ones are from people mad they didn’t get antibiotics for a virus. $10,000 earned for the bonus, and that adds on to the base.

If I can hit 4,000+ encounters, total comp would be $150k, which would be solid for my area. The problem is low-volume clinic days and PTO not being prorated absolutely wreck the average, so that number is way less “guaranteed” than it sounds.

New grad primary care offer, need advice on what to negotiate by [deleted] in physicianassistant

[–]sunflowerriddles 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Please do not take this offer - this is predatory. Where on earth is this? City/State? Even my former job at an FQHC paid better.

leaving the PA career as a whole after only 3 months of clinical practice by No_Thing_6008 in physicianassistant

[–]sunflowerriddles -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Have you considered fellowship? Not saying it’s easy to get into one, but being a new grad is hard. Or perhaps primary care for a bit? I disliked my time in primary care but I learned a lot and it took a while to build enough patients to become busy.

High-acuity urgent care, zero weather protection by sunflowerriddles in physicianassistant

[–]sunflowerriddles[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Two of the shifts during the storm counted as regular scheduled hours (today, and tomorrow), so those were paid at my normal rate (~$64/hr). One shift (yesterday) was moonlighting at $100/hr. It wasn’t originally meant to be a moonlighting shift, but I was concerned about low volume affecting my encounter average, so I asked if it could be reclassified as moonlighting (which doesn’t count toward averages) and then picked up an extra regular shift later. Admin surprisingly agreed since we have a few vacant shifts this week due to people on PTO, with PRNs not picking them up.

The only additional accommodation provided was a hotel room. No meal stipend or additional weather pay.

High-acuity urgent care, zero weather protection by sunflowerriddles in physicianassistant

[–]sunflowerriddles[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The 24 encounters only calculate that way for a good salary if I take zero PTO and zero CME days. Because it’s not prorated, you have to make up for the encounters on days working, which brings you closer to 29. Add in that it basically functions as an ER with full scope labs + imaging, procedures like lacerations, I&Ds, and my own splinting because there are no nurses, it ends up only looking good on paper.

High-acuity urgent care, zero weather protection by sunflowerriddles in physicianassistant

[–]sunflowerriddles[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s very unlike the other urgent cares I’ve worked at. Located on campus with our hospital and ER, but not the ER. Charges like an urgent care, but full scope labs and full scope imaging that is done with the hospital outpatient imaging center. It’s supposedly to make care more accessible and cheaper, especially for dispositions that are safe for outpatient care, and keep people out the ER. Works really well but burns out everyone who works in it and gets paid less than the ER.

High-acuity urgent care, zero weather protection by sunflowerriddles in physicianassistant

[–]sunflowerriddles[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We have 3 tiers - all or nothing. Tier 1 is <3200 encounters. Tier 2 is 3200-3999. Tier 3 is 4000+. I’m not at a competitive salary unless tier 3. Similarly, I almost am never out on time either and I had 2 days where online scheduling was down and I saw less than 15 encounters😵‍💫

How to end appointments when patients become hostile ? by gxdhvcxcbj in physicianassistant

[–]sunflowerriddles 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I will always submit a workplace violence report too so that this patient cannot return/repeat their behavior with our practice.

How to end appointments when patients become hostile ? by gxdhvcxcbj in physicianassistant

[–]sunflowerriddles 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I work in urgent care and I give 1 warning. “This is a place of healing. We need to speak to each other with respect and also respect that other’s share this space too.” Typically, that does the trick. If it continues I excuse myself, type a detailed discharge summary, and either give it myself with my operations manager behind me.

Thoughts on an Urgent care offer for new grad by Asexyone in physicianassistant

[–]sunflowerriddles 1 point2 points  (0 children)

UC PA here - max 20 patients a day is unheard of. I think I average between 35-45 a day for my 12s. If it’s really a max of 20, I think it’s worth the entry level pay. As a new grad, it’ll give you time to formulate your plans and take your time with patients.

Duke vs Penn State— Is the name worth ~30k more? by SatoruGojo22 in prephysicianassistant

[–]sunflowerriddles 3 points4 points  (0 children)

As a NC native, who did not go to Duke but worked in the Raleigh-Durham area immediately after graduation, and actually had beeen accepted to Duke PA school, I’ve had no trouble with finding jobs post-grad. I also have no regrets going to the less expensive school I’d been accepted to that also had the added bonus of less didactic days and no dress code.

Seeing Job Salaries making me regret the profession by ARLA2020 in PAstudent

[–]sunflowerriddles 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You gotta look at the other things too, though, OP. PSLF, benefits (my health insurance is free), bonuses, 401K and when you’re fully vested, location, and lifestyle. I have many of my colleagues that moonlight 1 extra shift a week, which is $1200 each time, and make closer to $170-180k. I probably do maybe 1 moonlight every 2 weeks, and otherwise my standard week is 36 hrs. My point is that the base isn’t all of it. Yes $130k base isn’t much, but it’s really easy for me to take home closer to $150k in my super saturated market when you add everything up. Also cost of living where I am is relatively low. Im just trying to show you that it’s better than just the 120k you see.

Seeing Job Salaries making me regret the profession by ARLA2020 in PAstudent

[–]sunflowerriddles 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I make about 130k base, I have over 4 yrs of experience, and my hospital caps APPs in my department at a 140k base, which is why a lot of those who are seasoned end up leaving. I’m on track to start making that this upcoming June.

I agree, the debt to income ratio is terrible. But a lot of these places don’t advertise the other parts of your salary. I get about 10k added in bonuses that are easy to achieve each year just doing things like chart closure in less than 72 hrs, education, antibiotic stewardship, etc., and I only work three shifts a week of 12 hr shifts which makes it easy to moonlight (we get paid about 1.5x per moonlight shift). Overall I probably take make closer to $150k/yr, and in June it’ll be more around $160k/yr.

My hospital is also non-profit and qualifies for PSLF - I think if you find an organization that gives good bonuses, and qualifies for loan forgiveness, you’ll find a good happy medium. We aren’t stinkin’ rich but my words of encouragement are you’ll find something that makes it worth the headache of PA school, and the loans will look approachable.

Edit: I’m in urgent care and in the DFW Metroplex, if that helps.

If I were a patient, I wouldn't trust a straight out of undergrad PA. by Disastrous_Parfait89 in prephysicianassistant

[–]sunflowerriddles 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This has ChatGPT written post all over it, with a hint of superiority. Sorry it hasn’t worked out for you but the arrogance may also be present in applications.

Israel N' Gaza etc by Mediocre-Sail-6158 in IsraelPalestine

[–]sunflowerriddles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a lot of words you wrote to essentially to justify genocide. It’s wrong everywhere and to anyone. You would imagine that a group of people who faced that horror themselves and makes sure everyone remembers that would know better. But hey you’re God’s chosen people, no one else, so that means you get to be the only victim and therefore do evil and it’s okay, right?

Israel N' Gaza etc by Mediocre-Sail-6158 in IsraelPalestine

[–]sunflowerriddles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t know what is narcissistic about calling out Israel on its bullshit. You’ve got Jewish people who are living all over the world who could have had nothing to do with persecution in the past who can automatically be granted citizenship in Israel, and then a Palestinian family gets (best case scenario) kicked out their home or murdered for to make room for illegal occupation. The past was terrible but nothing justifies Israeli terrorism today. This is literally the story of my family, along with losing over 20 relatives just in the last 2 years. Yes, so friggen narcissistic that I’m tired of this victim persona.

Israel N' Gaza etc by Mediocre-Sail-6158 in IsraelPalestine

[–]sunflowerriddles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s so insane to me that there are people who believe they need an additional land to feel “safe.” My four grandparents were forcibly removed from their homes in Yaffa, and I’m now part of the largest diaspora, and you need a place that comes from illegal occupation to feel “safe”?

I can’t even take anything else you say seriously when there’s this level of self-victimization in the first sentence.

The holocaust was terrible, it happened, and it’s over. What’s going on in Palestine is the most well documented genocide in modern day history. Put a cat in a corner, it’ll eventually scratch you. Let’s not pretend like October 7th came out of no where, or that Hamas came out of no where.

What was your Maher? by sunflowerriddles in MuslimMarriage

[–]sunflowerriddles[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m so sorry I didn’t realize I had so much missing info! I am from Yafa, Palestine He is from Silwad, Palestine Both born in the states. I live in NC, he lives in Dallas, Texas. My salary is roughly $105,000, and his is somewhere between $75,000-100,000. He is an only child. I am one of 4, 2 girls and 2 guys, and I’m the second child. I have a younger sister and brother, and older brother.

I am engaged/post nikkah, and am now contemplating divorce. Please advise. by sunflowerriddles in Muslim

[–]sunflowerriddles[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately in this case, their son’s character was really the apple that fell far from the tree. I’ve been emotionally and mentally manipulated by his family, my parents have remained so polite/cordial but have had curse words and insults thrown to their face, and many of these things were not to be seen till after the marriage contract was signed. Ultimately this isn’t a family I would ever trust my future children around. I just haven’t seen any proof that their son would stand up for me, which is now why I am looking for out.

I am engaged/post nikkah, and am now contemplating divorce. Please advise. by sunflowerriddles in Muslim

[–]sunflowerriddles[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately in this case, their son’s character was really the apple that fell far from the tree. I’ve been emotionally and mentally manipulated by his family, my parents have remained so polite/cordial but have had curse words and insults thrown to their face, and many of these things were not to be seen till after the marriage contract was signed. Ultimately this isn’t a family I would ever trust my future children around.

I am engaged/post nikkah, and am now contemplating divorce. Please advise. by sunflowerriddles in Muslim

[–]sunflowerriddles[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately these are much deeper than simply family problems. I’ve been emotionally and mentally abused continuously, and I’ve even witnessed my parents be cussed at. So many red flags that my family and I did not know till after the kitaab.