Finding and Acquiring the Right Practice

GEISINGER

Belinda J. Currey, MSN, RN

Diane L. Brodginski

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Agenda

When Do You ApplyCurriculum Vitae /Cover LetterInterviewing TipsThings You Should Want To Know About The PracticeMaking Your DecisionNegotiatingBuyer’s Remorse

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When Do You Apply

At least 6 months before graduation.

3 month credentialing time frame.

Residency Programs.

Hospital budgets work on a Fiscal Year.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Cover Letter

All dates in months/years with the most recent history written first.

Publications/research/presentations.

Education starting at the college/university level.

Going forward all breaks in service must be accounted for.

Be cautious with personal information.

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Curriculum Vitae (CV) Do’s and Don’ts

Do include a personalized cover letter.Do use white paper.Do Address: “To Whom it May Concern”.Don’t hand write anything on your C.V.Don’t cram too much into a small area.Don’t use general cover letters.Don’t fax unless requested.

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With All The Choices Out There, How Do I Decide Where to Interview?

Decide up front, based on your personality and practice interests:

Small intimate single-specialty group with close relationships.

Large group with lots of colleagues.

Multi-specialty group with sub-specialists.

Level I trauma center.

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Consider The Area Before Accepting An Interview

AmenitiesThe arts and cultural activities

Size of the CommunityCrime statisticsSports/Recreation

Cost of livingTaxesParking Quality of the local schools

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Up-Front Planning Will Keep You From Spinning Your Wheels

There are many websites to help you.

www.geisinger.org

http://www.geisinger.org/professionals/careers/relo.html

The link above helps you evaluate the cost of living, schools in the local area and more

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Interviewing Tips

Do your homework about the practice.Prepare a list of questions prior to the interview.Dress appropriately and conservatively.Look interviewers in the eye. Firm handshake. Be the best version of “yourself” in the interview. Don’t try to sound like you know something you do not, it’s okay to say “I don’t know”.If after the interview you want the job, tell them, “I want the job! I hope I hear from you”.

Make Your Best First Impression

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Things You Should Want To Know About the Practice

Will you have a chance to “ramp up”?

What are the threshold/productivity numbers?

What is their evaluation criteria?

Physician/Advanced Practitioner ratio?

Will I have the opportunity to meet with or speak to the other Advanced Practitioners?

More Questions to Ask

1. What is your turnover rate for Advanced Practitioners for the past two years?

2. Is this a newly budgeted position?

3. Does your facility require me to sign a contract for employment? Restrictive Covenant?

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What Are Their Philosophies On…

The Future of Healthcare?

Managed Care?

Expansion?

Computer Information Systems?

The Advanced Practitioner Model?

How Do You Decide?5 Key Items to Think About

1. Make the practice itself the priority decision.

2. Put chemistry high on your list.

3. Is the area able to provide you (and your family) with the things you like to do for fun?

4. Are you going to be compensated appropriately?

5. Don’t be pressured into making a decision before you are ready.

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How Do You Decide?

5 Key Items to Think AboutKeep these fundamentals in mind

1. Make the practice itself the priority decision72% of the providers that put geography first (instead of the practice) start looking again within two years.Beware of the “glamour factor”.

Example: San Francisco, CA– $$, distance from family

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Key Items continued

2. Put chemistry high on your list– The #1 reason that providers leave their practice is

personality conflicts with colleagues

3. Is the area able to provide you (and your family) with the things you like to do for fun?

4. Are you going to be compensated appropriately? (Compensation department – factual analysis)

5. Don’t be pressured into making a decision before you are ready.

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Negotiating

It’s not as bad as it sounds!

During an interview, when do you talk about?

SalaryAsk the Recruiter during the telephone interviewAsk the operations manager during the actual interviewAsk about internal equity

Benefits packageDuring the telephone interview with the recruiter

During the actual interview with the recruiter

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Helpful Hint

Please always remember and never forget... Please always remember and never forget... don’t start negotiating until you are prepared to accept an offer.

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To Negotiate Successfully

Give them your wish list in its entirety.Don’t keep coming back with additional demands.

Make sure your wants are reasonable and doable.Time off.

Before an offer is made, or before you accept an offer – speak with Recruiter and Hiring Manager.

In order to get something, you may have to give something.

In other words, you say to them, “If you do this, I’ll accept your offer”.

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Your Goal?

Make them want to present you with an offer!

Buyer’s Remorse

Buyer’s Remorse After you accept an offer, expect some buyer’s remorse.It’s natural, but...don’t fall into the trap of continuing to look at other practices.

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Contact Informationwww.geisinger.org

Belinda J. Currey, MSN, RN, CCRN Alumnus, CHCRSR HR Recruiter – Advanced PracticePh:  570.214.9301 bjcurrey@geisinger.edu

Diane L. BrodginskiHR Recruiter – Advanced Practice/NursingPh:  570.808.8977dlbrodginski@geisinger.edu

Helpful Links

Residency Program Informationhttp://www.geisinger.org/professionals/education/pa_res/

Advanced Practice Councilhttp://www.geisinger.org/professionals/careers/ap/

Job Opportunitieshttp://www.geisinger.org/professionals/careers/index.html

General Linkhttp://www.geisinger.org/