I've got a dilemma, need advice!

[shoegalRN]

Hey everyone!

I've got a very difficult choice to make. Here's my story. I'm 32 about to be 33 years old and I've been one company since I've been 19. This is the only job I've ever had in my whole adult life. I'm a first semester nursing student and my job allowed me a non-paid educational leave of absence to complete the first semester. I'm doing good in my classes, although I did struggle a bit in my Foundations class in the beginning, but quickly caught on and got on board.

My plan was to finish up my first semester in nursing school and return back to my job for the summer while taking some night classes that were required for my degree. This is what I've been used to doing (working AND going to school) and it would allow me to build my savings back up. Then I will take another educational leave (leave was approved for up to 2 years) and then return back to nursing school in the fall. The plan was to continue to do this until I graduate from nursing school.

Now, here's my problem. As of yesterday, I was offered a voluntary termination pay package. The package offer is as follows:

8 months of pay

6 months of benefits (medical, dental, mental health, vision, life ins)

6 months of umemployment pay

up to 7000 towards my school tuition

pension cash balance

401-K to either cash in or rollover

I'm torn. I wanted to use my job as a security blanket just incase nursing didnt work out. I'm not saying I can't do nursing (and I love the patient interaction thus far), but I'm scared of failure. My foundations class kinda scared me, but I caught on and made it through. I'm dedicated to my studies. I know I can do it, but it really scares me not having a security net. As I said before, I was going to hold on to my job until I graduated from nursing school which is in 2009. Lucky for me, my job even allowed a non-pay educational leave of absence.

What would you do if you were in my shoes? Not to mention, I have a 10 year old son that may need braces in the near future, a house payment, credit card debt, and a car payment.

BTW, they are giving me until May 14 to decide. Good thing, I'll be finished with finals by then so my final grades would help me with making a decision.

Need advice badly!

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

You are correct, it is AT&T. Would have been employed there 14 years on June 22.

Yeah, I kinda figured. I was off payroll in September '05 after 21 years, 2 months and 15 days (not that I counted). Knocked off A&P in the spring and early summer semesters and started nursing school with Fundamentals in July '06. Getting FMP's is looking like one of the best things that has ever happened to me. As one door closes another door opens.

Y'all weren't in Lees Summit now, were ya? If so, PM me and we can talk T offline.

[shoegalRN, RN]

Yeah, I kinda figured. I was off payroll in September '05 after 21 years, 2 months and 15 days (not that I counted). Knocked off A&P in the spring and early summer semesters and started nursing school with Fundamentals in July '06. Getting FMP's is looking like one of the best things that has ever happened to me. As one door closes another door opens.

Y'all weren't in Lees Summit now, were ya? If so, PM me and we can talk T offline.

No, I wasnt in Lees Summit, but how ironically, I started there. I transferred downtown (Large Business) in Jan 2004. Since I've been in Large Business, there have been 2 VTP's and now this is the third one. Each time, I knew I couldnt take it due to the timing, but now the time is right.

I am off payroll right now (I think due to the educational leave), so I guess I'll really show off payroll as of June 1.

Were you surplus or was it VTP?

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I am curious, why did your employer offer you this? Not saying that you don't deserve it, but did they want you to leave because the schedule for school was going to be unpredictable? Will they offer you a chance to return if things don't work well in other endeavors?

Advice? Take the package and run! :0)