taking a paycut for desired job.....

IloveSnoopy · Oct 25, 2005

(hey all...I posted this message on the general forum...but I am now thinking this may be a more appropriate place for it)

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Well....maybe not the hardest decision...but it's right up there. As some of you know, I've been wanting to get into the world of telephone triage for a long time now. Luckily...a full time position opened up within my facility and I applied for, interviewed for and today I found out I GOT THE JOB I was over-joyed until I found out what my pay would be...it is roughly 6 dollars an hour less than what I'm making at my current med/surg job..... I knew it would be less because it is clinic versus hospital but I guess I wasn't expecting such a blow..eek. We do clinical ladders and she told me this is a level 7 out of 8 possible levels...so I'm almost capped out. She did say that they are actively pursuing a clinic wage increase for early 2006..but who knows if this a pipe-dream or what.

Anyways...I am soooooo bummed right now. I want the job so badly...but just don't know if I can take the pay cut. You get used to a certain level of comfort as far as your income...u know? All my benefits, pto, 401K,etc..would transfer over..so I'm not concerned about that.

I guess I'll just have to weigh the other benefits too... I would be going from straight nights to straight days...(still four days a week...32hrs/week) with the hours of 8am to 4:30pm or 9am to 6pm. Every third to fifth weekend instead of every other weekend...(there is a 1.25/hr differential for weekends at my new potential job). The only holidays that the triage dept. works are holidays that fall on a weekend...so for the most part...most of my holidays would be off with holiday pay... (right now i am working every other holiday)...if the holiday falls on a weekend...you work every other.

The job will also be less physically demanding on me...I have severe endometriosis and sometimes the lifting, pulling, and running are just too much for me. We also have been having infertility problems and I'm thinking working days and getting a full nights sleep in one crack...(instead of broken day time sleep) may be helpful. My triage lady also said the hours are flexible and taking pto isn't a problem she also said that the other gals are always very willing to trade(which I was also worried about with my endo).

I also do have the option of staying on casual call at my med/surg job...which could suplement my income a little too.

I'm just really sick of bedside nursing right now and have really been interested in the tele triage for a long, long time. I just don't know what to do. I think I am going to call her back and ask if I can job shadow for a few hours this week...just to make sure this is really what I want before jumping in. Also...do you think it would be appropriate to ask her about the posibility of starting at the level 8....(which I believe is almost two more dollars an hour). It sounded like she really, really, really wants me..but she also understood if I couldn't take the job due to the paycut....I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask about the level 8..right? What do you guys think?? Anyone take a paycut?? How did you make your decision to do so...and do you regret it?? I've never felt so torn before in my life....please help me..sniffle Thanks so much...

luv,

snoop'

oh...p.s...I do think that if I stayed there long enough...there would potentially be the possibility of moving up to manager (when the current one retires..which wouldn't be for quite awhile..but it's a thought)