Just sort of a rant...

[Ad Astra]

I'm not really looking for advice, just feeling frustrated and need to vent!

I don't love my current job (retail), but I don't hate it. Now that I've finally made the decision to go to nursing school I've been thinking that this job will be really great for it... I have set hours that are early in the morning, so it will be super easy to take care of my pre-reqs around my work schedule, and I have weekends off so there's some guaranteed study time! I think that when I get into the core course of nursing that my job will be willing to be really flexible with me, so I'm kind of in a good position. The pay isn't fantastic, but the flexibility is and I think that will count for a lot, going into nursing school.

However, though I was not searching it out, I was asked to apply for a job at another retail location. I did apply, and originally it was a part time position, but now a full time management position has opened up. I interviewed with the store manager and then did a phone interview with the district manager. If they offer me the part time position, I don't care if the pay is better, I'll stick with my current job due to the flexibility. But... If they offer me the full time position I'm slightly torn. It seems silly not to take a full time position (although they haven't discussed pay yet). But, it wouldn't be full time, the hours are 9-5 or 2-10, so that would be difficult to work school around. It's two days off per week, so it could work while I'm doing my pre-reqs, but not when I get into the core courses! And then from there I don't know if they'd let me downgrade myself from management to part time sales... And then I'd regret having given up my flexible job I currently have. But, (and I don't want to think this way) I have to petition to get into the core courses...what if I don't make it in and then regret passing up a full time opportunity?!

So yeah... I just needed to kind of vent about that and get it all off my chest. I think I'm probably going to end up sticking with my current job. It's just a lot to process and I feel like it all escalated so quickly!

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

I know that you didn't really want advice, but I have got just a little--(sorry, the mother in me)

Becoming a manager will make you more martketable. Especially in a more customer-oriented nursing role. With management experience, it can open doors for you long term. You will make more money, that will allow you to be able to put more money in tuition.

Take a look at what the salaries are of RN's in your area. If the money is comparable to the management position, then you may want to do part time at school, get a couple years of management experience under your belt THEN decide to do full time for your core nursing courses and cut back to part time in retail then. A couple of years is a good timeline for management in retail, and it is not like you are losing money. There may be an instance where what you make as a manager will be more than a new grad nurse.

Look at the job market. If there is not a lot of choice for new grad RN jobs, then again, the rush to complete may not be in your best interest.

You may not love retail, but you may love management. And if there's other perks, such as tuition reimbursement, even the better.

Just make sure that you don't cut off your nose to spite your face. If the opportunity arises to make yourself more marketable in the future, I wouldn't hesitate to take it. Your general ed courses could be taken any number of different ways, and you may be able to do some evening, weekend, or online stuff at more of your convenience.

Best wishes going forward!