Anyone taken a pay cut for sanity?

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

Hi all, I’m back to bother you again! I posted a few weeks ago about taking a break from work due to issues with bipolar disorder. I spoke to my manager and charge nurse and they want me to come back, even after learning of my diagnosis. They’re aware of the mistakes I’ve made at work and say none are major and it’s common while getting used to a new job. They think I’m exaggerating how bad I am at the job, which may be true because I catastrophize.

it’s very nice that they want me back, but I think trying to keep up in a fast paced PACU is too much for me. I struggle to get patients out before another one comes out and the stress is bad. I’m thinking of working at a clinic for the elderly that looks like a perfect fit; slower pace and lower acuity. The pay is MUCH lower (practically half!) but my partner and I live for almost free with her mom (don’t hate, Bay Area is crazy and we do the cooking/cleaning, house is paid off!) Has anyone taken a big pay cut and not regretted it? I’m learning money isn’t everything! Thanks for your feedback!!

[Jesijams, RN]

YES!  Sanity and quality of life, to me, are more important than money; if you can still make your way in life. Don't get me wrong - I've been a nurse for 25 years and have worked a LOT of different positions where I needed to make a certain amount of money or couldn't have survived.  But, I too have paid off my house and recently took a new position for an improved work/life balance.  I am soooo much happier.  My husband knew how miserable I was in my previous positions, for the past 5 years, and said, "This will be so good for you" when he heard of the opportunity for which I had applied.  I told him, "No, this will be good for US!"  Life is way too short to not make the best of what you have and enjoy every minute that you can.  Good luck to you, LibraNurse27!!  Hugs and Kisses!

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

12 minutes ago, Jesijams said:

YES!  Sanity and quality of life, to me, are more important than money; if you can still make your way in life. Don't get me wrong - I've been a nurse for 25 years and have worked a LOT of different positions where I needed to make a certain amount of money or couldn't have survived.  But, I too have paid off my house and recently took a new position for an improved work/life balance.  I am soooo much happier.  My husband knew how miserable I was in my previous positions, for the past 5 years, and said, "This will be so good for you" when he heard of the opportunity for which I had applied.  I told him, "No, this will be good for US!"  Life is way too short to not make the best of what you have and enjoy every minute that you can.  Good luck to you, LibraNurse27!!  Hugs and Kisses!

That is so good to hear! I’m glad you are in a job that lets you have happiness and balance, and I’m sure you’re correct that your happiness spreads to your marriage and beyond! Thank you for sharing

[Emergent, RN]

I recently quit nursing. I currently have 3 job possibilities. Ist one is as a cashier at a Farm Store. They like to hire semi-retired people like me, I heard that you can choose to work one or two days a week, they try to accommodate people. A good friend of mine went to school with their owner and put in the good word for me

The second job is a seasonal one being a ski instructor at the local ski area. They definitely want to hire me, I'm used to working with kids and I taught my own kids how to ski so that would be fun, plus it's outdoors and you get a free ski pass.

The third job is at a local antique mall, they hired back one of their old employees but are looking to hire in the Spring. So that might be a lot of fun.

I am living a very frugal life, I do have some income coming in and I will be eligible for full benefits from Social Security in a couple years. I'll probably be making between 15 and $20 an hour from these jobs and my mental health is worth it. Fortunately I don't have a house payment anymore and don't owe anything and have some investment income coming in.

My advice, based on your excellent circumstances as to your living situation in the Bay Area, is to switch to the less stressful job. After quitting nursing I really realized how much of my lifeblood it has been sucking out of me for many many years. Covid was merely the straw that broke my back.

 

[Guest 1152923]

I'm entertaining this very idea!  Almost 30 years as an RN has stolen my smile and turned me into a rather jaded, pessimistic person that I never was before.  I'm really wanting to reclaim my life and my happiness and am considering a different niche of nursing altogether or perhaps, cutting back to part time with my current position.  I also live well below my means, am very frugal, and could easily afford a reduction in salary.  In my opinion, there is no amount of $ that is worth my happiness/sanity and I would rather sleep in my car and eat Raman noodles, than have the stress, responsibility, and mental illness that some nurses have.

 

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

If there are no major added financial stressors by taking the pay cut, I say it's definitely worth considering!

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I had to learn this truth the hard way. All the money in the world isn’t worth sacrificing your health. If I’d just stayed at my nurse-friendly LTC part-time (which was all I could handle), I’d probably still be working; but no, I had to try the high-profile, 50-60-hour-a-week surveyor position and fell on my face. Then I couldn’t get a job because I’d changed jobs too many times, and after having a nasty breakdown I finally gave up and applied for disability, which I qualified for due to severe bipolar disorder. 

That was seven years ago. Now I’m sadder and poorer, but much wiser. That’s why I tell people who are going through hell at work to weigh the cost vs. benefits of continuing to work there. Even though money is necessary to maintain a comfortable lifestyle, it’s not worth losing your mind. 

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

LibraNurse, It’s wonderful that they want you back. And I hope it is validating to you to hear that your mistakes were normal mistakes. 
 

You CAN do this job.

But do you want to?

Make the right decision for you. 

[klone, MSN, RN]

YES YES YES. Prior to January, the last 6 years of my career have been inpatient leadership (L&D/women's health). The stress was unbelievable. The 24/7 responsibility, and ALWAYS feeling like I couldn't detach from work. Getting calls at 2am with catastrophes. Coming in on weekends because we didn't have enough staff to be safe.

I took a job in ambulatory care/primary care clinic leadership. I can go to bed at night knowing that the phone is not going to ring at 2am with a problem I need to deal with. I can enjoy a mimosa for breakfast on Sunday knowing that there's no possibility that I'll have to come in to help staff, or debrief with the nurses after a sentinel event.

I make about $50,000/year less in my current job than I could make if I were still in hospital leadership, but it is SO worth it for the lower stress level, which is probably a lot better on my physical health as well.

Best wishes in your decision!

[guest1143647]

Is there really a job in nursing that is not stressful? I can’t think of any,even though private duty Pediatrics  comes very close.

[Olivelove20]

Take the paycut and keep your mental health up.

You can always make more money or possibly cut something from your budget but it's much, much more difficult to beat back depression/anxiety, etc.

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

15 hours ago, VivaLasViejas said:

Now I’m sadder and poorer, but much wiser.

Oooh I totally feel you on that!! I also left a job in community health to make more money in acute care and be more "high profile" as you say. When I got my current job everyone said I'd made it in nursing because it's one of the companies in the bay that pays really well, but now I guess it wasn't meant to be. 

12 hours ago, FolksBtrippin said:

You CAN do this job.

But do you want to?

Thank you for saying that! That really sums things up.

@klone Thank you for sharing your experience! I'm glad you can sleep through the night now and enjoy mimosas is peace! LOL

5 hours ago, Olivelove20 said:

it's much, much more difficult to beat back depression/anxiety, etc.

That is what I have recently learned the hard way LOL I am just glad all my patients are fine and I'm getting better too ? thank you for your advice!

@Runsoncoffee99 I doubt there are any nursing jobs that are no stress at all. I guess if we want to stay nurses we have to find the right amount/type of stress that we can handle =( 

Thank you so much everyone for your replies and sharing your experiences!!