Cosmetic Nursing Decision - Please Advise

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Hello All,

I am currently working for a plastic surgeon and LOVE my job. I circulate in the OR as well as perform botox and filler injections, laser hair removal and other laser treatments. The problem is I get paid very little for an RN and my benefits are not nearly what they would be elsewhere (no paid holidays, no vacation, etc.)

Recently I was offered a position with American Laser Centers - it is an excellent position with full benefits, and exceptionally high pay. I would be doing the same things, minus the OR circulation. This is a corporate environment, so it would be different than the mom and pop feel of my current job and I have read some very negative reviews online of ALC's business tactics.

I am contemplating whether or not it would be a wise decision to leave a place with an excellent reputation for a place with a ho hum reputation and a lot less individual support. Also, I would be letting go of my surgical skills and don't know about this serving my career in the long term. However, the money and benefits are fantastic and would drastically change my quality of life.

Any advice? I am desperately trying to find a nurse who has worked for ALC and can share some of their experience. Please PM me if necessary. Thank you for any advice!

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Specializes in Med Office, Home Health, School Nurse.

I haven't been in your specific situation, but I can tell you that this is a decision that only you (and your family) can make.

I work as an elementary school nurse...the pay is terrible, but I absolutely love my job, the kids, and my fellow staff here. The schedule is amazing and I enjoy coming to work. Granted, I left a home health care job making a LOT more money, but I was miserable and would cry every day because I hated my job. Were we financially better off before I started here? Yes. Was I happier? No. Did my husband and child suffer because I was miserable? Yes.

Employment is very often a trade off. You can work at a job 5 minutes from home but make lots less, or you can work an hour away making more. Some benefits are better, some schedules are better. It's all a matter of what's MOST important to you. For me and my family, the schedule and my enjoyment of my job are more than enough to make up for the lack of extra money.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

We do request that you not discuss specific company experiences on the internet. This comes about as a result of many instances of giving out more information and then it coming back to you in the form of negative feedback.

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

When it comes to career advancement- "show me the money" is a good motto. The big question is if the new job is something you can do without killing yourself. I have found through many of my peers- if a company is offering pie-in-the-sky wages and benifits there is more often than not a reason they have to bribe someone to accept that position. Ask if you can shadow a staff member in the position you are considering before you make the change.

As an example of my concern- a local small hospital was offering wages 30% higher than the other centers in the area, as well as great vacation, week-end option, limited hilodays.... What new hired RNs found out is they were often the only regular licenced care giver in a 12 bed critical care unit. The other staff were agency, LPN, and techs with little orientation or less than required skills to meet the patients needs. If the unit was staffed with regular staff they frequently floated out the regular staff and replaced them with agency workers. The floated staff had to take a full assignment in an area they were not oriented to.

If after shadowing for a day, the job looks like is is genuine- it's a no brainer. $$$, benifits, vacation- I don't see how you could pass it up. Consider this- what if your current employer decides to join a bigger practice group, or hire a couple of partners with different ideas about your role. Your job security is pretty thin, and they aren't paying you what you think you are worth now. You could be out of a job at the whim of one physician. Practices change a lot. I would want the security of an established big corporation to protect me from the changes in the health care market.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

Great job or great pay/benefits. Always seems like it comes down to that choice. In my experience, the one that provides the greatest happiness is always best. Good luck.

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Have you considered asking your current employer for a raise/benefits/etc ?

Depending on the dynamic w/ your current employer, you might also be able to use the new job offer as a bargaining tool. Just a thought.

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For SparkleRN,

I know it's been a while since your post but I was wondering what your decision was? Did you end up quitting your job at the Surgery Center? Just curious.

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Job satisfaction is something to hold on to.

It sounds like your intuition is telling you what you need to know about the other company.

What if...

What if you worked OR per diem a couple of days a month in a local hospital? Would the money you earn in addition to your current job equal what the laser center would pay?

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