decisions, decisions about nursing and education....any advice??

[raindrop]

Hi,

Well, life has been a roller coaster the past few months. I quit a job that I loved in Chicago because I was offered a much better job in my hometown, which is a few hours away from chicago. At the end of May, I moved back home to begin this new job, I moved in with my parents. 3 days after I moved back, I got a call from my future manager saying that for at least 3 weeks, she had to retract the job offer becuase of the state budget crisis (it was a state job). She felt terrible, but this was all out of her control. I thought that I'd sign up for a biochem class at at a local university and get a jump on it while I'm not working, since the class was accelerated. 3 weeks passed and I got a letter saying that my job offer has been permanetely retracted, because the state made many cuts in the budget and healthcare was hit the hardest. Ok, I'm living at home, no rent, have some money in the bank, I'm cool.

Since then, I have been on several job interviews but no job offer. there are only 2 hospitals here. one hospital, I knew I wouldn't get the job because the nurse recruiter and I don't like eachother very much. i hope she'd be professional and not use our non-work related tiffs against me, but nope. The interview was a nightmare. I was at her mercy.

hospital 2, they are pretty much on a hiring freeze from what I hear. The don't have any jobs posted currently. I didn't even get an interview.

The clinic I interviewed at went very well. i thought I nailed it. And then a couple weeks later, I got the letter.

So now, I'm done with Biochem. I have 6 more classes to complete and then I'll have the BSN. I began taking classes at this school before I moved to chicgao, so now, I'm almost there.

My parents think I should just continue to live with them and keep trying to get a local job while finishing my BSN. My BSN is a priority to me, but so is income.

A travel company I used to work and recently resubmitted my resume with, called and said they had something in TX. i phone interviewed with that hosp and it went well. I think they are going to offer it. But the pay is LOW for a traveler. originally, 24.oo/hr + 1100/month subsidy OR, instead of the subsidy, they will pay for my apartment. Time and a half begins after 40 hrs, no completion bonuses. I talked them up to 27/hr, but she said that's the highest she can go. I have 4 years of RN experience and have traveled in-state before. This is by far, the lowest pay ever offered. This recruiter said it's because of economic times. I explained that if i get a local hospital job, I'll make 27.00/hr, but she was basically, takeit or leave it. I told her I will get back to her Monday.

the manager I interviwed with via phone made it very clear that the TX job it is a sweat shop. And I'll act as charge nurse at times, and I'll probably keep getting extended because they are that short staffed.

I don't know what to do. Go for the money in TX (even though it isn't much)....or stay and finish my BSN? I'm scared that I may never find a job here. I don't have any bills except my cell phone, so at least I'm good there and I still have a little money saved, but it won't last that long.

Option 2 is move back to Chicago and keep going to school here in my hometown. The BSN class meets one night a week. Chicago is a few hours away, but I'd take the train, and probably be able to study on the train. I'd spend the night with my parents before going back to Chicago. I'd have to do this for a year. But frankly, I'm not sure if I'll get my old job back. I recently heard that some of the nurses there who I thought were my friends, started backstabbing me when I left...including a nurse who is now the new manager (she wasn't a manager when I left). I don't know what happened. When I left, people gave me gifts and cards, I had dinner catered in. People were crying. Now, nobody is even returning any of my calls or emails. I did get in touch with one girl and she said people were talking bad about me, but she wouldn't repeat it. She was transferring because she said all of a sudden, she felt like she was working in the twilight zone. The nurses began acting weird to her as well.

what should I do guys??

[S.N. Visit, BSN, RN]

If those were my choices, I would stay at my parents and finish my BSN..

[garnetgirl29, BSN, RN]

me, too.

[miss81, BSN, RN]

me three!

[ntw523]

me four - definately finish your degree :)

[CrystalClear75, BSN, RN]

Me five!

[cheertt2]

Finish your BSN!

[Isitpossible, LPN, LVN]

FINISH YOUR BSN!!!!!

[JustEnuff2BDangerous, BSN, RN]

Finish your BSN, especially since you are SOCLOSE. I realize my next piece of advice will probably get me laughed at, but if you're in a bind and need some income, consider a non-nursing, to-make-ends-meet job. Work part time somewhere for a little while. :)

[coffee4metech]

as far as I am concerned I would take the job a BSN is not going to change the fact that the ECONOMY is going down the tubes you can always finish your BSN later . A job seems much more appealing then BSN student loans that you have to pay off and no way of paying them since you don't have a job !?!

[coffee4metech]

BTW ....money is money in this economy your lucky that you even got a call back and interview !!!

[Blove86]

Well JMHO the coast of living in TX is lower then the cost of living in IL, so you might be able to live a little bit more comfortably.....