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Nurses General Nursing

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  • Specializes in Geriatrics/Alzheimer's.

I have worked at my LTC on the night shift for 1 year now. I do love my job, the residents and fellow co-workers. I earn a nice wage, $18.32 and hour. four nights on and two nights off, on the night shift.

Yet, I really miss working with children, which I did do for almost 9 years, before I became a nurse. I worked as a Special Education Assistant III, in Special Ed, working with children with physical and developmental handicaps. I loved this work until budget cuts cause so much stress, and job loss that each day became depressing. I'm in a different school district now, due our move to the city.

Anyway there is an opening for fall 2004, for a LPN/Educational Assistant. I would love to apply, but the position pays only $14.15 an hour. I am attending school to get my RN, because I would like to become a School Nurse, this position pays well, $22.00 to start. So, what I'm hoping to do is get my foot in the door, until I obtain my RN.

I haven't mentioned this idea to my husband yet, because he would think I am nuts, leaving my job at the LTC, which pays well, to go back to working for a school with lower pay.

What would you do? Of course I would not leave the LTC, until I'm sure I would have that job, with ESD. Am I really nuts????

Trauma Columnist

traumaRUs, MSN, APRN

88 Articles; 21,249 Posts

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I have taken a step back pay-wise before in order to then advance later. You know what you want to do...go for it...good luck!

leslie :-D

11,191 Posts

hi hannasmom,

if you can financially afford the paycut, then i think it will be a good investment as being a special ed asst. will be much more conducive to you receiving a job as a school nurse, rather than your experience in ltc. there's much experience to be gained from this job that you want so much...if i could afford it, i would definitely go for it. much luck to you.\

leslie

Todd SPN

319 Posts

What about bennies as in retirement with the school district. Is this something that would offset the hourly wage difference?

Tweety, BSN, RN

34,248 Posts

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Good luck in whatever you decide. Money isn't everything, so if you can afford it, do what you really want to do. But that is a pretty steep pay cut, I know I couldn't afford it right now. :)

suzanne4, RN

26,410 Posts

But on the other side, this postion would give you the nights off, and "normal" hours................your husband should like that............... :)

You could always pick up an agency shift every few weeks on a weekend to make up the difference...I say go for it, what do have to lose?

movealong

158 Posts

I changed jobs a year ago, and it involved a pay cut. But 1 year later, though I have less $, I made the right decision.

If you can afford it, I would recommend the job change and consider it part of your education. You probably would not earn $14/hr as a nurse extern in a hospital, which is what a lot of RN students do. Maybe if you present it to your hubby as an educational investment, rather than a job, he might accept it better. In the end, you alone should decide. Good luck!

veteranRN

167 Posts

I have taken pay cuts for a better situation (better hours, closer to home, better shift). Pay isn't everything and earning more is poor consolation if you are unhappy.

HannasMom

303 Posts

Specializes in Geriatrics/Alzheimer's.

What is cool about this job, is the variety, I will do some training, such as safety techniques, etc. I'm an LPN, so I will work under an RN, doing assessments and other nursing tasks, preparing health records, conducting home visits, besides workign with the special children. I have worked with medically fragile children before, so this is an area I am comfortable with.

The pay is low, but schools usually have great benefits. When there is a vacation, such as during Christmas, or summer break, I could always work for an Agency.

I talked to my husband, he said go ahead and apply, we'll be okay financially. He's my love!!! :blushkiss

So, I have two days off, I'll apply, then see what happens. Besides if I do get the job and I work Agency during holidays, I probably end up working at my facility off and on, anyway. Especially if I work for our favorite Agency. :)

NDivine

7 Posts

What is cool about this job, is the variety, I will do some training, such as safety techniques, etc. I'm an LPN, so I will work under an RN, doing assessments and other nursing tasks, preparing health records, conducting home visits, besides workign with the special children. I have worked with medically fragile children before, so this is an area I am comfortable with.

The pay is low, but schools usually have great benefits. When there is a vacation, such as during Christmas, or summer break, I could always work for an Agency.

I talked to my husband, he said go ahead and apply, we'll be okay financially. He's my love!!! :blushkiss

Good for you, So you have made a decision and you seem to be very qualified for the position. Just to let you know 5 years a go, I took a position that involved a cut in pay, the benefits made up the difference, but it did not take long for the pay increases to take me above and beyond what I was making previously. Good luck to you.

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