Help w/job decision?

[ivyleaf]

I posted a while back about a potential job offer, and now I have been offered the position.

The position is as an inpatient case manager on a med/surg floor, mostly discharge planning. I am currently working as an outpatient case manager/manager (1/2 caseload, 1/2 management) for medicaid patients at a behavioral health agency. We do medical and psych CM. My background is in psych and clinic (float, mostly primary care - case management and direct patient care), so this is a unique opportunity since most postings I see require med/surg experience. Long term I am interested in UR and CDI. This job would expose me to UR although I wouldnt be doing a lot of it.

I am torn between staying at my old job and taking the new position, mainly because

1) I have received $21,000 in loan repayment through my current job; I would need to pay back about $15,000 of it if I left before 4 years (I am at 1.5 years). On the other hand, the new job pays 7500 more a year and has yearly cost of living raises which my current job does not. I would borrow 1/2 the $ from my retirement w/the plan to pay it back to myself within a year.

2) My current job offers a lot of flexibility w/scheduling (leaving early/using vacation time fairly regularly as long as I ask ahead) and I have a lot of time off (4 weeks vacation + sick time + holidays). My main passion is the outdoors, and I like to go away weekends/up north as much as possible. On the other hand I dont really take advantage of the time off.

3) Current job has a fair amount of autonomy and I have my own office. Besides client needs that come up and staff needs/their client crises, I have a lot of control over my schedule/day

4) Commute to new job is about 10-15 minutes longer than my current commute, which is a little under an hour (45min to an hour). Have to park off site and take a shuttle. Schedule is also earlier so would be getting up an hour earlier, although I get out 1/2 hr earlier.

5) have to get BSN w/in the next 5 years. I have a BA in another field so shouldnt be extremely time consuming, but it wasnt in my 5 year plan and is more $$

However, there are definite pros to the new job:

1) Career stepping stone, getting back to the "medical" side of nursing, which I miss (The knowledge/theory part, not the hands on)

2) New position/job is exciting. I am feeling burnt out at my current position, mainly due to a combo of staff performance issues, bureaucratic/programmatic issues I have little control over, and poor communication between other teams we work closely with. Plus having a lot to do and never feeling like I can get it done, which I know is the case at most nursing jobs.

3) After 2 years I would make up the loan repayment and w/ cost of living increases, be at almost 10k/year higher salary than I am now.

4) I have a hard few months coming up w/onboarding a new nursing staff while covering my usual job duties.

I have hemmed and hawed and made lots of lists; just looking for some outside thoughts. I am really anxious about the possibility of giving notice since I'm friendly with my boss/she worked hard w me to negotiate my current job package, and it's not a great time to quit (other manager is transitioning out and only working part time remotely, we are down a nurse- although hopefully going to hire one this week, and down outreach workers as usual).

thanks!

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

I remember your last post and I still stand by my opinion---I would stay at your current job. Between the loan repayment and the need to get your BSN, the salary increase at the new job will still leave you behind. I do understand wanting a leave a job where you're burnt out on bureaucratic issues/interpersonal problems, but who's to say those won't be at the new job? Exciting jobs will aways pop up, even though at the moment I know it seems once-in-a-lifetime and necessary to grab it right away. Just my thoughts.

[ivyleaf]

7 minutes ago, LibraSunCNM said:

I remember your last post and I still stand by my opinion---I would stay at your current job. Between the loan repayment and the need to get your BSN, the salary increase at the new job will still leave you behind. I do understand wanting a leave a job where you're burnt out on bureaucratic issues/interpersonal problems, but who's to say those won't be at the new job? Exciting jobs will aways pop up, even though at the moment I know it seems once-in-a-lifetime and necessary to grab it right away. Just my thoughts.

Thanks LibraSun; I appreciate your response. I am leaning towards not taking it. The combo of the loan repayment and commute (I feel like I am already @ my max with slightly under an hour), combined w/ the pros of my current job; is making me feel like it is not worth the move.

I am going to try to take more advantage of the flexible scheduling and time off @ my current job to make it more palatable.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I think you are making a wise choice. Best of luck to you!

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

11 hours ago, ivyleaf said:

Thanks LibraSun; I appreciate your response. I am leaning towards not taking it. The combo of the loan repayment and commute (I feel like I am already @ my max with slightly under an hour), combined w/ the pros of my current job; is making me feel like it is not worth the move.

I am going to try to take more advantage of the flexible scheduling and time off @ my current job to make it more palatable.

No problem. I totally understand being torn. I've just learned over the years that the grass isn't always greener at a new job, and things like a longer commute and having to borrow from your retirement account are not worth it to me.

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

I agree with staying at your current job. Also I would not base a decision/bank on yearly cost of living raises - these are guaranteed, until they are not.

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

I agree with all of the other PP. Stay with the job. Perhaps if you start taking more advantage of your time off, please think of how to truly utilize your time off, you deserve it. Taking vacation, enjoying your hobibie are great ways to balance out the stress. And, you may find that that is the difference, having a better work/life balance and really enjying things you like to do.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

I would take the new job, because for me carrying a caseload in outpatient is draining.

Also, given that you want to eventually get into UR (not sure what CDI is?) I think the new job is your better choice.

And most importantly, you genuinely seem like you really want the new job.

Good luck. I'm sure you'll make the best decision for you.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

9 minutes ago, FolksBtrippin said:

Also, given that you want to eventually get into UR (not sure what CDI is?) I think the new job is your better choice.

Clinical documentation improvement (or sometimes clinical documentation integrity).

[scuba nurse, BSN, MSN, RN]

I would stay where you are, and STOP looking for new jobs! When your 5 years is up, and all loans paid off, then look for a new job! Good luck!

["nursy", RN]

I would stay in old job, sounds like you have a pretty sweet deal; if you took the new job and it wasn't what you expected, you have a lot of downsides that you'd be stuck with.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

My 2 cents is that if you have another bachelor degree, you may not need a lot of classes. I did my BSN in one calendar year, which my facility paid for most of, in the minimum of hours because I did not need any gen ed classes.

You have thought long and hard, i think you have an idea of what you want to do ?

I would stay where I was, but that is me, I hate change. Good Luck in whatever decision you make!