How much does money influence where you go....or stay

Hoosiernurse, ADN, RN · Dec 8, 2010

Sounds like it would be time to list the things that are the pluses and also the minuses to see how it all plays out.

I wouldn't leave a job I really was happy with just for the money. I would have to look at commuting distance, type of nursing (i.e. STRESS) and turn over rate/reputation of the establishment.

If the money is enough for your needs and you like where you are, why go? For me, the money has to balance with a lot of other stuff. I was willing to take a 5 dollar an hour paycut just to get closer to my home. I was commuting an hour to a hospital, the stress was incredible, and I hated getting up that early and driving two hours a day. I got a LTC part time position for weekend option night shift at a higher rate than I was making at the hospital. So now I work 5 minutes away from home, almost no gas and wear on the car, and make just about what I did working full time at the hospital an hour away. It was a no-brainer! I had to wait 2.5 years for a situation like that to open up, but I got it! But as I said, I was ready to take a paycut to get closer to home. It sucked almost falling asleep going to and from work!

Best of luck!

BettyBoop01 · Dec 8, 2010

I am having this debate right now actually. I HATe my current job and I mean despise it, I just interviewed for another job that I think I will love. It seems like a much better environment and much better staffed, but it would pay 2 dollars less and hour AND add an hour commute both ways. I still think I am going to take it. I would rather be broke and happy. I just have to hope my car hangs on.....but it is also a trade off, the job pays less but the benefits are SO much better, like not even in the same ballpark so it all works out.

Lisa1980 · Dec 8, 2010

I left an awesome job for one 9 hour drive away and I totally hate it!!! Pay, the new job pays me $34 an hour. I left my other one at $22 an hour. I would gladly take back the $22. Happiness matters more than money. You can adjust your fianances to fit your lifestyle. But as they say, money can't buy you happiness. Maybe a temp fix but......

I can't go back because that means picking up my family and moving again would be rough. So the plan is to stick it out until August, then we will move. (that will give me a year of experience)

Good luck with your decision!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2010

I recently turned down a job offer for night shift med/surg at a hospital for a variety of reasons, but the pay rate was a major factor in my decision.

I currently earn a $36 hourly PRN rate with a $6/hour shift differential for night shift. The potential workplace was offering a $26 hourly full time rate with a $3/hour shift differential for night shift. I would have accepted this offer and the resulting pay cut if they would have been willing to give me more than one week of orientation. Since I have never worked at an acute care hospital in my life, I really wanted more than a week of floor orientation.

sunnycalifRN · Dec 8, 2010

At my current job, I'm making about 10% less than the prevailing area wage, but I like the job, I know the job, and I work with a great team. So, no way would I leave, just for the money.

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 8, 2010

The older I get, the more I value the "quality of life issues," the support of my collegues, and my mental health. Money and benefits have become increasingly less important. I wouldn't work in a job I hated for a million dollars -- not for very long, at least.

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Dec 8, 2010

Not at all. I stayed where I was for 10 years b/c #1) I work with fantastic people, and #2) it's a 20 minute bike ride or 6 minute drive, despite the fact that I'd have made $8-10/h more at the hospital an hours drive away.

Every once in a while, like when we'd get the announcement that we were not getting a COLA raise, and no merit raises, again, I'd think about leaving for better money. than I'd read here about all the **** some of you have to put up with in crappy work environments and I'd come to my senses.

RN1980 · Dec 8, 2010

im making more now than i have ever made in my short nursing career. though my job is difficult and at times i'd rather chew my arm off than get out of the bed i have become accustomed to having good paychecks and money in the bank. i find that its a good trade off for me to have a job that at times really tries me but allows me to not to stress over not making enough to pay bills (which i've seen many do and it looks miserable)

noahsmama · Dec 8, 2010

Money has to matter to me because I am a single parent with a massive amount of student loan debt and a kid in private school (of course I chose to put him in private school, but that's not something I'm willing to change right now).

Having said that, I still think that job satisfaction is way more important than the amount of money you make. I changed careers in my late 40s and incurred all of that student loan debt because I was miserable in my last career. I love being a nurse -- if I had been making career decisions based solely on money, I'd be way better off financially right now, but absolutely miserable for 40 hours every week. I think we all have a bottom line (minimum amount of pay we could get by on), but as long as a job is above that bottom line, I'll pick the one that makes me happier any day -- it's worth it!

BeachPrincess · Dec 8, 2010

Right now money plays an important role in my job. I say this because I have a large amount of student loans. Once I get those under control it will all depend on my sanity. I won't take a million bucks to work in psych but I do expect to be compensated well for any icu I work in.

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2010

Money is literally the very last consideration for me. That said, my hubby has a well paying job and we live very comfortably. I can understand that for some people, a few dollars an hour or so make a huge difference in getting food on the table, so I can see making some personal sacrifices for that.