Job change

[cmax1179]

Hello I have been and ICU nurse for a year now. Although I am happy with nursing for the most part I am considering STRONGLY leaving this unit. I am not happy with the unit and the moral is horrible. I am considering moving into the clinic setting. I am not sure if floor nursing is for me. I come home physically exhausted and have taken a night shift position because the thought of working on that unit during the day is horrifying. My only question is PAY. I am scared that working in a clinic or Dr's office I have be taking a signficant pay cut. I make about 24 (peanuts) and hour now in NC, anyone know the pay ranges for office nursing.

CJ

[CheesyPeach]

I start tomorrow in the PACU after about 9 months on the night shift in ICU. I found out that I just wasn't cut out for nights like I thought I was, and there were no day shift positions available in the unit. I looked into clinic nursing and the paycut was too much (a cut of about $8/hour). Right now I am losing my 5$ shift differential, but I figured that with the on-call weekend I am required to take each month, I will net myself back my lost wages with only 8 hours worked. You have to weigh everything out when deciding to leave. I know I will have to work more hours to get back my original salary, but working extra day shift hours should be a cinch after 12 hour shifts overnight. On paper, I had 4 days off, but in reality, it was more like 2 by the time I got caught up on my sleep. I am welcoming this transition in my career, and consider myself lucky for the ICU experience. My advice to you is to do what is best for you, your health, and then your pocketbook. Check around your hospital, most make it easy to transfer within the organization. Extra money means nothing if you are unhealthy and unhappy.