Money $ or Happiness :-) Please OR Nurses. I need advice. Should I Leave the ED?

[vblaides]

I'm a Nurse of 4 years, my whole career as an ED Nurse at a private hospital (level 2 center) in midtown manhattan NYC (1 hour drive to get there), now making around 83K yearly after 4 yrs of service. If I went to days, my pay would be around 77,600K/yearly. I work 13 (12hr night) shifts a month. May not seem like much in the scheme of things, but it's tiring and i've been feeling burnt out.

The situation/dilemma.

Now I was offered a position as an OR Nurse in an Operating room in a municipal city hospital (trauma level 1) 4 miles from my home in brooklyn (10 minute drive to get there), making around 67-70k/yearly. A 7-10k pay cut to work. Working 5 (8 hours shift) 3p-11p, alternating weekends. The nurse manager told me, I'll receive a minimum of "A YEAR of training" before I'm on my own.

I don't know what to do. I understand sometimes it's very difficult to transfer to other specialties. I think especially the OR is difficult to get into, because hospitals don't want to train. Maybe this is a misconception I have about transferring and being trained to the OR.

Should I take the leap, hence taking a pay cut.

Should I take the leap because in the future I will be more marketable, hence will probably be able to make more money later on in my career.

One other aspect. I'm intending on perusing my BSN as well, a brick and mater nursing program that offers an online track that's fairly inexpensive, around 10k for the whole program to graduate.

Benefits - Pvt vs Municipal

Pvt hospital pay 18 credits a year( No cap on cost)

Municipal city hospital pays 1500/year towards tuition reimbursement.

Any insight or advice anyone.

[pedicurn, LPN, RN]

I would do what would make me happier.

The OR job may just be a temporary step backwards in terms of pay - and your lifestyle may improve due to the short commute. However permanent 3-11pm can be difficult for certain social activities .... but you might like going out late and having no more early starts or nights ?

If I were single and childless in NYC and liked going out to clubs and not getting up early.... then I would take the Brooklyn job.

Good luck and choose what would fit your lifestyle and make you happier

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

I took a huge pay cut when I moved from AZ to OH but my life style improved so much that even though it was a struggle at first it was a great move, mentally and physically.

I say go for it, you are obviously unhappy where you are or you wouldnt be looking

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

Can I move this to the General Nursing Forum where I think you would get a huge response

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

I didn't see in your post where you mentioned that you were interested in pursuing an OR career. I think that's important to consider. If you aren't going to enjoy the work, then the other benefits don't really matter.

As far as the cut in cost, it sounds like they would pay for your BSN program, which means that you would save 10,000 dollars. So for the first year or so, you would pretty much break even. Plus you would probably save a lot in travel costs. The 3-11 shift might not last forever. You could probably transfer to days at some point if you were interested.

Since you applied and interviewed for this OR job, I can assume that you are interested. So I'd encourage you to go for it. It's cliche, but true- you can't buy happiness.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

Ask if you can shadow in the OR first to get an idea if you will like it. Level 1 trauma is more intense than a level 2 isn't it? I'm surprised the pay would be less. Would you save money re travel and parking costs? Can you afford the pay cut?

Would you like working 2nd shift? I've done it and it can be very socially isolating, your working when people are off, your awake when they're sleeping and your sleeping when their working. If you like the night life then you'd still have time to go out after work, otherwise it might be a drag. But then again, you could always transfer to a different shift later on.

Just some things to consider.

[L8RRN]

Just wanted to point out that it can be difficult to go to school and work full time (even though it can be done!). Would the 3-11 shift 5 times a week work out with the BSN program you are considering?

Good luck!

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

Do you have to pay for parking? How about health insurance costs? Vacation time?

[vblaides]

Yes Madwife, you can move this if you need too.

[vblaides]

Thank you PediCurn, Ashley, L8RRN, gingermom, bugsy2902 and madwife2002.

I do enjoy the ED, I just feel I'm a little burnt out. The work is doable, and I excel and handle my patients well, and believe I'm a good teamplayer. But I think I'm a bit burnt out with Emergency Services.

I do have an interest to work in the OR.

Health insurance are both covered by both hospitals. I park on the street in manhattan so no parking cost. I can probably do the same for the brooklyn hospital.

Vacation in manhattan hospital is 4 weeks, brooklyn hospital 3 weeks.

Bugsy2002, I think that's a great idea for me to shadow, I will ask to do this next week.

Pedicurn- I'm single, not a club/party person, mid-thirties here, been all my partying and clubbing in my twenties.

Guys I'm wondering- How many of you have experience in more then one specialty. Is it a value to have experience in two specialities that are so different?

ED and OR are completely different.

[vblaides]

Do you guys believe that having two specialities under your experience hat will make one more marketable. I know that I'm not unhappy in the ED, just a little burnt out, and I feel a little tired. Change is sometimes good. I feel like this OR opportunity may not come again.. so I'm a little worried that If i don't take it I'd be passing up a great opportunity to learn and be trained.

What do you guys think.

I will always work per-diem in the ED, so not to loose my skills.

Thanks for any feedback.

[loveblossom]

I would stick with the first job while you are in school because it's easier to study when working 13 shifts a month vs.20.