Money or Life

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 7, 2011

You can earn all the money in the world, but I'm sure you know that you cannot take the extra cash or material possessions with you to the grave when you die.

Money is important because it makes things happen, opens doors, and enables a more comfortable lifestyle. Quality of life is also very significant, although many nurses find that they must forsake the huge paychecks.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 7, 2011

If it's possible to still have some financial security w/pay cut, and it would make you happier, then I'd go for the pay cut, and feel better about your current life. There is some 'sucking it up' that just goes with nursing, but to really not like what you're doing costs you too much, imo.

Nobody knows if they are going to have the length of time to do things they want to- whether because of other situations that come up (my dad ended up spending >10 years of his retirement taking care of my demented mom- he was happy to do it, but missed out on those years in their fullest; they had done a lot when they were both working, which I'm so thankful for). You can end up with restrictions on what you can do-- you don't want to waste all of your younger years waiting for something that may not turn out how you anticipate it will.

JMHO- :twocents:

ksc0723 · Sep 7, 2011

That is exactly what I'm talking about. Every day I see dozens of emails from people on my floor looking for people to switch or pickup time because the times they work are not at all conducive the 8-5 or 9-5 world we live in.

I just don't know what is the responsible thing to do. We would be fine to pay our bills but just would not be saving very much which makes me nervous with this economy and so on.

Trying to find that point is so difficult. Ugh

PediNurse3 · Sep 7, 2011

I could have written your post- minus the nights and the husband.

I hated my job in the hospital. It paid well...but I was so unhappy. I didn't want to miss birthday parties or Thanksgiving, or try to explain to my kids why I wouldn't be home on Christmas. I wanted a set schedule so I could live my life like a normal person. I transfered to the clinic. M-F, 8:30-5, and still all the benefits of working for the organization, just in the clinic and not as a hospital slave.

I didn't take a $20,000 pay cut...reduction in base pay was actually less than $600 a year (but I did work day shift, and that makes a huge difference). I was plesantly surprised to find out that the differance in the hourly rate was not nearly as much as I had dreamed it up to be.

Hating several aspects of your job takes up a lot of energy and it's just miserable. I can't tell you what a huge feeling of relief I had when I made the decision to leave bedside nursing. Good luck with whatever you decide!

ksc0723 · Sep 7, 2011

If it's possible to still have some financial security w/pay cut, and it would make you happier, then I'd go for the pay cut, and feel better about your current life. There is some 'sucking it up' that just goes with nursing, but to really not like what you're doing costs you too much, imo.
Nobody knows if they are going to have the length of time to do things they want to- whether because of other situations that come up (my dad ended up spending >10 years of his retirement taking care of my demented mom- he was happy to do it, but missed out on those years in their fullest; they had done a lot when they were both working, which I'm so thankful for). You can end up with restrictions on what you can do-- you don't want to waste all of your younger years waiting for something that may not turn out how you anticipate it will.
JMHO-

This is an excellent point. We aren't guaranteed tomorrow or 5 years from now. I don't want to go through life feeling this way just to have the money It's just hard with the way things are now. I feel very strange willingly looking to take a huge pay cut for a better schedule when so many can't find a job at all.......That's where the should I just suck it up comes in to play

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 7, 2011

That is exactly what I'm talking about. Every day I see dozens of emails from people on my floor looking for people to switch or pickup time because the times they work are not at all conducive the 8-5 or 9-5 world we live in.
I just don't know what is the responsible thing to do. We would be fine to pay our bills but just would not be saving very much which makes me nervous with this economy and so on.
Trying to find that point is so difficult. Ugh

I'm no financial genius by any stretch- so I listen to Suze Orman and Clark Howard.... Orman's minimal savings thing is to have an 8 month emergency fund. And ROTH IRAs, since the penalties aren't what a 403B or 401K are, should you need them.

Is there any way to stick this out for a bit- saving the 20,000 (and more if possible) long enough to get the emergency stuff covered, and get a retirement account beefed up a bit, and then cut back? Maybe look at each miserable shift as what it's doing FOR you, not what you're getting drained of...make it work for you - not just you work for it....whatever mind games you have to sell yourself to put yourself in the best position in the long run. ?

Just an idea. :)

ksc0723 · Sep 7, 2011

I could have written your post- minus the nights and the husband.
I hated my job in the hospital. It paid well...but I was so unhappy. I didn't want to miss birthday parties or Thanksgiving, or try to explain to my kids why I wouldn't be home on Christmas. I wanted a set schedule so I could live my life like a normal person. I transfered to the clinic. M-F, 8:30-5, and still all the benefits of working for the organization, just in the clinic and not as a hospital slave.
I didn't take a $20,000 pay cut...reduction in base pay was actually less than $600 a year (but I did work day shift, and that makes a huge difference). I was plesantly surprised to find out that the differance in the hourly rate was not nearly as much as I had dreamed it up to be.
Hating several aspects of your job takes up a lot of energy and it's just miserable. I can't tell you what a huge feeling of relief I had when I made the decision to leave bedside nursing. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Yes. I have x-mas off but work thanksgiving this year. Just to accommodate me, my in laws are having dinner at their place and my parents are traveling an hour to the dinner because I have to work at 11pm and could otherwise not make it. I will never make it to my only niece's soccer games because they are at 9 am on saturdays and I work every friday until 7am and live an hour away and cannot safely drive, stay awake, and drive home. These are times with family and friends you don't get back. Money sucks

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 7, 2011

Don't worry about looking for what you need for your life. Nobody out there is concerned about what your situation is doing to you. :twocents: Gotta do what's best for you.

FWIW- I think it's kinda cute :)

morecoffeepls, BSN, RN · Sep 7, 2011

Make the change if you can afford it. This is going to sound sexist and stupid, but if my wife expressed the same level of unhappiness(?) with her job I'm pretty sure I'd insist on a change, and do what I had to in order to make up the difference on my end of things. Don't feel guilty trying to find another job for less money in this narrow market. That's silly. At least you have the option - I'm stuck on nights for now (even though I've convinced myself I prefer it this way). My wife doesn't contribute financially - she works once in a while, but doesn't make enough to justify screwing up my work and school and sleep schedule when I have to stay awake and care for our two small children. I would prefer her not to work at all for that reason alone. I make as close to 6 figures after working nights

wanderinrn · Sep 7, 2011

Have you ever thought of trying PACU?...you usually do have some call....but if you work in a large enough facility with a larger staff then it rotates and isn't that often.. I am part time.....and work in a small facility...do call about one night every week...sometimes every two weeks and usually only one weekend per schedule which is 12 weeks....and about the same for full time, really. Otherwise it is M-F...or if you don't think you would like PACU maybe do the OR?

Where I work call time is time and half...so maybe that would help to offset not getting the shift differential which I am assuming helps make your pay rate what it is?

Isabelle49 · Sep 7, 2011

PACU? I wouldn't recommend that. I worked PACU and was on call one New Years Day, Surgery started at 6 am and continued with one ortho case after another. I was the only nurse there, it was hell. The surgeon who was on call that day said that since his day was f'd up, he was going to 'f up' everyone else's day. NEVER AGAIN!