Move onto new job or stay at current one?

[RNJV]

Hi ladies & gents,

I'm looking for some advice about whether I should accept a job offer or stay in my current position. I currently work at an endoscopy lab within a hospital.

It is Monday to Friday with one weekday off every other week. Weekends and holidays are on call and it rotates between the nurses. Weeknights after our shift ends is also on call which also rotates so you can be on call for that several nights a month. (Call is overnight into the next day). We've been very short staffed lately and have been worked to death.

Pros of current job: super short commute (10 minutes tops), familiar with hospital and doctors and other ancillary services, enjoy working with most of my coworker's. Kids only go to day care 1 day a week.

Cons: Taking call and constantly getting stuck late at work. Pay is not great.

New job offer is for an ASC (Ambulatory Surgey Center) located in a freestanding building run by a private company. Pay offer is $1 more than current job.

Pros: Monday to Thursday schedule. No Fridays or weekends, paid holidays, no call.

Cons: Commute has increased to about 30 mins a day each way and it is roughly about a 10-12 hour work day. One day a week must commute 50 minutes one way to a different office. Kids will have to be in daycare 3-4 days a week vs 1.

Thoughts? I'm not sure what to do. Each place has its pros and cons and there's always the unknown of a new position.

[angiebfnp18]

Hi,

Have you considered the benefits- retirement, PTO, insurance, etc? I m currently trying to decide on a new job as well. Comparing benefits did not work for me (they each had a major plus in different categories) so it's not really helping, but it could help you. Have you considered those? Just from you've said, I think your current job sounds better. The commute and needing more child care for the new job seems like you would not benefit from that dollar difference in pay. I hope it all works out for you! Good luck!

[RNJV]

I understand you are on a 72 hour pay period now, but you keep talking about being on call and being worked to death, which translates to OT in my mind. A $1 per hour "raise" is quickly negated when you consider the lack of OT at the new job.

Plus, you're going to quadruple your day care expenses (that's an $8000 difference in my area)! And don't forget about tripling your commute in time, gas, and vehicle wear and tear. That's about another $3000 when considering a $0.55/mile rate.

If I simply guess at your OT (say 5 hrs/pay period at $45/hr = $5700), you're going to have a net reduction of $17,000. Your numbers will vary, because I don't know your specifics, but you need to put the numbers on paper to help with your decision.

That's a massive financial consideration that would require an incredible amount of career satisfaction in the new job itself. Also, and more importantly in my mind, there would be the massive reduction in the time your children spend with you and your husband.

I usually try to keep my personal opinions to myself, and try to provide facts in order for you to make a decision yourself. However, on this particular topic, I cannot imagine a scenario where I would take such a huge hit to my family life and financial life.

I've been crunching numbers and it would be pretty even maybe $200 pay increase. Sorry I should have been more clear with the being worked to death.. this is during the shift (for regular pay) because we're so short staffed and I definitely don't make anywhere near $45/hour for OT. Our call pay is laughable at best and I lose a lot of money to babysitters when I get called out because my husband is usually working.

I did the math for both positions and it would be roughly an $8k increase yearly.

I did the math for childcare and it would be $35 a day for daycare. Since I'm currently paying $35/day for 1 day a week, I'd be adding 2 additional days to that so it would be another $70 a week. Which for the month would be another $280.

As for time with kids and husband, my husband works 2nd shift so I don't really see him now as it is. My older child is in school until 4pm so I'm not missing much time with him there and my younger one is just an infant and naps until my son gets home from school. I would actually have more time with them with the new job.

I'm still weighing my options. The big thing for me is the schedule the new position offers due to my husband's erratic schedule. But I'm also not naive. I know the grass isn't always greener on the other side. So lots of things to think about. I do appreciate your input on the matter.

[RNJV]

Hi,

Have you considered the benefits- retirement, PTO, insurance, etc? I m currently trying to decide on a new job as well. Comparing benefits did not work for me (they each had a major plus in different categories) so it's not really helping, but it could help you. Have you considered those? Just from you've said, I think your current job sounds better. The commute and needing more child care for the new job seems like you would not benefit from that dollar difference in pay. I hope it all works out for you! Good luck!

The new position offers 2 weeks paid vacation after 90 days and 4 weeks after a year. There's a 401k that they match at 6%. I didn't look too hard at the insurance because I'm covered under my husband's policy.

Thank you! Yea it's hard for me to change from a place I've been for almost 2 years to a brand new place.

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

I'd stay where you are, for the reasons other posters mentioned...

[RNJV]

After much thought and deliberation, I've given my two week notice at my current job and accepted the offer at the new job.

[missdeevah, NP]

Awesome! Sounds like it will make for more stability, and more money. Congrats!