New Job Recommendations

[SilverBells, BSN]

Unfortunately, recent circumstances led me to resigning from my current position and leaving the company I have been at for the past 7 years. These circumstances had greatly impacted my mental health in a negative way, so it was a choice that had to be made.   

I have just recently received a couple of job offers. One is a clinical manager position in a SNF that is about 20-25 minutes away from where I live. Drive isn't bad when the whether is nice, but could be a problem in the Winter. I would be working with several people that I have previously had a positive working relationship with.   It would be a pay increase of $3/hr and would be hourly vs salary despite being a management position. On-call would be reduced from 7 days in a row to one weekend a month. However, this facility is currently being run by the state department of health. It's also not clear whether or not a retirement plan would be available as part of their benefits. I would also be primarily located on a LTC unit and would prefer the short-term rehab side. Facility has a nursing-home like feel to it.   I would be using the EHR that I am familiar with. Likely, I would probably have to move to the town this facility is located in. The housing is affordable, but is also located in zones with high flood ratings. I have already started paperwork, but haven't officially accepted the job description. 

The other is a SNF clinical manager position that is in a facility about 8-10 minutes away from my home. The location is definitely more ideal as it would not require driving on the highway during the Winter months. I have not worked with any of the employees previously, but did get good vibes during both my first and second interviews. I feel like these would be people that I could work well with. Facility is more home-like than nursing-home like feel. Would require learning a new EHR; however, I am quite competent in learning new computer programs so I'm not too worried about this. I would also be in the rehab area of the building, which would be more of my interest. The pay would be a 60 cent decrease from my previous position.  It would also be salary vs. hourly.  On-call would be Friday through Sunday instead of just Saturday and Sunday. The facility does have a well-established benefit plan with good insurance and a retirement account available. Overall, I feel that employment may be more stable due to it not being under the control of the state department.   

I was looking forward to working with some old friends and feel bad about having started some paperwork, but I am feeling that the second option may overall be better logistic wise.  

Any thoughts or recommendations? 

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

Only you know what's right for you. If you have any money saved (you should as you live at home) take time to consider your options. If you like working in the SNF environment (I detested it) then I would go for position 1. You need to get out of your parents house. Don't get stuck on finding a house A one bedroom or efficiency apartment should be all you need for now. You can get something bigger once you are settled in the job and know it's a fit.

Please make sure you understand everything in your job description and ask questions if you don't. You should not have to say "This is not what I signed up for! once in the job. 

Consider your education. If I remember you are a Master's prepared nurse. Is SNF really where you want to be or is fear holding you back? With your talent for paperwork you might enjoy a research position. I always thought that would be fun. DO remember there is no shame in working SNF if it's what you love.

Based on your past response to the advice of myself in others I don't have a lot od confidence you will follow this advice but these are points to consider.

Hppy

[klone, MSN, RN]

Are you sure a management position is the right fit? You do not seem well suited to management,

[SilverBells, BSN]

klone said:

Are you sure a management position is the right fit? You do not seem well suited to management,

I believe that these positions would be a good fit.  They are comparable to a management position that I had about a year ago in which I actually succeeded quite well for 3 years.   My troubles mostly started when I switched to being an ADON and then over to the assisted living side and were primarily related to not being compatible with the new upper management in either role.  I do not forsee these difficulties with my new supervisors just based on interviews.   I have an excellent history of managing, admitting and discharging rehab patients, which is what these positions would entail.  

[SilverBells, BSN]

I would say, however, that I'm probably better suited for a lower level of management where the primary focus is on managing the clinical care of patients than an upper level where you need a stronger personality.  

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

If you want to manage the clinical care of patients, then you don't want a management job, period. Clinical care isn't at all the focus of any level of management.

[SilverBells, BSN]

Maybe I'm better off as a floor nurse, then.  I didn't have nearly so many troubles back then.   I do well when given directions, but struggle giving them myself.

[SilverBells, BSN]

It's possible I'm an example of how a good clinical nurse doesn't always equate to a good manager 

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

SilverBells said:

It's possible I'm an example of how a good clinical nurse doesn't always equate to a good manager 

Life is a journey of self discovery. I've had a couple of management positions in the past and hated everyone of them. They call me a stealth bomber at work because I swoop in, do my job well and swoop out. 

[klone, MSN, RN]

SilverBells said:

Maybe I'm better off as a floor nurse, then.  I didn't have nearly so many troubles back then.   I do well when given directions, but struggle giving them myself.

Exactly the point of my post above ^^^^
Based on what you've posted here, you are not well-suited to any kind of position where you need to lead or manage staff. I would not recommend any position that would put you in that role.

[klone, MSN, RN]

hppygr8ful said:

They call me a stealth bomber at work because I swoop in, do my job well and swoop out. 

My favorite type of people to lead.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

I would go with the first job, where you know people and have a good rapport already with them, so they are a known entity.  The drive is not that long, get snow tires if you are really concerned about Winter weather.  Lots of newer cars/SUV's have anti-lock bracks, traction control and 4 wheel drive so if you are driving an old car now is the time to consider upgrading to the best, safest model.  The last car I bought was a Subaru Impreza which has all the above plus a moon roof and heated seats to boot, they are wonderful in Winter and just about anytime you have an achy lower back. LOL.  I don't know why you wouldn't have state retirement benefits with a full time position; you should, and that is probably one of the main reasons your coworkers moved there.  Hourly is much better than salary, plus another pay increase and less on call.  Finally a chance to make up for all the years without a raise!  And state benefits usually guarantee yearly raise with a COLA to help keep up with inflation, plus a pension, virtually unheard of, what's not to love!

You are trying to talk yourself out of the better offer all because of a slightly longer drive and that it is the nursing home vs rehab section.  I think that is a mistake.  The benefits outweigh the negatives.  The other job you don't know the players and how you will really mesh with them, a quick job interview is not the same as on the job day to day.  A pay cut and salary is not the way to go, plus more on call.  You already know salary and more on call is detrimental to your mental health and wallet.  The extra on call tells you they are understaffed and salary lets them overwork you for free.  Is that what you really want to go back to?  Plus it's a compliment that your former coworkers want to work with you, so even more reason to take that job, and not having to learn a new EHR, one less hassle and hurdle.  If I were you I would take the known equation with better pay, hours, and benefits.  But you rarely listen to our advice.

Good luck!

PS A nursing home could have a more home atmosphere as you will see the same residents daily, get to know and care for them, whereas rehab is get them in and out to make the most profit!  So don't know how that would be a homey environment!  Also I would expect state run NH to be less profit motivated so better staffing and morale for patients and staff. 

As to benefits, my sister was a Commander in the Milwaukee City Police and though management she still fell under the union so had all the protections, pension, benefits which would be unheard of in the private sector.   Your state job offer is probably similar.  On the other hand, at my small union hospital, management quickly found the way to weaken the union was to promote union leaders to management who would then no longer be in the union and there was always an adversarial relationship, so just lure them away with a promotion, pay raise and yearly bonus!  Sad that it was so easy to do.  On top of that one of the main union leaders had a quasi management position but was allowed to remain in the union so as another way to destroy it from the inside.  The worst irony is my  supervisor's dad had been instrumental in getting the union in the first place, but once she took the promotion she became totally anti-union and would even cheat you out of pay if she could!  It was unreal!  And all this was accomplished before Ascension!

Anyway, let us know what you decide to do!  I'm glad you finally left the other job that wasn't for you.  It had too much on call and you weren't supported. 

Now get the negative comments out of your head and realize it was a blessing to get the pay increase and experience, but leaving is the best thing you did for yourself!  There isn't a job I've quit that I regretted leaving.  I've always been glad when I did.  I hope you soon come to the same realization!  Life is too short to be unhappy!