Management opportunity...stay put or get experience?

[angiebfnp18]

I am an FNP student currently working in an ASC. I love my job and my coworkers. Our old boss got a new job as the director of a new ASC and she has asked me to be her preop/PACU clinical manager. The pay is roughly 3000 more/yr (negotiable-salary position). I currently work 7-1530, no nights or weekends or call. The new position has the same operational hours, ( no nights, no call, no weekends or holidays) but as salary I have no real set schedule other than being available during operational hours.

My main concern is when I start clinicals in November. The current job says I can go to 4 days a week (but that is less pay). I can leave the new job whenever cases are done and my money won't be affected, however, I could be forced to stay late as well if cases run over. I occasionally have to stay late at my current job. I have the potential to get bonuses at the new job-no bonuses at the current one.

Other comparisons:

-I have 15 months until I am fully vested in my 401 k at my current job, they have 6% matching. The new job only matches 3%.

-They both have the same amount of tuition assistance, and there is about a 5-10 minute difference in commute.

-My current coworkers are amazing. The new place doesn't have any staff yet, but I would get to pick my staff with my boss. The new position looks good on my resume.

-The current job is peds only, the new job is adults and peds.

I have to decide by Friday

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

You don't say how long you've been in your current job. If it's been less than two years, I'd stay put. I suspect that your current job would be more flexible to work with you when you have to schedule your clinicals. After all, you've been there and they have some time invested in you. Your current colleagues are amazing -- another reason to stay. That and the matching. I'm a little concerned with starting a new job and dealing with school at the same time. But that's just me.

[jrt4]

I guess you need to decide what it is you are wanting to do with your career. If a career in management is something you are interested in this might be a good opportunity to build up your resume. If you are going back to school with the intention of practicing as an NP I would recommend you stay in your current job because in my experience as a manager you end up putting in more hours than 40/week. I would think this to be especially true in a job where you are building a non-existing program. I guess you need to look at the risks and benefits rather than pros and cons. Risks would be taking on a potentially demanding job when you are trying to juggle school and work. The benefits would be an extra $3000/year and an opportunity to build up your resume.

Hope this helps!

[angiebfnp18]

Thanks for your response :)

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

OP: I agree with the above two. I know of current managers who left his/her positions for non-management positons to finish up school to become NPs. However, I know of two who accepted a change within management (did not leave management) because the degree the two of them were obtaining were for senior level managers and the two of them were not interested in becoming NPs.

So, what is it that you want to do with your career? Do you want to continue to touch patients on a day-to-day basis (nothing wrong with it, BTW)? Or do you want to think more globally and start by assisting in operating a department, then one or two and possibly move up and operate a facility then become a VP, CEO.. etc.?

[Libby1987]

Your eligibility/marketability as a clinical manager will not go away in the next couple of years. However you can crash and burn in one or both by taking on two major challenges as once.

This is not a once in a lifetime opportunity that you'd be passing up and your current gig is a good one for now.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

You're within little more than a year of being vested at your current place. I'm not sure how close you are to retirement, but that money could make a big difference later versus cashing out now.