Quitting 74K RN job for a 30K vet tech job? Advice please!

Nurses Career Support

Published

You are reading page 4 of Quitting 74K RN job for a 30K vet tech job? Advice please!

Pets to People

131 Posts

Work PRN as an RN for extra money? How about work as an RN and work part-time at a vet's office for extra money?

I know of few people that can realistically live off of $15 an hr. Working in a vet's office probably won't offer insurance and since she is now 26 she will not be able to go back on her parents insurance. They most likely will not offer any type of retirement program. Try paying living expense, a car payment, and have "entertainment" money while making $15 an hour.

In my area a vet tech starts at $10 an hour and will make about $12 after a two years. Most of the techs at my vets office are school age girls or older women that are married, a secondary income.

I mentioned that she could work in a vets office as an assistant for extra money, or volunteer, in my other post. I didn't see any reason to have to repeat myself.

If you know of few people who can realistically live off of $15 an hr, then I doubt you would believe that my husband, myself and our children live quite well off of less than that. The only issue would be that we do not have insurance, which is a big concern. We rent a beautiful farm and pay our rent up 6 months at a time, own two modest cars (no payments, actually own), we keep our bills at a minimum, pay our cell phones by the month (no contracts), we can enjoy eating out occasionally and enjoy ourselves, and can afford to buy what we need, certainly no Gucci bags, but we are happy. Course, we will be even more happy when I am making 20 plus an hour when I graduate.

True, you will rarely find an old vet tech, or even one in their 40's. They move on to other careers (such as me moving over to nursing), retire on their husbands salaries, move up to management and so on...I mentioned reasons I myself did not stay on as a vet tech, in my other post.

I have never heard of a vet tech making 10/hr....ever, even as a new grad....unless maybe you live out in the middle of no where. I lived in a modest city, nothing super. Vet techs do not make a lot of money, but come on. The biggest drawback is not the low salary (compared to some), but in the complete lack of employment benefits (as I also mentioned in my other post) such as paid vacation, paid sick days, and the biggie, insurance.

Specializes in Trauma.

My son's fiance` looked into going to vet tech school while working on getting her catering business off the ground. She talked to three diff local vet offices and found out that they all start new grad techs out at $10. One lady she spoke with said her daughter now makes $12 after two years on the job. I guess it all depends on where you are located. The original OP stating she makes 74K as an RN is high compared to here. If you break that down that is over $35 an hour on a 40 hour week. I imagine she lives in a pretty high cost of living area. If that is so, and she will have to move back home because and she cannot afford to live there on the $15 an hour she would make as a tech I wonder if the $15 is based on the high cost of living area. If so I would imagine the pay will be less where her parents live.

student forever

227 Posts

In my youth, I would have said QUIT! RUN! But now I am older, wiser, yes more cautious, so I say this:

Go ahead NOW and live on 15.00 an hour. You say you cannot in your exmemberve area, but make changes that allow you to suffer a smaller, dingier, scarier apartment, car, etc...

Become a pet-sitter part time or something animal-related. Maybe it will have the side benefit of reducing the stress of your job.

THEN, sock away the cash and then when you make the final move away from RN, you will possibly be able to become the owner of some type of animal "place" be it clinic, or whatever. (Start small and be the owner.) I have owned several of my own companies, and I highly recommend it.

BUT you need cash and mentoring and you need to be in an area that needs your services.

Making plans now before you quit will empower you to think more clearly before you give up a job most folks are drooling for... (I once closed a buisiness making 120K per year--- and as I say, I am older and think differently about things now.)

Good luck with whatever you do! It is no crime to have several careers before you are through.

AshleyO77

43 Posts

Hey, it's great you have a dream as a vet tech. Like others have already said, if I were you, I'd go to school to be a vet tech while I was still working. Also, psych isn't "easier", it's just different. Before you forsake nursing, try something else! There are so many different areas! I hate psych, and if I was working psych I would probably sound the same as you. Maybe that's just not your niche. And I'm not gonna say your crazy for quitting a job like that, but I'm sure now that you make that kind of money, your accustomed to it. Not that your materialistic or anything (I can't say that I don't know you :-)), but I remember struggling for gas money to put in my car, working as a nursing assistant and struggling to pay my way through nursing school. I certainly don't want to do that again. Being broke isn't fun. And once you aren't broke anymore, some people tend to forget that. So if were you, I would try to get a different job first, and maybe volunteer at a vet office to see if you like it. Sometimes we idolize careers, then realize they are nothing like you thought it would be.

AshleyO77

43 Posts

And also pets to people, not all nurses hate their job or there area of nursing. I certainly do not.

PatMac10,RN, RN

1 Article; 1,164 Posts

Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.

I would just caution to do some research and serious thinking like the others have stated. Nursing is a very wide profession. You can search for alternate jobs such as a a clinic nurse, immunization nurse, home health, CPR/ first aid instruction, nurse educator (for training healthcare facility staff), etc.... There are a whole world of opportunities!

Pets to People

131 Posts

And also pets to people, not all nurses hate their job or there area of nursing. I certainly do not.

Which is why I used the word "most", not "all".

JenniferS_CNA

22 Posts

I say DO IT. Take the risk. Money is dumb. Happiness rules. Keep your RN license and pick up 5 or 6 shifts a month per diem if you really think you're gonna starve. But you won't. Not if you resist the mainstream expectations that you're "supposed" to have a new car, own a home, and breed. RESIST!!!!!

I wish I'd taken bigger risks when I was your age, and done what makes me happy instead of listening to everyone tell me what I "should" do. ROCK the poorhouse and your parent's house. Screw nursing and help the animals. Don't be on your deathbed listing your regrets. Do these things NOW while it's easy for you. Every minute that goes by while you sit on your butt soul-searching, it gets harder and harder to change careers, move home, go to school, and take a pay cut. Money is NOTHING. Happiness is EVERYTHING. You sound like you have a good head on your shoulders, and a better situation to support your dream than most. GO FOR IT.

^^ I LOVE this so much. Great post. Life is short. Doing what you love will make you happier and less anxious. Sounds good to me..

RNBean

27 Posts

I would never recommend staying at a job you hate... I was miserable before and that's why I went back to school for nursing, then again, especially in this job market, I wouldn't recommend leaving a position where you're making good money for the unknown. Are you planning to become a veterinarian, or remain a vet tech? I'd suggest remaining a RN until you complete your education and secure a job... best of luck whatever you decide.

RNJLohr

1 Post

Specializes in Acute care rehab; Oncology.

Toward the people who are commenting saying you're out of your mind to leave a $74k position for a 30k one... They clearly do not understand what it's like to stay up with racing heart rates the night before a 13 hour shift, or to be working and feel like you could crawl out of your skin and need to escape. They are either super logical, or just that "natural nurse". For the rest of us, we need to take ourselves into perspective and assess our own quality of life. I do not think you're crazy to make the change to become a vet tech, because me feeling the exact way you feel is what led me to this post. Nursing is not for everyone, and it kills me when people say that because of how hard I worked to get there. I've done 2 years of acute care rehab, and now I'm an oncology RN. The rehab nursing was the worst experience of my working life, so stressful and overworked, 12:1 brand new strokes and post CABG patients plus the needy elective knees and hips.. It was horrible. I finally was blessed enough to get into oncology, I love the patients but it is so depressing... People dying daily. I don't know where I belong yet in the world of nursing if at all, but I'm hoping to try OR next. I think you should do whatever is best for your health and your state of mind. Best of luck to you

naptimeRN

188 Posts

I don't think a job is worth losing your quality of life over. If it is causing you that much emotional toll, is the pay really worth it? I know we need to eat, but if you can find something that pays enough to pay the bills and also doesn't destroy your soul, that would be great for your well being. Maybe try a different type of nursing job and if it still is making you miserable, explore options outside this field.

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

Hmmm, since two and a half years have gone by, wonder what the OP ended up doing and how that has worked out for her.

+ Add a Comment