Ok guys....facing hardest decision of my life..long..please help.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Oct 25, 2005

First off congrats on nailing the job!

Secondly, yes you need to weight the pros/cons and see what suits you better. Do you think this new job will be more rewarding to you? Can you afford the paycut? What does the rest of the family think?

Either way, congrats and I wish you the best of luck. :balloons:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2005

Ouch...that would hurt.

Good luck in whatever you do.

Nesher, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2005

I think you are answering your own question.

Your heart isn't into bedside nursing, you've wanted to do this for a long time. You are getting what you hoped for...sometimes it isn't exactly what you thought. It sounds like you could supplement with some prediem stuff on your current unit. Would that make a big enough difference?

I think I might make the stipulation that you have to start out at the higher level, or find out when it would be that you would rise to that level...

Are there other telephone triage places where you live? Could this be a starting block poisiton that could then launch you into other areas? Maybe you want to look into further education that they would pay for - as tele triage is a very up and coming area of nursing with advanced degrees available.

Sometimes you have to look at moves as stepping stones...

slhsrn · Oct 25, 2005

I understand the money issue, but...... sometimes we get so wrapped up in money that sometimes we confuse our true worth with our financial income. We also confuse where our heart wants to be with where we "ought" to be. In addition, working straight nights in a stressful job can create a unique type of tunnel vision which you can't recognize until you do something else and come out of the fog!

Your body is crying out for a change in pace. Your heart is telling you that this job move is needed and wanted.

I am speaking from experience when I say that I almost died 10 years ago because of my job. I was so deeply into a very stressful (and well-paying) nursing job that when I got very ill. I ignored the symptoms. I believe that the stress brought it on. I ended up in ICU 4 hours from my hometown, dying of a mysterious illness that no one could diagnose. Thank goodness for the Internet.... I had a very rare form of Grave's Disease (the fourth case reported in the world). Doctors were able to put the symptoms into a search engine and came up with another case, were able to save me.

My point is..... a job and a certain income is not worth risking your health, mental OR physical. I have taken many paycuts and never regretted it as long as I was doing what I wanted to do. Don't let a certain pay rate hold you hostage. There are no statues out in front of your hospital honoring those who gave all for their work. Know your true worth, and that a good night's sleep, great coworkers and a LIFE (yes, there is life off the night shift and out of the hospital) are worth everything.

Go for it. I can assure you that things will be okay and you'll not regret it!!!

Hugs!

IloveSnoopy · Oct 25, 2005

Wow Slhsrn,

That was a great post!!!!! Thanks for your input..I really appreciate it. Yeah...I do very much feel like that....I do feel like I"m in a "fog" most of the time..lol. I feel like I'm out of the human race or something...like I'm "just existing" and I don't want to "just exist"... I want to live!!!! I hear you about the medical problems too. Endometriosis dominates much of my life and it's kind of ironic that I first started having "real, real" problems with it once I started the night shift 6 years ago...hmmmmm??? I"m also really sick of missing out on things...family events, etc because either I have worked the night before or have to go back the next night. Either that or I go home...sleep two hours and then get up to go somewhere...(that's really good for ones health). I'm also sick of bedside nursing and I feel bad about that but I guess its true. I dread going to work most nights and I don't want to feel like that...u know? This is what I've been wanting for a long time now and it's sad that money will dictate my decision. I called my hubby right away and he was like "oh"...not very happy about it....but he also said that he wants me to be happy and wants me to be doing something that I enjoy...he doesn't think i'm enjoying my current job.

If you think about it...a lot of people make the paycut jump...or...my cousin's wife just had a baby and completely quit her job..she's going to be a stay at home mom...talk about a paycut. Her husband has a decent job...but it doesn't even pay as much as my paycutted job would be and that's not including my hubbys income...which is comparable to mine. I don't know..I think families can make it work. I always have been a material girl though..lol...I like to have nice clothes, I like to go out to eat or out to the bars. I think we would still have money for some of these things..maybe not as frequently or whatever.... I don't know...I feel so undecided about this...I literally feel like vomiting.. eeek Ok..I'll stop rambling...thanks again to you and everyone for their input..it means a lot to me...

hugs,

snoop;'

babynurselsa, RN · Oct 25, 2005

Sometimes doing what you really want to do is worth way more than dollars and cents.

Can you realistically afforf the change in pay? Could you or would you want to work a floor shift periodically to make up the difference?

Weigh the days and hours.

No one can make this decision for you, ultimately you need to do what works for you and your family.

I recently cut myself wwwaaaayyyy back so that I am nearly a stay at home mom. My DH is picking up a little extra at work. I am finding out the bills are still getting paid on time and I am home with my babies. Am I missing the money from working 48-84 hours a week? NOPE I can go back and do that again if I want to but my babies won't be babies for long and no one takes as good care of them as I do. I remember that every time I look at my 20 year old newly married oldest.

jmcmil001 · Oct 25, 2005

I am in the same situation you are in at the moment. I recently applied for a job within a high care unit, got it and now don't know whether to take it. I have worked in the same area for 7 years (semi acute rehab which has turned more geriatric care), and feel I am not working to my full potential. By taking this job I will have to drop a grade and increase my hours to make up the pay I will be losing by dropping down a grade. But I feel it is my chance to get out of looking at the same faces day in day out and to use my brain and skills. I have a 3 year old and the guilt I am feeling because I am thinking about increasing my hours is tremendous but then I think a happy mum is a better mum but I still feel really bad for leaving her that extra day with the childminder. But I do think these things happen for a reason and you should do what you feel is right for you. Hope you come to a decision as everybody keeps telling me only you can make it.

Jen

LoriAlabamaRN · Oct 26, 2005

As for asking for the level 8 pay, what have you got to lose? Explain to your potential new boss that you REALLY want to take the job, but that you are facing a $6/hr cut in pay, and if it were a $4/hr cut in pay, you would be able to maintain your current lifestyle... make sure she knows how much you want this job and that the finances are the only thing holding you back... chances are, she will offer you the level 8 pay... and even if she can't, you can still take the job, just tell her that you were able to juggle your finances to allow it. I think you should take the job, myself.

Lori

student4ever · Oct 26, 2005

As for asking for the level 8 pay, what have you got to lose? Explain to your potential new boss that you REALLY want to take the job, but that you are facing a $6/hr cut in pay, and if it were a $4/hr cut in pay, you would be able to maintain your current lifestyle... make sure she knows how much you want this job and that the finances are the only thing holding you back... chances are, she will offer you the level 8 pay... and even if she can't, you can still take the job, just tell her that you were able to juggle your finances to allow it. I think you should take the job, myself.
Lori

I totally agree. I recently took a pay cut myself, in order to have a job I enjoyed more. I have not regretted it once. Yes, it means working more hours in order to pay the bills. But working a few more hours seems like nothing when you ENJOY going to work! From what you've said, it sounds like you already know what you want, but are feeling guilty about it. Sounds like the dayshift will help you feel better physically, and enjoying a job helps tremendously emotionally. Also, since you have the option to do PRN work to supplement your income, sounds like a "near" perfect situation! And there's never any harm in asking for more money. The worst that can happen is for them to say no - and you are at that same level you are now. I say go for it, and congrats on getting the new job!

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Oct 26, 2005

Give it a try - you can always go back to medsurg so see if it improves your quality of life. If it doesn't work at least you will have had a physical break. Good luck!

sbic56, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2005

Lucky you! Do it! You will forever regret staying in a job you don't like. I have a job I like sooo much more than bedside nursing and don't regret it for a minute. Yes, you can still do a shift of per diem MS nursing here and there (I do, as mine pays less, too) to keep up your skills and make up for the lost wage. If you decide you want to go back to MS, you can. But, can you get another opportunity for a job you really want? As for the money, I have found we adjust to live on what we earn. More than once I have taken a job wanted over a job that paid better and I find each time the lost wage does not have the negative impact I feared. Plus, you will sleep at night and have a life. Fair trade IMO. Congrats!