Picked up 2nd job, 1st job suddenly has new opportunities. Maybe quit the 2nd job?

[Shinnichi, ADN, RN]

I’m not sure how to organize this, so bear with me if things aren’t neatly described.

I have a FT night weekend position on a med-surg floor.

My husband and I have been working down our debt for roughly the last 12 mos. Part of our plan to work on debt was promising to strive for overtime/new jobs/raises/etc—whatever we could to increase our income.

On my part, I recently picked up a PRN night position at another hospital on a different kind of floor. The demographic is an improvement, with a good portion being elective procedures and LOS being usually no more than 2 nights. The charting system and med system are different from what I’m used to, but honestly, I haven’t had a poor experience so far. The people I’m working with have been pleasant and easy to approach, and I’ve gotten good feedback. However, I feel like I want to quit. There are a few unexpected changes that have caused this—

- Originally, I was considering going PRN at my main job and doing 2 days a week at each for a change of pace, but when I discovered that PRN at my main hospital paid only 10% diff instead of 20% like the rest of the system, I realized it wasn’t worth it.

- D/t a particular set of circumstances, I was offered to train and become a relief charge, which I accepted for the experience. I didn’t think I was experienced enough for such a position (and there’s talk of our charge moving to another floor in a couple months, possibly giving me the permanent position) but I’ve received praise and recommendations from nurses’ I highly respect, and so far I’ve been told I’ve done well.

- There’s a unit I’ve wanted to work on in my main hospital for a while and potentially I could put in for it, as I’ve gotten on good terms with the staff there.

- Recalculated, picking up some of the plentiful overtime currently available is worth more (especially if the night I pick up is a charge night) than the once a week shift at this new facility.

Now, this sounds like I’ve already come to an answer and that it makes sense to drop the other hospital, especially since I’m still in training and not part of their staffing matrix. I’m holding this fear that even if I try to leave with notice, explaining that the unit is nice, there were no problems, but I’ve had other opportunities arise, etc. that somehow… it’ll still look bad. I think my worry is exacerbated by the fact that I had to ask off a shift recently d/t a new medical problem and that a few weeks earlier I asked to leave 3 hours early because I’d over scheduled and committed to a day that I had another commitment. Both those times I let the manager know as soon as I could, and the second time was something completely unplanned (I still gave about 3 days’ notice.)

I sort of stumbled into this new job. They’d had a recruitment fair (which turned out to be more formal than others I’d attended elsewhere) and it was by happenstance that HR paired me with this manager. I accepted because at the time I felt like it was an easy opportunity to check out this facility. Now I think as a creature of habit, I’m not liking having to learn everything again (Drs/IV kits/pumps/procedure diffs), and my current facility is offering me advancement and opportunities that I didn’t know I’d get when this all began.

Any advice...? Am I worrying too much...?

[caliotter3]

Wow. This would be a dilemma for me too. It sounds like you know you should give up the second job in favor of the increased opportunities at Job 1. After all, didn't you also take the second job to scope out the lay of the land? Now that you know, get back on your horse and backtrack to your first job. Do it sooner rather than later. Best of luck.

[Shinnichi, ADN, RN]

So update: I tried giving it some more time on the floor, and I still find myself feeling the same as a month ago. I understand I need to communicate this to my boss as soon as possible, and with that I have a question. I'm scheduled to orient tonight, so I could possibly see if they're available this morning and go in to talk and turn in my badge. Or, I could wait until tomorrow morning and talk to them when they come in (once my shift finishes).

Are these poor moves? It shouldn't make a bit of difference in their staffing, but would it feel too rushed for me to come in the day of a shift and do this? One part of me says to wait and schedule to talk to them next week, but the other part of me wonders if completing another shift knowing I don't intend to keep the position would be taking resources and therefore wrong.

[myoglobin, ASN, BSN, MSN]

For me that would be an easy call drop the second job and keep the first. Usually, working a second job involves more "work" than just the hours that you put in (education for example). I wouldn't feel bad, circumstances change. Ultimately, it is a "business" decision. How bad would the hospital feel in "laying you off" or terminating your position if their business environment or plans changed? You mentioned a health condition. Is it possible that excessive stress from work is contributing to the condition? Staying healthy is an integral part to any long term financial plans given that sick or deceased people tend to earn less.

[Shinnichi, ADN, RN]

31 minutes ago, myoglobin said:

For me that would be an easy call drop the second job and keep the first. Usually, working a second job involves more "work" than just the hours that you put in (education for example). I wouldn't feel bad, circumstances change. Ultimately, it is a "business" decision. How bad would the hospital feel in "laying you off" or terminating your position if their business environment or plans changed? You mentioned a health condition. Is it possible that excessive stress from work is contributing to the condition? Staying healthy is an integral part to any long term financial plans given that sick or deceased people tend to earn less.

Thank you. I think my mind has been made up for awhile, but I've just been too anxious to go through with it. I think I'm going to go ahead and ask them if I can come in and speak with them today. I don't think it'd be right to do another shift using resources.

(As for the health condition, my Dr does believe the extra stress caused the exacerbation. Your point about health is very good advice. Thank you.)