Public health nurse job offer but will receive paycut...Opinions?

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

Any way you can maybe do per diem at your current job and take the new job?

I took a fairly significant pay cut when I left the hospital in favor of a setting like yours.

However, my stress level has almost disappeared...I was able to stop some of my psych meds, even! I am having some financial issues that I didn't have previously but I think that's okay. The hardest part for me, really, is that I'm salary so OT and shift diff have disappeared.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

That pay cut is not THAT huge (especially after taxes). A Monday through Friday day position.. AWAY from the hospital setting is priceless.

Husband should take your sanity into consideration over a few more bucks.

Good luck, let us know what you decide.

calivianya, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

I haven't made that choice, but if you can swing it financially, I'd say go for it and stay PRN at your current job! It sounds like a wonderful opportunity. You can't put a price tag on lowering your stress level.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

I recently took a pay reduction to accept a position away from the bedside. In spite of the lower pay, it has been worth it. My stress level is lower and I enjoy being away from the problems associated with the inpatient setting.

EmRN14 · Mar 25, 2016

Yes, I did not think it was that bad either. If only spouses could experience the stress of nursing at least for a day then maybe they would understand better. lol

EmRN14 · Mar 25, 2016

Yes, I was thinking of going PRN at my current job and maybe doing a couple hours a month. That makes me feel more confident. I haven't made a decision but I feel like having much less stress would be so worth it in the long run! I just want to be happier and get my sanity back! haha

roser13, ASN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

If you can remotely afford it, I would take it in a heartbeat. Best thing I ever did.

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 25, 2016

Clinic positions are very hard to come by. Think: is 7k really worth it to you? Could you possibly make cuts in your budget in order to make it work? Could you go PRN at your PP job?

Why does your husband think you are making a mistake?

Also, look at the benefits. Are you going to get more PTO? Better health insurance? Better retirement? You can't just look at one facet of the job. You have to take everything into consideration.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

If you can swing it financially and marriage wise you should grab it.

nutella, MSN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

Hello fellow nurses,
I was offered a job as a public health nurse today and I'm torn about what todo. This is something I would love to do but I would be taking a paycut from 23.90 an hour to 20.0 an hour. I currently work as a floor nurse on a postpartum unit 12 hours night shift and every other weekends. I enjoy my patient population but the 12 hour nights are becoming exhausting. If I take this job, I would do case management, community teaching, flu clinics, community clinics, and newborn home visits (which I would love). The hours would be 8-4:30 Monday through Friday with occasional weekend hours (maybe once every month) to help run a clinic. I am also looking to go back to school to get my masters and. I want something less stressful. They offered me the job today and I told them I wanted to give it some thought. My husband says it's a bad idea but I feel it would be best for me and my mental well being. Any other nurses put there run into a similar issue? What did you do? Any opinions I would take... Thank you

those husbands... well he is not the one who has to work in the hospital.

I think if you like public health it is a great opportunity. I have been working M-F with occasional weekend and now no weekends and it is great. I did go back to the hospital but no direct bedside nursing.

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2016

You need a male perspective...As a male, husband and father..I had a similar opportunity, but my pay drop was from $27 (night shift) to $20. I'm the sole earner in the family so I could not afford that large a pay drop. But I would take it in a heartbeat if I had better circumstances. LESS STRESS, no "hospital mill work" of admits/ discharges, no one looking doped-up yet still screaming at you for bringing their pain pills 10 mins late...yeah I'd go for that. For less stress, you would actually live longer too. 99% of the people in hospital don't want to be there and they take it all out on the nurse. People watch these fantasy TV shows like Grey's Anatomy and they think doctors are right there all the time or they do the "life saving stuff" , but they rarely are there and it's really the nurses who are in charge of the floors.

Let your hubby know that I said he got no idea what nurses go through (print this post if you want)...I still get some old men sometimes who ask me why I doing "woman's work" I ask them to give it a try because it's not easy and definitely not womans work. Nursing is as tough as any job I've had. If you are happy, he would see a huge difference in family life and improvement in quality of life. You can always go PRN at your current job maybe 1 day every other weekend and keep it as a back up fail safe plan. It's a win win really.

I could imagine going to work for 8 or 9 am, actually get a full lunch hour and be back by home by 5 pm to enjoy your family.

Edit:

Who has the health insurance coverage? I heard public health has pretty good coverages, I'd find that out, overall you may actually be saving money plus lower tax bracket....its really not that big difference pay wise.