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

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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

This post summed it up. I need to show my husband. lol he just doesn't do nursing so he doesn't get it. Apparently the benefits are better though and the taxes would be less because of where it's located. They also pay for your retirement. My health insurance eould be less each paycheck as well. I think people like me focus so much on the hourly wage and not the whole job including benefits. So yes, I think it would benefit me and my a family a lot. My husband read these posts and said "I didn't realize nursing was that hard" he told me if it's better for me then we can make it work financially, thanks for everyone's posts!

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I am experiencing a very similar situation. I became a PHN (which I love) for a fairly significant pay cut. I am also working on my Master's degree. I recently turned in my notice to leave the PHN job. One of the reasons is that the banker's hours make it very difficult to work full time while attending school, and getting in my clinical hours (at a professional office which also is open banker's hours).

I loved the job, and loved the people. I think the position helps attract people who genuinely care and want to make a difference. Part of me does regret taking the position in the first place. I had thought I would be there the whole time I was in school for my Master's but it turned out to be just over one year. I feel like I was barely past the training period and left. Training an employee (to paperwork, computer systems, etc) is a huge investment for a company.

If your current job will work with school, it might be a better option.

ETA: and if you are discouraged with your current job, it might motivate you more to further your education.

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

I took a completely non patient care job (clinical documentation) - it pays less than a hands-on job,but it was TOTALLY worth it. To me the decreased stress level is priceless and would be even more so for you while going back to school..

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Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

I left the hospital setting for a clinic/public health job and it was the right decision for me. My mental and physical health have improved so much. I like my life again! I have not one single regret. My hourly pay is about what I made at the hospital but no shift diffs and not quite as many hours. But the improvement in my quality of life far exceeds the difference. I say do it if you can! I'm not saying it will be stress free but I think you'll find it a more manageable type of stress. Good luck to you whatever you decide!

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I took a cut in hours to follow my heart into hospice. I no longer dread going into work.

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This post summed it up. I need to show my husband. lol he just doesn't do nursing so he doesn't get it. Apparently the benefits are better though and the taxes would be less because of where it's located. They also pay for your retirement. My health insurance eould be less each paycheck as well. I think people like me focus so much on the hourly wage and not the whole job including benefits. So yes, I think it would benefit me and my a family a lot. My husband read these posts and said "I didn't realize nursing was that hard" he told me if it's better for me then we can make it work financially, thanks for everyone's posts!

I am so glad for you! Especially if you are starting school, having a regular schedule will likely help that.

Will you earn a defined benefit pension? Who is employer - state, fed, county? best of luck!

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Do it! I took a $10hrpay cut and have never been happier.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

If you are planning to get back to school, you'll need many of weekdays available. 8 to 4:30 M/F schedule will not be, most probably, compatible with clinicals, if you are going to have any, and, if you are going to brick-and-mortar program, classes hardly ever happen on weekend too.

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Specializes in clinic, ortho/neuro, trauma, college.

I took a pay cut to leave the hospital setting too. I worked mostly nights, so I got that differential, plus weekend differential too. My current pay is about on par with day shift at our local hospitals. I'm married with kids. Mu husband brings in the benefits, so we've never had to worry about health insurance.

I can't tell you how much happier I am since making the switch to student nursing. Monday through Friday, no holidays, no weekends. No night shifts. No fall risks, no bed alarms, no constant requests for morphine and dilaudid, no combative patients (at least, not yet), no sinking feeling when leaving that I forgot something crucial, no more sleep difficulties, no more waiting to give report while I'm practically catatonic, no more thinking I hurt my back or shoulder from trying to help ambulate or move someone three times my size.

Is there a way you can do a pros/cons list with your husband? I understand why he's primarily focused on the money, but there are so many benefits to his partner being happier. Public Health, I'm sure, has its own share of stress, but it's hard for most people to understand the stress and strain of 12+-hour nights/days. It's hard to get it unless you've been there. Maybe you can show him this thread? Good luck with your decision, OP!

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Thank you so much for your reply. It is great knowing there are so many supportive and understanding nurses like me out there. I spoke with my husband and we went over the pros and cons to figure out what is best for me. After talking, without hesitation, I decided to take the job! I start April 25th! I am so excited!! I will also be done with my BSN in 2 weeks so I won't have the stress of school anymore. I spoke with my current manager and she was so happy for me. She is letting me stay PRN but I will have to work a total of 24 hours in 4 weeks. So we will see if that is doable. It should work out great though because I will be done with school and I don't have kids yet! Working PRN will actually provide a pay increase in total of all income. So I am excited. I know I made the right decision and I can't wait to start. Thank you all for helping me make this decision! All your posts were very encouraging and helped me to make the best choice for me in my nursing career!

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Hi I'm thinking really hard on doing public health, are you still doing it if so how is it going so far

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