Quit my job? Give me your opinion...(longish)

[FireStarterRN]

I've been doing agency for 4 months and have only picked up one shift during that time at my old per diem job. I've done all my agency work at one hospital 1 hour from my home, my per diem job is 1 half hour from my home.

I've worked at my per diem job for 8 years in a small town hospital where the atmosphere has gotten to be negative. The administration is basically strange, and has created a feeling of instability, constant change and has created an atmosphere that nurtures paranoia. There is constantly a new uproar every week. During the one shift I worked there recently my co-worker complained constantly. It's a drag to work there because morale is terrible, even though it's a nice little hospital where the ratios are pretty good, people can go online during downtime, and slow times aren't really all that rare there, amazingly. Part of the problem also might be that there is too much down time there.

I really love the hospital where I did a three month contract and am now picking up per diem agency. I've been working on a lively tele unit, it's alway busy, working conditions are stressful, but the work crew has pretty good morale and I feel totally appreciated and accepted. I can get as many shifts as I want there.

I love the flexibility of working agency and I definately want to try my hand at other hospitals as well, but meanwhile I'm enjoying what I'm doing now. I got a fantastic review from them, they even threw a party when my contract was up. I want to do another contract in the Fall when the kids are back in school.

I've broken it down to 3 main advantages for me to quit my per diem job.

1) One year after quitting I can do agency there and get the extra pay. They have a lot of needs

2) I have $7000 in a retirement fund that I can get if I quit. We are trying to pay down our home mortgage and that would help.

3) My regular job is a closed shop and I'm forced to be in the union, but I'm not getting any benefits for that expense

Advantages to me staying are free continueing education, such as ACLS, PALS, etc. They do a lot of continuing ed there as part of being an employee, you get paid to do it. Other than that, I kind of dread going back into that atmosphere thick with politics. It's smothering.

Opinions?

[RN1982]

I'll call my CPA today. First I'll call HR and find out exactly what type of account it is.

It wouldn't hurt to ask. I didn't hear anything from my old job until last month and by that time it was like 7 months since I left. Do you have a retirement account? Like a 403b?

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

It's a 401-A account. They would take 20% income tax out off the top, of which I would get a refund at the end of the year if that rate was too much. Then, there's a 10% penalty. The 20% is defered tax which I would have to pay eventually anyways.

My staffing agency has open enrollment on a 401-K in September. I can transfer my funds from the other account into that one then if I so choose, thus avoid the penalty. The account is earning 3.75% interest and our home mortgage is at 5.25%.

[RN1982]

It's a 401-A account. They would take 20% income tax out off the top, of which I would get a refund at the end of the year if that rate was too much. Then, there's a 10% penalty. The 20% is defered tax which I would have to pay eventually anyways.

My staffing agency has open enrollment on a 401-K in September. I can transfer my funds from the other account into that one then if I so choose, thus avoid the penalty. The account is earning 3.75% interest and our home mortgage is at 5.25%.

Ohh...DEFINATELY, take those funds and move it into that 401k. You don't need to be paying all those penalties. What's good about the 401k is if you go bankrupt, it can't be touched where as an IRA can...I just heard that on the clark howard show. Is the open enrollment for Fidelity or Prudential? You're interest rate on your mortgage is very good. Mine is 6.875.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Don't stay in a negative environment.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

Just an update on this, I sent an email today resigning from my per diem job. I'll be collecting my retirement money which we will use to finish a house we are working on to rent out.

There is more upheaval there from the latest news I've received. I feel like this was the best decision for me, and it will give me closure on that chapter of my life. I'm grateful for the opportunities I had at that hospital, where I was employed for 8 years. I'm optimistic about the future.