Should I quit my 2nd job? How many work 2 jobs here?

Specialties School

Published

Hi

I was wondering how many people work 2 jobs. I am a school nurse but held onto my per diem hospital job and am thinking of quitting and letting go of hospital nursing for good. I worked so many years in the hospital setting and have been hesitant to let it go. It is good extra money, but not totally necessary. The reason I kept it was more to "keep up my skills" and also it was tough for me to say goodbye. The per diem obligation is 2 weekend shifts per month, which doesn't sound like a lot, but I work 40 hours a week at the school, so basically I'm working Mon-Sat 2 weeks a month, and it screws up my 3 day weekends/holiday time. I don't see myself leaving school nursing anytime soon, unless I get my masters degree and move onto something else... and if I do that I probably won't go back to school for at least another 3-4 years. As a nurse, the school schedule is the best there is so I don't see myself going anywhere anytime soon. What are others thoughts on this? Do you have a 2nd job you are hesitant to give up? I am not sure what I should do! I want to quit so bad but at the same time I feel like if I quit, that part of nursing will be over for me forever and I'm sad to let it go!

Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

My FT job is as a nurse at a UC and then I work a seasonal job doing vaccination clinics. Seasonal job has no obligations. Vaccine clinics tend to be that way, I've noticed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

I work FT clinic and then an q third WE charge nurse position at a SNF near my home---that's my fun $!! That and I really do like it. I pick up anything extra that I want, the 8 hours fly by and the money is nice =) I've also thrown my name in to do camp check ins, a Sunday afternoon every once in a while for a couple hundred dollars.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

I have always had at LEAST 2 jobs. Usually a full time job and a part time job. In fact for most of my career I have had a full time job, a regular part time job and maintained as casual in 1 or 2 or 3 other places.

My wife and I made a decision that she was going to be a stay at home mom. In order to make that happen I had to work more than just one job. After a while it gets to be a habit. I also find that a change of environment, skill set requirement, and co-workers keeps me refreshed and interested.

At this time I have a full time job, a part time job where I am scheduled 24 hours every other pay period, and 12 hours on the other pay periods., and am also casual at two other jobs. I usually work about 4 shifts a week, occasional 5.

I admit that I ONLY keep both casual positions because I have a blast doing them (ambulance based mobile intensive care).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have always had at LEAST 2 jobs. Usually a full time job and a part time job. In fact for most of my career I have had a full time job, a regular part time job and maintained as casual in 1 or 2 or 3 other places.

My wife and I made a decision that she was going to be a stay at home mom. In order to make that happen I had to work more than just one job. After a while it gets to be a habit. I also find that a change of environment, skill set requirement, and co-workers keeps me refreshed and interested.

At this time I have a full time job, a part time job where I am scheduled 24 hours every other pay period, and 12 hours on the other pay periods., and am also casual at two other jobs. I usually work about 4 shifts a week, occasional 5.

I admit that I ONLY keep both casual positions because I have a blast doing them (ambulance based mobile intensive care).

Dude!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Unit Nurse.

I used to pull massive amounts of overtime, and I was employed at 3 different hospitals at one time. At that particular point in my life, I felt that I really needed the money. However, now that my spouse is out of school and bringing home a very nice salary, I have cut back to just 84 hours every 2 weeks. I am so much happier, healthier, and rested now that I have done that. I would say if you don't need the extra income, to let the part-time job go and enjoy life, family, and friends.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wait.. You guys are school nurses ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Wait.. You guys are school nurses ?

NO! But until you asked this I had no idea this was in the school nurse section.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If I pick up shifts at my primary job, the 1.5 pay rate is much more than any per diem job that I have ever found will pay. Plus, it is hard to serve two masters.......

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Having a 2nd job is a good back-up in case you lose your primary job. Also, it's hard to get hired into a hospital once you leave it. Those doing the hiring figure you have fallen behind and are not current on meds, technologies, and so on. And if you are older and/or out of shape (at least, appearing so), it's even harder to get hired. If you can avoid doing so, don't throw away any skills you might need later.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

I work 2 and picking up hours in from a third soon... I plan to drop one because I no longer enjoy it, but I will replace it with hours from my third one. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
A good friend of mine is torn as well. She would be perfect for my job and has small children and the schedule of summers and holidays off would be great for her family.

But she loves what she does at the hospital.

I told her she can always go back to that and should give this job a try. Of course, I'm hoping for a replacement soon and she would be absolutely wonderful at this job.

Hard decisions though. Good luck!

They are hard. My hubby doesn't understand and since he isn't a nurse he never will. All he sees is the schedule and summer off. Don't get me wrong, I love that part but can't shake how I feel. The hospital schedule is much harder to manage . I may keep the school for a bit longer and then see as my kids get older . I know I should do perdiem but it's too hard working 5 days and children with all their after school obligations ugh

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I can totally relate. I worked at a hospital for 17 years and was getting burned out. I took a job in the school last year but stayed PRN at the hospital in case I hated it. Needless to say, I don't hate it but... I don't love it either. I find that I love the school schedule but miss the hospital work. I too work every other weekend because I don't want to close the door to that opportunity yet. Good luck to you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment