Should I take a $9.00 cut in pay for new job?

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Dear Single Mom,

This is a big decision with advantages and disadvantages. You have some crucial choices to make, and understandably, you have some concerns.

Here are some things to consider as you weigh your options:

Given that you are a single mother and the proposed job offers a substantial pay decrease, it's crucial to thoroughly assess how this change would affect your financial stability.

Consider your monthly expenses, including bills, groceries, education costs for your children, and any potential unforeseen expenses. Think about any expenses that could be reduced, such as ordering out less frequently or re-negotiating your phone and internet service.

Remember, a decrease in pay also means a decrease in taxes, and a pension can be priceless later in life. Pensions are not a given for most nurses. Find out what the salary range is for the school nurse position. I would guess they get regular raises.

Before deciding, consider speaking with a financial advisor to assess the potential impact of the pay decrease on your overall financial situation. They can also help you create a budget and explore strategies to manage economic challenges. 

Flexibility and Family The school nurse position offers flexibility that aligns with your children's schedule and provides summers off. This could be a significant advantage for maintaining a healthy work-life balance and being present for your kids. Teenagers often prefer spending time with their friends, but having a Mom who can supervise them more closely during the Summer is good. 

• Job Satisfaction. Consider which job aligns better with your career goals and overall job satisfaction. While the school nurse position offers stability and predictable hours, it's important to gauge how passionate you are (or could become) about the role and whether you would feel fulfilled. Are you OK with a slow job? The other way to look at it is, to some degree, your job is what you make it. School nurses can make a big difference in many lives.  
• Reflect on your current role in Home Health. If you greatly enjoy the work, flexibility, and independence, quantifying how much those aspects are worth to yo might be worth quantifyingu.
• PRN Opportunities. If you decide to take the school nurse position, exploring PRN opportunities on your off-school schedule is a proactive approach to supplement your income and help bridge the pay gap.
• Benefits. Depending on what your benefits are now, this could be a deal-breaker. Evaluate the benefits package of the school nurse position, including paid insurance and pension. These benefits can contribute significantly to your overall compensation and financial security.
• Career Growth. Consider how each position impacts your long-term career growth. While the school nurse position may offer stability, you should also think about opportunities for advancement and professional development in both roles.

Talk to your kids to get their thoughts. Maybe it can be a family decision and an opportunity for them to learn a bit about finances. If you do change jobs, they will feel included in the decision.

Ultimately it's essential to make an informed choice that provides the best outcome for you and your family's well-being. You don't want to miss an opportunity because of fear. Try to tap into your intuition.

Als,o consider discussing your options with trusted friends, family members, or mentors who can provide additional valuable insights and perspectives.

Sending the very best wishes for your decision.

Nurse Beth

Check out the School Nurse forum here on allnurses. You'll meet some of the nicest nurses.

[Curious1alwys, BSN, RN]

ahouston said:

I did not take the job.

during the interview I found out the benefits were not as initially proposed to me by the principal (he didn't know that the nurses were considered non classified rather than the teachers/administrators). I would not have year round salary pay, I would have hourly 180 work days pay, and my insurance would not be 100% covered for me and my children, it would only be medical for me with also paying vision and dental for myself. 

I could not financially take the hit. 

Maybe one day this will work out but as for now  it was a no go. 

Thank you for all the advice and comments!  

I didn't even know there were jobs out there where insurance was 100 percent covered....meaning NO premiums, even with your kids? 

FWIW....school nurse jobs are historically low paying in certain parts of the country, but acuity is going WAY up. Also, schools are packed. So the number of kids you are actually responsible for can be outrageous. Everyone thinks the job is mints and band aids but it can actually be very acute and overwhelming. At least this is what I have heard from my colleagues. 

I'm sorry it didn't work out as your dream job. 

[ahouston]

Thank you sooo much for your advice! You are the best! I have the interview tomorrow to go over all the details! 

[mdsRN2005, ASN, BSN, RN]

My two cents for what it's worth.  I have several friends who are school nurses and love it!  They wouldn't go back to their prior jobs for any amount of money.  However they're both married with a husband's income paying most of the bills. For a single mom in our area it's almost not feasible because our school districts pay so ridiculously low.  Hopefully yours is better!  That being said, there truly is no substitute for peace of mind.  For a single mom to have more time with your kids is no doubt priceless!  But everything comes with a trade off so I'd make sure I had a concrete way to recoup that amount per month.  

You mentioned a PRN job which is doable but I'm sure you also don't want to spend too much time away from your kids on weekends.  However Summer and school breaks might be a perfect time to recoup some $.  If you have a PRN job that is truly flexible you might could only work occasionally through the school year than more during the Summer.  For example if you could commit to one or two days a week during the Summer you'd still have plenty of time off with your kids (assuming childcare is not an issue). This would help them cover vacations or enable another nurse to work less in the Summer.  Could you stay PRN at your home health job and work out an arrangement like this?  Or stay on the call rotation but maybe less frequently? Also try looking at PRN jobs at other outpatient settings (clinics, surgery centers, etc). In addition to being less stressful while you're at work, they also won't be constantly calling asking if you can work the weekend, night shift, holiday, etc (like an inpatient job).  

I'd also look at ways to cut back larger chunks of expenses.  It's easy to say eat out less, don't go to Starbucks, etc but these things (while they do add up) are low cost savings.  Most people's biggest expense after their mortgage is a car payment, trading down to a smaller used car could save hundreds a month.  Ultimately though I'd make sure I had a plan for definite savings so you don't end up struggling financially. 

When I was about 9, my mom got laid off from her high paying banking job during a company merger.  She ended up taking a clerical position at my school.  Although she had to make sacrifices (smaller used car vs nicer new one, she didn't buy herself new clothes as often, etc), she will still tell people to this day that it's the best decision she ever made.  And I agree.

Good luck making this big decision, keep us posted on how it goes! 

[mdsRN2005, ASN, BSN, RN]

Forgot to mention, if you have any friends who work and are currently paying for after school care, you could offer to keep their  kids in the afternoon.  Obviously you wouldn't want a whole daycare!  But even one or two kids could bring in some extra money, while costing the mom less than she's currently paying. 

Alternately you could do the same thing one day a week in the Summer.  You'd still have a couple days a week with just your own kids plus one or two days to work a side job if needed.  

[Brewingbiker]

about four of five months ago I was faced with a similar situation. I did take the job with the pay cut. While part of me still resents (at least a little bit) going with less pay, I did it after weighing the pros and cons, I did take the lower paying job. In my situation, we had moved nearly 100 miles away, and I drove two hours each way to work. After a few years of that kind of wear and tear on myself and my vehicle, it made sense.  Of course, the distance (in my case) made fuel costs take up a lot of the difference in pay (along with costs of maintenance).

My point is, you will have to decide if the benefits of losing the pay outweigh the pay you have.

Best of luck, whatever you decide.

[Lynker, LPN]

I had a similar situation. I was making $34 an hour at my per diem job, but went to a doctor's office job and took a $12 pay cut. I loved the job, but the financial hit (and drive) were just too much to handle. I ended up going back to that per diem job, except going full time for $39 an hour. 

I think both sides have pros and cons. What matter most to you will show up more prominently. I've personally ALWAYS wanted to be a school nurse, and it's definitely in my cards later on in my life, whether I'm still an LPN or become an RN at the time.

Good luck with your choice! You got me rooting for ya ?

[ahouston]

I did not take the job.

during the interview I found out the benefits were not as initially proposed to me by the principal (he didn't know that the nurses were considered non classified rather than the teachers/administrators). I would not have year round salary pay, I would have hourly 180 work days pay, and my insurance would not be 100% covered for me and my children, it would only be medical for me with also paying vision and dental for myself. 

I could not financially take the hit. 

Maybe one day this will work out but as for now  it was a no go. 

Thank you for all the advice and comments!  

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

So my understanding of yearly pay is the places that do this simply average your nine months pay over 12 months so it would be an even bigger hit to your budget.  It sounds like you made the right decision since the pay was not enough and the benefits were not what they first implied.