who has taken a pay cut, willingly

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Just curious as to how many people took a pay cut to switch to a job that has better hours or is more enjoyable or closer to home?

How much of a cut did you take?

I was offered a job that would be nice, in a plastic surgeon's office but the pay cut would be $16-17 an hour. It's also further from home. So I declined.

I would happily take a pay cut of say $5 and hour, maybe 10 but no more than that.

Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

oh at least 50% per hr pay cut, but 1,000,000%, increase in satisfaction,, schedule, environment, appreciation,.......and awesome hours and benefits.

4, 8hr wk. days week

major holidays off weekends off

day hrs

awe...........

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I'm seriously considering a $12/hr pay cut to get out of the hospital to go into home care case management .....I'm 47 so I figure I have 20 yrs left in my career and I don't see myself in the hospital for the remainder of my career. I definitely don't want to be a nurse manager in a hospital!!! I'm currently in psych, and while I like psych nursing, I don't know how much more I can take of hospital politics, low morale, staffing issues, bullying etc. etc. I have been struggling with this decision however. I'm married and not the main breadwinner but I contribute ALOT.... As we have 2 teenaged daughters and a son!

Any thoughts from the nurses peanut gallery?

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Wendy

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I took a pay-cut when I was promoted from a PRN floor nurse position to a full-time supervisory position. I am now salaried and receive a lower rate of pay, but now I receive benefits.

The benefit package effectively increases my total compensation. In addition, since I am no longer PRN, I no longer deal with shift cancellations at the last minute. Moreover, I spend less time on the floor, which is worth it to me.

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I don't see myself in the hospital for the remainder of my career. I definitely don't want to be a nurse manager in a hospital!!! I'm currently in psych, and while I like psych nursing, I don't know how much more I can take of hospital politics, low morale, staffing issues, bullying etc.

I am taking a $20 hr pay cut going from homecare to hospital for some of the same reasons you are doing the opposite. My family thinks I'm crazy for doing this, but I don't want to be stuck in homecare for the rest of my nursing career, I need the experience. So it will be worth the pay cut.

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Interesting nur18! My long-term career goal would to become a clinical supervisor at the home care agency I'm looking at. This particular agency has been around for over 100 years and has an excellent reputation. They are expanding and building a beautiful assisted living facility in my town. So hopefully if it all pans out i'll end up making the same or more in the end... Would be a huge leap of faith!!!!!!!

I've been at my hospital 14 yrs and

I need a fresh start. ?

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Wendy

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Nur18...... I live in the north east end here the hospital nurses make the most money. I'm at the point in my life where quality is winning out over quantity. But this decision is still wearing heavy on my mind. I am about this close to actually doing it. I am obsessing!!!

Would you mind telling me why you want to leave home care more specifically? And have you ever worked in a hospital? On what floor? Thank you for your response!

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Wendy

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I work in NY, homecare RN tends to make more than hospital nurses from my understanding. I started my job with 6 month experience making close to $80,000 where nurses I know made less in the hospital. Everyone believe homecare is easy but truth me it's not. I guess it also depends on what company you work for. I do both patient care and management and 30-40 patient can become difficult to manage. Doing start of care, resumption of care, the daily patients, keeping up with HHA supervision, along with all the phone calls and emails it can be hectic. I graduated 4 years ago and this will be my first hospital job.

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I guess what scares me most is not necessarily the pay cut, but the fact that if I leave my position at the hospital of 14 years and I don't like homecare I will feel like a dumb***! Not to mention I may not be able to get my job back at the hospital. My plan would be to stay Perdiem, however if I am orienting and working 32 to 40 hours a week at another job I don't see how I would fit in Perdiem. I also have a Perdiem spot as a school nurse. I have done boodles of research and basically it comes down to paperwork, traveling, and on call rotations.Going into peoples homes doesn't scare me too much, as I am a psych nurse, I've seen quite a bit and I'm not particularly squeamish.

I guess in this economy nurses are very fortunate to have options! And I know there are many who are desperately trying to find a job. so on that note I give a big shout out to those nurses and wish them the best of luck!

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Wendy

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Try to take a personal leave of absence and try it out. You can also start on a per diem basis in homecare. If all you will be doing is case managing it might be a lot different for you.

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I'm seriously considering a $12/hr pay cut to get out of the hospital to go into home care case management .....I'm 47 so I figure I have 20 yrs left in my career and I don't see myself in the hospital for the remainder of my career. I definitely don't want to be a nurse manager in a hospital!!! I'm currently in psych, and while I like psych nursing, I don't know how much more I can take of hospital politics, low morale, staffing issues, bullying etc. etc. I have been struggling with this decision however. I'm married and not the main breadwinner but I contribute ALOT.... As we have 2 teenaged daughters and a son!Any thoughts from the nurses peanut gallery?Sent from my iPhone using allnursesWendy
I've been a career home health nurse and have seen it thru 3 decades of change. Home health used to be easy, now it's just different but not easy. Not even remotely easy. Patient acuity has increased like it has for everyone amd so has the documentation. We spend a tremendous amount of time in documentation as well as a lot in the car. Schedules predictably change and the best laid plans the evening before blow up in the morning, sometimes more than once.

We see everything, I've had ICU come on looking for something easier and less stressful and a common response is "you guys have to know EVERYTHING," most agencies require FT staff to take call, how they work it varies but often you're workimg during the day and taking calls/sometimes visits after hours (I have a coworker who works per diem and she is glad to take my call for me so I haven't been in call in 2 yrs). You have to self manage and you are out there on your own with only ohone support, strong assessment and decision making skills are essential. You have to have a tolerance for all of these things, not just most of them, all of them. If you can deal with the above, home care is extremely rewarding.

We see people heal and recover. Or we see caregivers gain knowledge, competence and confidence in taking care of their loved one. We do lots of teaching, lots of wound care. In fact, we often make the wound care recommendations so you have to bone up on wound healing principles and modalities. We get to spend uninterrupted time with patients, okay not always totally uninterrrupted but there aren't usually any crises that can't wait until you finish your visit.

And some agencies let you make your own schedule. I'm essentially required to be available 8-5 but I flex usually 9-6. Or break it up depending on personal obligations. When you go in to change a wound vac or discuss palliative care, there will be generations in photos on the wall. You will really see who your patient is as a regular person. Most of your coworkers really like patient care. There are always THOSE patients but most are so damn grateful and they show it. (I could go on longer but I'll stop here )

My pay is equitable to acute care M-F days in my area. If that sounds interesting still, I can tell you things to ask and look for when trying to decide between job offers.

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I don't know where my paragraphs went and I can't seem to edit, sorry!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I don't know where my paragraphs went and I can't seem to edit, sorry!
I edited it to include paragraphs and spaces to the best of my ability.
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