Taking a Pay Cut To Get Out of Nursing

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Has anyone taken a pay cut to get out of the nursing profession?

I'm talking about trading in night shifts, unpredictiable schedules, and weekends at my nursing job for Mon-Fri 9-5 non-nursing job.

How much of a paycut would you take? 10%, 20%, 50%??? What would be your limit?

Specializes in Oncology&Homecare.

It is nice to dream about other jobs but truth to tell, I know in my heart, I wouldn't do anything else. :nurse:

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

If I could find something that paid anywhere near what I make as a nurse, I'd quit in a heartbeat. I loved nursing for the first dozen years, but I'm getting too tired and much too achy to run the floors much longer, and I don't really want the 24/7 responsibility of management anymore either. Going back to college is out of the question; not only am I still paying on student loans from a decade and a half ago, I simply don't have the desire to tackle O-chem and statistics at this point in my life.

All I really want is to love my work again; somewhere, I pray there is something that I can make a living from AND regain my passion. Too bad making a living has to be the Number One priority, because I remember what it was like to be passionate about my work and to love a job so much that I gladly put in extra hours to put together impromptu parties for the residents.....not to mention streamline my department's operations and revamp the entire documentation system.

I fear the biggest mistake I've made in my career was leaving my DON position in that 42-unit assisted living community because I developed a dislike for the politics that came with it when we changed management companies. I let myself be lured to a similar job that paid over $10K/yr. more, but also promptly separated me from my sanity. When I fled from THAT place only three months later, I didn't think I'd ever recover from the trauma.......but now, two years after the fact, I've realized how tough I've had to become in order to stay in this business. Trouble is, I no longer have the patience or the willingness to cope with the petty BS that goes on in nursing, and I'm thinking more and more that I want out.

What to do? If I thought for even one minute that I could make a living as a writer, I'd do it, but it takes more time and money and huevos than I've got to break into the big time, and so few make it......which leaves nursing. I'm working---thank God---but I'm outta there just as soon as I find a better job. Maybe it's because people in my family don't live much beyond their 50s and 60s, but I'm just not willing to waste even another year doing something that wears me out so badly both physically and emotionally.

I don't know what the answer is. Maybe there isn't one right now. But I hope one does come soon, because I'm running out of steam and I can't hold on much longer.

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I'm working two jobs now after quitting my nursing job in Pedi. I give flu shots part time and sub for elementary school part time. It gives me tremendous flexibility and allows me to be the mom I should have been for the last three years. My husband likes me much better because I'm not worn out and crabby, and my kids enjoy having a mom home to take care of them like I should have been doing all along. I don't regret my career change at all. I want to make clear that I'm very glad that I went back to school for my nursing degree and I'm grateful for the flexibility it allows me to have! :) If your current position is working for you, look for something else. There are TONS of things you can do with your nursing degree! :)

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Specializes in medical.

Nursing positons are usually better paying than working in an office. There are some nursing positons that are based in an office so that you get the best of both worlds. I used to apply for those kinds of positions but I think the competition is fierce. Now I do phone triage for hospice during the week & during the night. I love it alot and hope to continue until retirement.

Best wishes in finding a positon that you like and pays well.

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I became an RN in 1994, at age 32. Worked ~18 months in LTC, then stepdown unit in hospital for about 18 months, a year in endo same hospital, then radiology nurse different hospital for about a year. Left nursing to become certified to do stock trades, mutual funds, but worked as assistant to my husband (had to get the licenses for the position, but didn't do the main financial advising). this job paid barely more than half what I had made nursing, but my (new at the time) second hubby hated seeing me so stressed, overworked and taken advantage of, and really encouraged me to come work with him. After about another 18 months we bought a small nursery/greenhouse business, which I had no experience with, but took to it like a 'fish' to water. Worked that from 2001 til this summer. It was mostly seasonal, spring being my busy time, and I worked it 7 days a week average 10 hrs a day for about 3.5-4 months and loved every minute of it. I would have to make myself leave to go home. I did miss nursing during this time. I kept doing PRN in SDS, but you don't keep up with a lot of skills doing that. Things change so fast in our field. I kept thinking I needed to 'get serious' and get back to my 'career', and finally did that this past March. Took a PT position which is SDS/PACU, with call. I really like the job I have, but I miss my greenhouse biz. It was really a passion for me. I love growing things, and I got so much satisfaction from it. I made pretty good money doing it, too. But, many things aligned in our lives so that we just felt it was time to sell the business and I was ready to get back into nursing. I don't regret making that decision, but again I am only working PT. I don't plan on going back full time unless it becomes necessary financially. I know I would be burned out again in no time. Had a very tough day yesterday, but have a few off now, so time to refresh.

Best of luck in finding a fit for you.

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I'd have to take a 200% increase to work a 9-5 job. I'll be keeping my three night shifts a week, thank you very much. I would be very unhappy working 5 days a week. I've done it before, and while I loved the work itself, I was very, very unhappy to spend so many days a week at work.

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Why wouldn't you just go into another area of nursing or increase your educational level. I don't understand why people have to get out of nursing.

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applescruffette, what kind of work do you do?

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This profession is really tough. But leaving means starting over.

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
Why wouldn't you just go into another area of nursing or increase your educational level. I don't understand why people have to get out of nursing.

I was young when I went to nursing school and didn't know everything that the medical field offered. I just knew I wanted to be in the medical field, so nursing was my obvious choice, since I very much liked being a CNA. Being a nurse really pointed out my strengths and weaknesses. I'm not that good of a nurse (or a very good coworker...I usually don't fit in), but I always had very strong documentation. I found a job that fit my interests and strengths in a way that nursing fell short.

I also sort of felt blindsided when I left nursing school and entered my first nursing job. Nursing school was not an accurate representation or preparation for an actual nursing job.

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I also sort of felt blindsided when I left nursing school and entered my first nursing job. Nursing school was not an accurate representation or preparation for an actual nursing job.

Did you ever see the Keanu Reeves film The Matrix?

Nursing school is the dream, Nursing itself is the real world.

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

Your pay cut, if any, will depend on the type of job your taking, exempt or non-exempt, etc. There are many nursing jobs for 9-5 where you won't take a pay cut. You say you are going into a non nursing job. What type of job is it? It can be a major pay cut depending on the type of job.

And let me add a note here: I always wanted a 9-5 M-F job until I got one. What a major pain to be in the same place at the same time every day!! Then you are left with your weekends (like everyone else) to get things done. Stores are more crowded, movies are full, dining out means a long line and trying to get a doctors appointment or get your car fixed is another matter altogether. I hated it. I will take my three 12 hour shifts over a 9-5 job any day.

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