Torn Between 2 Job Offers

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Torn Between 2 Job Offers

Hello Nurse Bteh,

Dilemma, choosing between 2 job offers. I ve worked the past year as a travel nurse dialysis, which I loved at first, but became more and more challenging, mostly due to an abusive manager, long 15 hrs work days, and being constantly on call . I also worked as a med surg nurse after graduating, in a bad location, and had the worse experience, and never wanted to do bedside nursing after. That's why I switched to dialysis.

Now , dialysis assignments in my state are so low, that I have to travel out of state to work as a travel dialysis nurse( 2 hrs , since I m on the border ) . After my last dialysis assignment , that was cut short, I didn't work for 3 months. So I ve been applying to staff nursing jobs locally. I applied to ICU, and didn't hear from them. Do I ended up accepting another dialysis travel job, mostly bc I can use the money being the only one working in the house. However, yesterday, I finally got an answer from the ICU recruiter at my local hospital, sending me an offer.

My dilemma is that I don't know which to choose. I m not a big fan of bedside nursing, but I am also burnt out of dialysis. Travel pay is 3 times more compared to staff pay. ICU is only offering me 34 $ per hr and HD travel is offering 2500 weekly. The dialysis is only 3 days a week, no weekends, no on call . The ICU is rotating shifts, ever other weekends. I love caring for patients, but the toxic environment with management or coworkers is what I don't want anymore. I m also starting my own non emergency transportation company, so I was planning to work 3 days a week , and focus on the business the other days.

And I also have kids at school to care for, and wanted to be home more often , and spend quality time with them and my spouse. I already said yes to the travel job, but I m thinking maybe I should go the ICU route, since they have more travel opportunities in my state for the future ( even though the pay is so low ).

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3 Answers

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Dear Dilemma,

Choosing between two job offers, especially when they have significant pay and work environment differences, can be challenging.

Here's some things to consider as you make your decision:

Work-Life Balance. You value spending quality time with your family and working on your non-emergency transportation business. Consider which job offers the schedule and workload that aligns better with your desired work-life balance. With three days a week, no weekends, and no on-call responsibilities, the dialysis job might offer more flexibility for your personal life and business pursuits.

Burnout and Job Satisfaction. You've experienced burnout in the past due to a toxic work environment. Assess which job is more likely to provide a healthier work atmosphere and job satisfaction. Consider speaking with current or former employees at the local hospital's ICU to understand their work culture. See if you can shadow a nurse.

Long-Term Career Goals. Think about your long-term career aspirations. If you're leaning towards the ICU because of future travel opportunities in your state, it's important to consider how these opportunities align with your career goals. Do you see yourself staying in healthcare long-term, or will you eventually transition into your non-emergency transportation business?

Financial Considerations. The pay difference between the two jobs is substantial. You should assess your financial needs and goals. Can you take the lower-paying ICU job, still meet your financial obligations, and save for your future plans, including your business?

Health and Stress. Factor in your own health and stress levels. Working in an environment that causes stress and burnout can have long-term consequences on your well-being. If the ICU environment is likely to be more stressful due to rotating shifts and potential workplace issues, it could impact your overall health.

Consult with Loved Ones. Discuss your options with your spouse and consider their input. They might also have valuable insights and may be affected by your choice.

Ultimately, the decision should align with your personal and professional goals, values, and priorities. If the ICU job offers a better long-term career path and you can manage the lower pay in the short term, it might be a worthwhile choice. However, if work-life balance and financial stability are immediate concerns, the dialysis job may be the better option.

Remember that you can constantly reassess your career path in the future as circumstances change.

Best wishes on your decision,

Nurse Beth

 

Specializes in Critical Care, Ortho-Surgical.

I personally always go the route of the best work environment even if that means taking a pay cut. Bedside nursing has its challenges but I think the stability might be a better fit for you overall. Traveling, especially up to 4 hours a day, can be exhausting and if you're not finding satisfaction in it - why put yourself through it? Welcome to the ICU! ?

Thx you so much for the advice . I have been reflecting on those 2 choices for many days now. 

I know my  limitations and now suffering from high anxiety due my last travel dialysis assignments, I decided to go for ICU. Dialysis itself is not hard, and can be boring most times. It's mostly management that can make the experience awful, with the abuse of power. Unfortunately, that was my experience with the 2 travel assignments. I m now on prozac , as sad as it sounds. 

I m not saying that ICU is perfect, but I feel that I will learn and grow so much more, than constantly doing the same thing over and over again with dialysis. 

Also, driving 4 hrs a day, is mentally exhausting, to the point that the next day, I can recover fast enough. 

I definitely want to grow my own business, but I ll always be a nurse at heart, even I eventually just work part time. I feel that ICU will open the doors to work with pediatric or even newborn later on. 

I am grateful for my dialysis experience, but I feel that I m ready for a new chapter , and it's time to move on. 

Oviously , I will miss the high paychecks I got custom to. Like my therapist said, 4 hrs is a long time to drive for something I am not excited on doing. 

Yet, I feel crazy for turning down 10 k monthly, and choosing the low paying staff job, which will cover my living expenses for me and my family. 

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