Very torn over what I should do.

[Grande_latte04]

I have been a nurse for three years. I have worked a few different specialties. As a float nurse for a community hospital I did pediatric outpatient, urgent care, adult outpatient. I worked an adult subacute (left because it was unsafe) and have been at a pediatric subacute for over a year. For many reasons, I really love it. I like the people I work with, I love the patients, I love pediatrics. The problems: I am paid less than market value in my area, I work nights (I have learned I am not a night person and it has affected my health a lot), I am not a fan of my boss (I was hired under a different DON- she retired, and the new DON is difficult to work with). My job has become pretty stagnant and I haven't really been learning much these days. 

So I applied to a few places and got some feedback from two places. 

1) Adult LTAC. Smaller hospital offering me 51.25/hr +3.00 weekend day shift. Plus a 20K sign on bonus. Max patient ratio is 5:1, mostly trach/vent which I have tons of experience with. There is also the option to move to ICU if that appeals to me (not sure if it does). Schedule would be F/S/Su (which is actually a good thing for me) The DON interviewed me and we seemed to mesh pretty well. My biggest drawbacks about this position are that

1) it's not peds

2) it's a less well known hospital- not any reviews on glassdoor, I've never known anyone to work there

3) Id be starting over and that's scary

4) Benefits are $400-500 more expensive than my current position 

2) I applied to day shift at my current job and the boss said yes. But couldnt give me a date to when that day shift would happen. The person I replaced years ago waited two years to move to days after being promised a position on days as soon as they had replacement. So I'm not too hopeful. 

3) I applied to a third position that I have not been offered yet. I had a positive interview and am being asked for a second interview. This position is for a nurse educator at a non-profit. It would be away from the bedside and would be M-F 9-4. The position is doing data analysis and putting together educational programs and delivering education to hospitals/nursing staff across three different states, which would also require travel. The pay is comparable to the LTAC position but with better benefits. 

 

I don't really know what to do here. I'd like to stay at my current job but going to days would be taking a massive pay cut (about 15k/year). I live in a high cost of living area and I have three kids and a spouse. We don't struggle but things are tight. We currently do not use childcare (kids are all under 4) so if I stay at my current job I will have to get daycare which is very $$ in my area. If I take the LTAC position I will not need childcare and will make more $$. If I take the third position I will make more money but need childcare. 

They are all equidistant from my home. 

The first is most appealing because it's familiar. 

The LTAC is most appealing for the schedule and $$

The third is most appealing for money and something novel and new. Also part of me won't be devastated to get away from the bedside. My body is tired. I am in my thirties, have three small kids and have been working nights for over a year. 

 

Any thoughts?

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

It's been a little while since you posted this, wondering if you made a decision or had that second interview  for the educator position yet? If you haven't here's my possibly belated thoughts.

While the away from bedside M-F position sounds promising how much travel does it require? With your littles at home are you willing or able to be on the road and away from home quite a bit? 

Of the other two you've already had an offer on a 20K bonus sounds nice, but it probably comes with some strings attached that might make it a lot less appealing.  Plus the large increase in benefit cost would mean you likely won't be bringing homes more money than you are now, but then again are the benefits a lot better making them worth the increased cost? 

Waiting for the day position to open where currently are is by far the easiest option, but then does a change to a day position mean you will make less money as you would lose any shift differential for working nights you might be getting now?

Decisions, decisions. It's nice to have options.

[Grande_latte04]

Thanks for the insight. I do appreciate it. I have narrowed it down a little- at least to the point that I will not be staying at my current job. The pay cut (no differentials) is just too drastic ($9/hr) and while my boss promised me the day shift spot, that promise seems to come at the price that I don’t know when it will actually come to reality. 
 

so I’m actually waiting to hear back from the educator position before I make a decision.