Would you take a pay cut?

chybabe · May 24, 2011

I took a $10/hr paycut just relocating from Georgia to Iowa. I took another $1/hr paycut from nursing home in Iowa to clinic setting in Iowa. Sucks cos i rather be in Georgia but the change from Nursing home to Clinic setting was the best decision so far..I disliked nursing home with a passion. Loved the residents though but the work load was beyond ridiculous!!! Money is not everything so since i'm doing what i love, that's what matters.

Otessa, BSN, RN · May 24, 2011

Pay cut originally when going from bedside to a M-F, no weekend, no holiday, no nights-type of job. Moved and received my MSN and within 4 years have surpassed original pay-totally worth it!

JulieCVICURN, BSN, RN · May 24, 2011

I took an approximately $16-18K pay cut to move from ICU to Informatics, because my pay had a lot of differentials. If you looked at it as a base rate, I technically got a raise, but in real money I took a huge hit.

I would do it again. I consider myself underpaid in my current position, but I have a lot to learn and I couldn't ask for a better environment. This is my dream job, and even though it's been difficult financially at home, I've never been happier professionally.

JerseyBSN · May 24, 2011

It depends. If I were miserable where I was and could move to another position where I would be happy and not always stressed out then I would definitely take a cut in pay. Somethings are more important than money, like sanity!

3dayRN · May 24, 2011

If you take a pay cutto move to a different are you need to consider the cost of living for your area. I would not take a pay cut if I was living in the same area. The only time I would take a pay cut is when I'm much older and maybe want a slower paced job.

MiAprilsky73 · May 24, 2011

It depends. If I were miserable where I was and could move to another position where I would be happy and not always stressed out then I would definitely take a cut in pay. Somethings are more important than money, like sanity!

I took about a dollar an hour cut switching from med-surg floor in a hospital that I hated to an ICU position in a hospital I love. It was worth every penny and I would do it again without hesitation. Sanity is priceless.

eriksoln, BSN, RN · May 24, 2011

I took a 75 cent pay reduction to go from nights to days. It was well worth it, will never take another night position again.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · May 24, 2011

If I make any less than I do now, Im moving to a different state.

chicookie, BSN, RN · May 24, 2011

I took a 2 dollar pay cut to have this nice office patient advocate job. Totally worth it. I work 7 to 3:30, M-F. No weekends or holidays unless I want to. I am sometimes on call, I only deal with a couple patients a day, I have a super awesome boss now, I have the time to do patient teaching and do alot of community events. On the floor I was having so many problems with management, it was breaking me down. Now I don't deal with that stuff. I might be making less but I am so much happier now.

tewdles, RN · May 24, 2011

Hey, just wondered if any of you have ever switched areas of nursing and taken a pay cut and why did you do it? both are safe areas to work in so it's not that, just a different area of interest. Its significant and we are not rich. Curious what would be someone else's experience and how do you justify a pay decrease? Was it nocs to days, areas of specialty, facility or what? Current is tolerable and same facility, so it's prob not worth it, but the hours are better. What percent would you personally be willing to let go of?

Twice I have changed jobs and taken a pay cut. Once was to take a job that was almost literally in my backyard. I walked to work, my kids walked to my office after school, I was VERY available to my children and to the schools. It was a lovely arrangement and the money I saved by 1) not commuting (60 + minutes/day) and 2) not paying afterschool supervision for my children was noticeable in the change. Not quite a wash but the piece of mind was priceless. The pay cut was more than $10k/year (worth it). I went from acute care/hospital work to community health.

The second time was to work for a preferred agency. I gave up a good paying job with an abusive employer to take a lower paying job working with a top notch employer. I am much happier and much healthier now. The drop in pay was a couple bucks/hr (worth it). Both of these jobs were in hospice.

I am a cancer survivor, mother of 2, wife to a man who has had a significant medical event that could have been life limiting...money is not the most important thing in my life so these type of changes are not too difficult for me.

mskate · May 24, 2011

I would lose 18% of my yearly income if I switched from nights to days. Not worth it. If I moved back home closer to my family, I'd lose over 50 dollars an hour, not counting my 18% shift differential. With the money I keep, I can fly to see them and have money left over. LOL

Honestly, if it came to losing that much money and just working elsewhere, I'd chose a change career paths. I feel quite strongly that what we do is worth much, much, much more than most areas of the country are willing to pay.

Caffeine_IV · May 24, 2011

I would take a small pay cut but I haven't gotten enough experience yet to get the kind of job I want that would warrant it. Right now I'm changing specialties and am going up almost 2/hr in pay.