Would you take a pay cut?

Published

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?

Specializes in Emergency Room.
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.

Your family must live in Utah!!! LOL....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVICU.
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.
And, if you choose your job based on the pay, you will earn every single penny. I'm not saying I'd be a nurse for free by any means, but I wouldn't do a job I hated for all the money in the world, and I'd give up higher pay if it meant being in a job that made me happy.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg.

I have applied for/been offered jobs which would require significant pay cuts. I currently work in an acute care setting, averaging three 8-hour evening shifts per week. The new jobs were Mon-Fri, days. No weekends, nights, holidays. If I'd taken those "perfect jobs" I'd have had to work 2 extra days a week to make what I make now.

Guess I'm an evening person and have the BEST co-workers in the world, because I've turned down and backed out of 3 different day shift positions so far.

I should also add that these positions were in my dream specialty of psych.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes I would and did.

It saved my sanity, gave me my kids back, my marriage back, time off for vacations, holidays off. :up:

I feel so peaceful when I walk back onto my floor and see the stress I gave up to be more available to my family.

Right now, it isn't all about me. When my last child leaves the nest, I can always make other choices. Or not.

My passion is mission - I've been to Vietnam twice with medical clinics. That's more like real nursing. No bureaucrat standing over my shoulder telling me how to cross my T's and dot my I's.

I work as a school nurse (24 hours per week) and also help out our local hospice (depends).

Good luck with your decision!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have taken several paycuts with different employers just to be employed. I now earn less than I earned almost 15 years ago. For that matter, when I am unemployed, that is a paycut.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I went from 12 hour night shifts to 12 hour days and took a MAJOR hit in pay. I did this

because my teenaged daughter was acting out...not because I could afford it. She's now a very hard working, loving adult :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.

I took a paycut of about $10k per year to leave the hospital (nights) and get into school nursing. The working conditions, schedule, and job satisfaction more than make up for the difference in pay!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Ditto to Purple Scrubs response. School nursing doesn't pay as wel as the hospital, but the schedule is great and there is no worry of getting snowed in because the next shift couldn't make it in. Plus summer break makes it so i can pick up a little extra cash.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

With 1 exception, every job I've taken in nursing has involved a pay cut.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have applied for/been offered jobs which would require significant pay cuts. I currently work in an acute care setting, averaging three 8-hour evening shifts per week. The new jobs were Mon-Fri, days. No weekends, nights, holidays. If I'd taken those "perfect jobs" I'd have had to work 2 extra days a week to make what I make now.

Guess I'm an evening person and have the BEST co-workers in the world, because I've turned down and backed out of 3 different day shift positions so far.

I should also add that these positions were in my dream specialty of psych.

wow, sounds like you are almost my twin. I too took a significant pay cut as I was sick of working lates, thats all I did. I'm not in my dream job yet and it's definately not psych but when I get there I will be a bit better off...currently I am the person working the two extra days to make up the difference. I'm doing casual shifts but they aren't always available.

So, I got my sanity back and yes, health is the most important and god knows mine has improved but now I have a new stress and thats living from pay to pay and it's not good. To be honest, I am still glad I did what i did but I cant stand the stress of struggling finacially for much longer. Not being able to have those little extras, not being able to fix the car if something goes wrong (however, i have the good fortune of being able to live without a car) or a big fix around the house. My current wage covers my mortage and utilities and food and thats it..no holiday and no big expenses and not able to save.

I am not sure if I could honestly recommend it as I feel I have just shifted from one stress to a different type.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
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.

You would lose $50 an hour? I want YOUR salary!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

Yes I have taken a pay cut to leave a completely horrible and unsafe working environment to work for ($4 hour less) a wonderful community hospital. It was the best decision I could have made.

While I was a travel nurse, my contract was ending at one particularly great hospital. They wanted me to stay, and offered me $36 per hour LESS than what I was making as a traveler. No perks, no bonuses, and no relocation allowance. I told them that I just could not take that big of a cut, and so they went back to HR to renegotiate. They came back with only a $32 per hour pay cut!!!

Sometimes it is completely worth it to take a pay cut. It all depends on what is most important to you at this time in your life.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion