*UPDATED 1/15* Would you take a substancial decrease in pay to do something you love?

[pw2pp]

I can't remember the last time I posted here, it has been ages.

I have come here because I remember the Community Board as being a great place to get a wide range of opinions from people from all walks of life. So I am bringing my dilemma to you.

I am a Nurse and have been for 26 years.
I have been part time for many years while raising my kids. My kids are now in college and instead of going back to work full time in Nursing, I kind of fell into a job that I can do from home on the computer and I love it... so I have been working for a website *plus* my 20-hour per week nursing job for about 3 years.

I am considering leaving the Nursing job and going full-force dedicating myself to the online job, but it would result in (when you consider what I make doing both jobs right now) an approximate 33% decrease in salary. I would be getting a raise with the online job, but that would barely cover much toward what I am losing as a Nurse.

Is this crazy?

How is a person looked at who leaves Nursing ..like they don't want to help people anymore?

Have you ever left a job that you had had for decades and the security that comes with it (although nothing is secure these days) and become a self-employed contractor?

So many questions going through my head ... any thoughts?
Thanks

 

[SandrA9810]

Well nursing will be there whenever you want to get back into it. The real question is, can you afford the decrease in pay without making it a struggle?? You'll probably have better hours and time for yourself with your online job, so how much is that worth to you??

People are always going to comment about your decisions, thinking one is better than the other, but just do what makes you happy.

If you can be confident that you'll be financially secure working online, then go for it. If it means living paycheck to paycheck, then nursing would be the smarter choice. Some people are happy to live off 50k a year, others think anything less than a 100k is poverty line. And where you live plays a big roll in that.

 

[MIGrandma]

If you're considering quitting nursing it sounds like you really don't enjoy the work any longer. 26 years is a long time, and that is such a hard job and so stressful. If you've found something else you enjoy doing, and can afford the decrease in pay I would say go for it. Life it short, you might as well enjoy it while you can.

My former boss was a nurse, and gave up her career to run a restaurant. I don't think anyone thought badly of her for quitting nursing.

 

[npmommie]

maybe you could change to per diem at your current job, keeping your toes in nursing to see what you think after you go full force with the online job.
nursing is stressful, but before giving it up all together why not transition out of it?
as per diem you will probably only be required to work 1 weekend a month.
good luck!

 

[Gigi22]

OP, you have been a nurse for 26 years, so you must be getting to the stage where you need to consider the impact on your savings and pension. Our situations are quite different, but had I changed employers with 26 years of experience, my pension would have been cut by at least 20%. Please look into long-term financial repercussions before you make any final decisions.

 

[Pigeon]

Not a nurse, but I've left a job in the private sector for one that pays a lot less in the public sector.

For me, it's been great. There's much better job security, better benefits and more flexibility in terms of hours. But it does pay much less.

 

[minkydog]

I've been a nurse for 34 years and I think I know some of what you're feeling.I have worked every shift imaginable, weekends, holidays. Hours of on-call. Being in this field for 25+ years really takes a toll on a person. In my case, it took a nervous breakdown to show me that I needed a change. When I got back on my feet I determined that I would no longer work full-time and I would only take a job that I LOVED, regardless of the money. I found a small elementary school where 100% of our students are impoverished. Many are transient, have drugs/alcohol in the homes, gangs & guns in the neighborhood. These are kids who for the most part have never been to the beach, on camping outing, or to a museum. Heck, most of them wouldn't know their way around a library. I make about 1/2 what i could make working night shift in the ICU, but I no longer want that life. Give me my summers off, work 3 days a week patching boo-boos and taking temps, get my 30 min lunch break and leave on time EACH and EVERY day. Give me meaningful work, where I can know that I'm truly making a difference in the lives of the neediest families Yeah, baby. I'll never be rich but I am supremely satisfied.


You're in a different place in your life than you were 26 years ago. I think it's natural to want to branch out and do something different. I say, if you can afford the change, do it! If you decide later to go back to nursing, you can. You might have to take a refresher course to get back in, but plenty of nurses are working well into their 60s & 70s. Good luck!

 

[bigbabyblues]

My DH did, and we haven't regretted it. He went from being an engineer in a manufacturing plant to being a paramedic.

One thing I would advise, based on DH's experience--don't let your nursing license expire until you're sure of the change. DH had his EMT before becoming an engineer, but he let it expire. He had to get the EMT certification again before he could do the paramedic program.

 

[tvguy]

Not a nurse, but I've left a job in the private sector for one that pays a lot less in the public sector.

For me, it's been great. There's much better job security, better benefits and more flexibility in terms of hours. But it does pay much less.

That's interesting. We've lost 8 employees this year to public sector jobs because they pay so much more that private sector jobs, and have so much better benefits. They don't like their new jobs as much, but the pay difference when you have kids in college, and or are near retirement kind of forces your hand.
I've actually seen a lot more of that since the economy tanked than before....before people were leaving for less money to do things they wanted to do.

 

[pw2pp]

Some great responses here and important factors to consider.

keep em coming...much appreciated!!

 

[tvguy]

I did it twice, once in 1989, and again in 2005.
I'm happy in my work. but I make today to the penny what I made in 1989, I figure my decision costs me $15,000 a year....as in I am making $15,000 a year less NOW that if I hadn't switched jobs......it was a much smaller difference early on, about $7,000 to start.

 

[jlder72]

I'm a nurse and taking a break. No one has said anything bad to me, if anyone asks I just say I am travel nursing and an independent contractor.

It really comes down to what you can afford to do. Nursing pays great, but if you can financially make it with your new position there are things more important than money.

 

[arminnie]

No amount of money can counter having a horrible, toxic work environment. (not saying you do just giving one end of the spectrum)

No amount of job satisfaction can overcome not having the financial means to meet your basic needs. (other end of spectrum)

Most of us have to earn some minimum amount just to get by. Can you do that with a job change. Because no matter how much you like the work, it will not work if you can't pay your monthly bills.

Another thing to consider is what a significant decrease will do to your social security benefits. Ten years of a low income can drastically reduce your benefits for the rest of your life.

 

[crz4mm2]

Yes, I would.

 

[Jennasis]

I would...

I did...

I'm thrilled.

 

[teacherlisa1978]

I did. I taught first grade for 7 years at a Catholic School. While teaching I went to school nights and summers for my Master's in Ed. and to get my reading endorsement. Two years ago one of my school's reading specialists retired and I took the job. It was a 20% pay decrease because it's only 4 days a week. It's been very hard especially since we've had sone huge medical bilks during this time and are in the process of international adoption. When it's the end of the month and things are tight tight tight it's hard, but I don't regret it. My husband, an accountant, was not happy at first. He was only looking at the financial factor. But now, he sees how much I love my job and how much happier I am. This is truly what I was meant to do and I look forward to work ( but not the alarm going off!) every day. I was getting burned out as a classroom teacher. Now I cook from scratch, exercise, keep a clean house and have time to relax and see friends. It's been amazing how one extra day off makes such a difference! Plus I can sub or work on special projects at school when I want to for extra pay. And when our baby arrives, we'll only have to do childcare for 3 days since my husband has Mondays off. So, the adjustment was hard but in a few years my income will be back to what it was (but our expoenses will be more) and I'm really happy about my decision.

 

[cm8]

I've been a nurse for 34 years and I think I know some of what you're feeling.I have worked every shift imaginable, weekends, holidays. Hours of on-call. Being in this field for 25+ years really takes a toll on a person. In my case, it took a nervous breakdown to show me that I needed a change. When I got back on my feet I determined that I would no longer work full-time and I would only take a job that I LOVED, regardless of the money. I found a small elementary school where 100% of our students are impoverished. Many are transient, have drugs/alcohol in the homes, gangs & guns in the neighborhood. These are kids who for the most part have never been to the beach, on camping outing, or to a museum. Heck, most of them wouldn't know their way around a library. I make about 1/2 what i could make working night shift in the ICU, but I no longer want that life. Give me my summers off, work 3 days a week patching boo-boos and taking temps, get my 30 min lunch break and leave on time EACH and EVERY day. Give me meaningful work, where I can know that I'm truly making a difference in the lives of the neediest families Yeah, baby. I'll never be rich but I am supremely satisfied.


You're in a different place in your life than you were 26 years ago. I think it's natural to want to branch out and do something different. I say, if you can afford the change, do it! If you decide later to go back to nursing, you can. You might have to take a refresher course to get back in, but plenty of nurses are working well into their 60s & 70s. Good luck!

Amen, girl, I totally agree with what you stated...

 

[Buckalew11]

Just wanted to say "hi", pw2pp!! (I still remember how you got your username! lol) Long time no see and you actually ran through my mind not too long ago!

Good luck in your decision.

 

[Bonnie151]

I did. I left a well paying corporate job to set up my own cake business from home. I was completely burned out. The corporate job was great pre-kids, but it rapidly became a nightmare of dawn to dusk daycare, never seeing my children, logging on to work again after they'd gone to bed etc. I'd actually been planning my escape when I was offered a voluntary redundancy (severance) package. I grabbed it and just moved my plans up by 18 months or so. The payout gave me enough replacement salary for two years by which time we figured we'd know whether or not the business was viable.

I'll never earn as much as I did in the corporate world, but I love doing cakes! I don't ever want to go back to an office job! Fortunately the business is doing really well and I'm pulling in enough money. The cash flow varies from month to month, but because weddings are booked 9-12 months in advance I can see long term whether or not it's still sustainable.

 

[Angelhalo]

I could because I earn so little. My job is almost "just for fun" as it is already. DH could not though. He pays for nearly everything.