several months ago I wrote about leaving floor nursing for moving patients in beds. I also posted it would mean a 20% financial hit.
Turns out the financial hit is 2%. I took the job.
Several of my former colleagues, after seeing me now that I switched jobs cannot hide their disbelief and shock. Some of the things I’ve heard: “what a waste, you can do more.” “You are a RN and you choose to move beds?”, “Haven’t you worked with us?”, “Oh no, don’t tell me you’re moving beds now.” and more.
I’ve always been very individualistic and never cared much about what others think about me. This new job means less stress and I can sleep better.
But it’s not only other RNs who tell me this: doctors as well, very knowledgeable ones.
Am I doing something wrong, when so many people, some of them much smarter than me tell me what I’m doing is stupid?
Going back to my old job doesn’t mean going back to my old department, just back to floor nursing.
I’ve worked for the same company for about twenty years. I’m still rank and file because I’ve repeatedly turned down supervisory roles. Like in your situation, the pay for the more stressful job isn’t much better and comes with a lot more responsibility.
Instead, I negotiated to get myself off the rota system and onto fixed hours. I am the only member of staff outside of upper management who’s on fixed hours. Literally everyone else works shifts. Middle management don’t like that, but I consistently perform well on whatever plausible metrics they dream up, I’m generally well-liked, also they can’t get rid of me because I know where the bodies are buried*.
In summary: I believe you’ve made the right choice, because I made a similar one. But it’s not my choice. The choice is yours alone.
*this is a metaphor for institutional knowledge, as far as I know there are no bodies buried in the old trolley shed behind the Inpost locker