Which job???

Which job would you choose?

Job #1: No benefits, less pay, less stress, less travel time, less challenging, less potential for growth, more time off, better hours, more family friendly, no other medical people in building, no weekends, nights, call, or holidays; can get boring, not guaranteed hours each pay period,more autonomy.Can change to full time with benefits if one of the other nurses leaves or a need is created.

Job #2: More pay, full benefits, very stressful and nerve-wracking, longer commute, very challenging, potential for growth, difficult to get time off, on call 24-7, work days but will have to work over each week up to 16 hrs, weekends and holidays off unless on call, work with difficult surgeons who like to verbally degrade you

I realize I am very lucky to have my choice and I have done both jobs. My husband likes the extra money and benefits but I hate the extra stress and less family time. It's more important to me to have less stress and be more available to my family (I have three kids) but it will require more of a financial sacrafice on our part which could cause stress. My husband's benefits cost much more. Should I stick it out with job #2 longer (it's been four months) or go back to job #1 where they said I was welcome? I left the first job because I wanted more excitement and to get to use more of my nursing skills and for more money. However, I'm starting to realize it has a price and the excitement has worn off. Now my husband is loving the extra money but I'm not happy. I could stick with job 2 and bid out in another few months but there's no area that would be more family friendly than job # 1.What do you think? Is it selfish of me to leave a job with more financial security to be there for my family or is it better to be able to provide better financially for my family?
If it was me, I would sacrifice and go with option number two, because it can lead to others door later on down the road, especially in an economy like this. You dont want to get trapped in a position, and then when you try to change specialties, it proves to be very difficult, not saying that you will not be able to. However, congrats on landing two jobs, and I hope you pick the best.

I took a pay cut to go to a job that would allow me more time with my children and less stress. If I were in your position, and it wouldn't put me in a horrible financial predicament, I would go back to my old position. My children and happiness are much more important. If it came down to being able to pay the bills, I would stick it out with job #2.

If I could be financially ok with job #1, then I would go with that one. That's what I'm trying to do right now... find a job that allows more family time, less stress, more time off, etc. If you need the money and can't figure out how to make it work with job #1, then I would probably stick it out there.

Quote from PediNurse3I took a pay cut to go to a job that would allow me more time with my children and less stress. If I were in your position, and it wouldn't put me in a horrible financial predicament, I would go back to my old position. My children and happiness are much more important. If it came down to being able to pay the bills, I would stick it out with job #2.

Life is short and kids grow up quickly. Choose your family. Your kids will look back on this time and they won't care about the fancier vacations, brand new clothes, or restaurant meals. They will care about whether their mother was happy and made them happy. So will your husband, in the long run. And you definitely will. Been there, done that, chose the wrong road.

I would choose my family and pick #1. I wish I had that option.

I was in a similar situation as you and I chose job#2! But I don't have children or a husband and my main focus was getting a good job that would lay the foundation of my career. If I did, I know that would definitely affect my decision. Do what you feel is right, in the end the decision is yours! Goodluck!