Has anyone left healthcare and is now really happy? I’m an MSN, RN with 12 years hospital experience. I’m burned out and tired of making crap pay. I have an opportunity outside of healthcare that would pay more and challenge me in new ways that I haven’t experienced before. It’s a total shift that would really heal my work-life balance, job satisfaction and budget. My only fear is that I would not be using the license and degree that I worked so hard for. I would appreciate any input!!!!
You don’t have the leave healthcare office completely, just go remote. I’ve been remove for 3 years now. Have MSN, but not required for my job. Job also takes ADN. I make 90k and can work anywhere in the US.
Check this out:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1248700492/
I was laid off 2020 during Covid from a healthcare career I'd worked 14 years to build. Ended up changing careers (something I had considered doing earlier) and have officially left the medical field this past year by not renewing my license.
Best decision for me and my family. I miss seeing patients from time to time, but overall am much happier. I think the fact that your asking says a lot.
Don't be afraid to grow and try. It took me two years of doing something completely different to finally be OK with letting go of a license I honestly wasn't excited to keep anymore. I'm now in a place where I don't want to go back and know that even if what I'm doing now fails at some point, I can find a new path forward that wouldn't require me to go back into something I'd lost a love for.
That's just me, and that change happened at the right time. I'd say if you're asking, it's the right time to find out.
Job “security “ is a myth
Take the new job for sure. I left direct pt care and am at an insurance company. Best decision ever.
RN for 15 years and salary 90k in a non high cost state
I say try the new job! If you don’t like it at least you’ll have a backup (nursing).
You could also explore some opportunities that require nursing experience but aren’t at the bedside- I work with a call center department for a large hosp system that handles patient transfers. all our staff are paid at a house supervisor rate, average is about $45/hr, and can get OT and shift differentials. Plus we’ve started shifting to WFH at least part time. It still using your experience and helps patients but gets you out of the grind a bit!
Also what is your background to get to a position like that?
It’s always good to try new things. Give yourself the opportunity of doing something different. You can always renew your nursing license just in case you need it as a back up. Just go for it.
Most nurses i know are getting amazing pay. More than other people in healthcare with a bachelors or a masters. If you feel you are not getting paid enough you can look for another nursing job but if you are burnt out from healthcare in general then a career switch is best.
Where are the nurses working that you know? Not in Pittsburgh.
What is the new opportunity if you don’t mind me asking?
I’m also interested to learn about how you came across the opportunity
Why niy take it? Just maintain your credentials and you can go back if/when you want. Please choose the adventure and go have some fun.
Thanks for the insight! I’ll stay away. Lol. Everything that glitters isn’t gold. 😂
I’m super burned out too. Tried travel nursing, but even with opting to take 1-2 months off in between contracts, the burnout isn’t getting relieved. So I enrolled in flight school😂
I am an MSN RN with the same experience. I was burnt out to the point where I stopped working for 6 months. My job following was in a clinic. I feel such relief and contentment. Do what is best for you!
I agree with everyone! Go for it! If you don’t like it, the healthcare field is guaranteed to welcome you back with open arms! The industry is lacking greatly for professionals so at least you know you can always go right back into it. Good luck! You may find that you enjoy the new position much more than nursing.
Have you considered working as a nurse consultant for an insurance company? My division hires nurses to review reports and create cost estimates based on anticipated plans of care. Many, if not most, insurance companies and insurance brokerages hire nurses for this exact sort of thing; many are work-from-home and the pay tends to be quite good, especially when you have as many years of clinical experience as you have.
The biggest thing that will contribute to your success is having some familiarity with Microsoft Excel and other basic office software. Many nurses coming from a clinical setting don’t have the opportunity to polish their computer skills but that is something that is going to be used often in an office setting. If you can go into an interview having just taken a class in Excel, that will be a big plus.
I’m a social worker, but can identify with the burnout experience! I’d say take the new job and keep your license active just in case.
I would take new job. You can always go back to nursing if it doesnt work out with 12 years of experience it will Be easy to pivot back. You deserve a life that makes you happy. Alot of people change, I am 3 years into OT with a masters and leaving soon as well. You had a good 12 years to make use of your degrees.
I’d say you put your degree to great use with 12 years!!
I love this perspective!
im trying to leave for tech sales personally
How do you get into it?
Take the job but maintain your license. You can always go back but you need to take care of yourself first. Any experience you gain will be useful to you if you return to healthcare in the future.
I left the hospital and work for an agency covering school nurses in my city. Hospital was paying 48/hr and agency is paying 90/hr. I get to work as many days I want or little as I want. Obviously I don’t get health benefits. And this is my transition to either go back to school for NP or to change career altogether. Working 7 hours instead of 12.5 has been life changing. I have weekends off. I get out of work at 3PM, so I have the whole evening to do what I want. I’m extremely happy switching. I was so scared to leave hospital but it’s been the best decision. Now it’s about next steps for me. Hope you find this helpful.
Can you share what agency or message me!
Hi RN, I left one sector of healthcare (working as a manager) to work in another (working as a teacher), both of these jobs got me the same pay, but one of them had me on-call 24/7 and the other had about 25% of the responsibility.
Your job should enhance your quality of life, not detract from it. That's why we work isn't it?, to make money to give ourselves food, pay rent for us to have a sanctuary, to give ourselves security for the future...so that we can enjoy life and have the best quality of life possible.
The moment your job detracts from the above mentioned things, its in your best interest to consider other options. With 12 years of hospital experience, I'm sure someone would take you back (worst case scenario, if things didn't work out with the marketing job). An important question to ask is...does the hospital you work for have your best interest at heart?