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big changes a-comin' (long)
Let me see if I can get this out in an organized way, my brain is all jumbled.
So right now I work full time at a big hospital in the area - 3 12hour shifts a week. Not too shabby. Well, I also started a new position with another hospital as an "as needed" nurse. This position pays 50% more than my full time job (of course with no benefits at all). So really, I can work 4 8 hour shifts at my part time job and make just as much as 6 12 hour shifts at my full time job.
I was thinking about grad school on Friday after I started to think that maybe I won't get into Duke, and started researching my other options. UNC has the program that I want, but it requires in-class learning (Duke is 95% online) and I don't want to have to change my schedule at work (like work all weekends). Going part time (in any program) means that I will finish my degree in 3 to 4 years.
This morning I came to the realization that I could work at my part time job 3-4 shifts a week (8-5) and go to school FULL time and finish in 2.5 years. No nights, no weekends, no holidays.
I mentioned this to Adam today at lunch, and I figured that he would kind of blow it off as a "you're just excited, let's think about it for a while" kind of thing, like all of my brilliant ideas. But he was very intrigued with this. We got to really talking about this.
I'd give up my full time job (and maybe work a shift a month or something) and work at my part time job 3-4 times a week and go to school full time. This is huge. There are so many questions I have to ask both my managers. Adam thinks it's a great idea for me to get my degree faster, as do I.
I'm working on my budget, and making sure that I will be making enough to support my half of the bills and my own personal bills. He thinks it will be the right way to go, as long as everything works financially. We need to figure out what to do about health insurance, whether to join Adam's or find my own, whichever is cheaper.
The downside is that I will have to wait until next fall to start, if I even get accepted into the program. Also, I have to decide what to do if I end up getting accepted into Duke for this coming spring. There is also no way I'd be able to go to Duke on my own (without my job benefits of having 90% of tuition paid), so I would HAVE to go somewhere else if I left my full time job. My other option is to leave my full time job (if I don't get in or don't accept) in January and work 5 days a week at my part time job and make double per month that I'm making now. I love my full time job and (most) of the people there. It's been my home for 3+ years. It would be so weird to leave.
I don't know what to do. Thanks for listening girls.
"You know my name, not my story. You've heard what I've done, not what I've been through.
If you were in my shoes, you'd fall the first step."
Re: big changes a-comin' (long)
Wow! That is a lot floating around in your head! No wonder you needed to write it all down (and you did a fabulous job, BTW). And my response is about as long as your OP.
OK, so first I would say don't make any decisions right now (today, tomorrow, or next week). Keep thinking about it.
I don't like the idea of you not having benefits. In addition to insurance, you're also going to want to have paid time off. Especially if you're going to be burning the candle at both ends going to school and working all of these hours. And the tuition reimbursement is a huge draw, as well. What is another 6-12 months in school if it's 90% paid for?
There are a lot of what-if's going on in your scenario. You need to write out the pro's and con's of each scenario, on paper, where you can see and look at them and all the notes you made about each.
School and the inconvenience of it is temporary, but it is a means to an end. What are you and Adam willing to do during this temporary period to get through it? What do you picture things looking like on the other side of your graduate degree?
You have so much opportunity in front of you and it is SO exciting! Super psyched for you guys and all the changes coming!
I agree with hrchick. Good luck!
In addition to what HR said...Would you be guaranteed that many hours as a per diem? I know in my field, a per diem isn't guaranteed a certain number of hours a week. Just something to think about.
Sorry girls, haven't been able to nest too much today because I'm on a different unit than usual. So all of those thoughts are important and a couple I've thought about. I emailed my manager a couple questions and hopefully I'll get an answer soon. Adam and I are thinking about this very hard, but it seems that UNC may be the better way to go.
Even with my tuition reimbursement, I would still be paying out of pocket $28,000 in tuition only (no "fees"), for Duke. At UNC, I'd be paying $16,500 or so (again, tuition only). Total, UNC is $21,862 for this academic year and I'm assuming Duke would be well over $30,000. Overall, UNC would be better financially. I already have $40k in student loans, I don't need 30 more.
Adam and I are going to be going over our budgeting tonight and seeing what is really possible. They key factor is whether or not those shifts would be available and if I could really afford this option. It's scary to think about leaving my home. It's exciting and scary at the same time.
You've heard what I've done, not what I've been through.
If you were in my shoes, you'd fall the first step."