Two potential jobs, any advice?

In My Humble Opinion
1

So, I am looking for a new job. I currently work 3/4th time at my main job and pick up extra shifts both here and at another hospital. My supervisor and I seem to have a difficult relationship, she has her pets and I am not one of them. I don’t dislike her, but it is stressful to work for someone who just doesn’t like you, and there is nothing said or spoken that I can address. (She checks up on me, when I have given her no reason to, and yet large omissions by others goes un-noted and un-corrected.) He boss seems to like me well enough, but obviously the supervisor sees the big boss more than I do, so who knows what is said.) I tried to clear the air once, but she denied there was anything wrong, this conversation was standard.

On top of that I have been subject to random violence by my patients. I am tired of it, especially after I was choked by a patient in December. Nothing was done or fixed.

So I have been applying for new jobs that were appropriate fits. I applied for one that is a half time case manager. I have wanted to be a case manager for years, but getting the first job in that area has always been difficult (where I lived previously it was very much a who you knew situation). Of course I don’t know if I will get the job, but if I do, I will go down to less guaranteed hours (but there is no shortage of casual position hours) and a 9-5 type environment. (Either 2 days one week and 3 the next or 2.5 days/week, it can be flexible)I would still get full benefits, but only the proportionate amount of paid vacation etc. I will need my car and this is downtown in an urban area with traffic etc. I will have to dress nicer rather than just no yoga pants, no tshirts with writing. More expenses, a very slightly higher wage, offset by no shift differentials.

And of course NOW the full time where I am has been posted. I was sort of promised this job by the big boss back in July, before everything went belly up with the supervisor. No guarantees if I would get it now. Full time benefits, full time

I am the main income earner in my household of two adults, one child. This city is expensive. Any advice?
TL: DR version: Chick doesn’t like her 3/4th time job that much, should she take a cut in hours for a job she will like more, (knowing she can make up the hours elsewhere) or go all in and get a full time job where she is? And yes, I do realize this could be an embarrassment of riches, when people out there are desperate for any job.

2

Is there some reason you can’t apply for both and see what you get? If you apply for both and only get one, that makes your decision a lot easier.

That being said, having a crappy boss is really not worth it. Been there, done that, glad I left. I know that kind of advice is “easy to say, hard to do”, but that is how I would look at your situation.

3

I probably will apply for both, although honestly at my current job the status quo sounds better than full time, more day shifts, more exposure to the boss. Also, I learned a long time ago not to enter contests I don’t want to win.

Just wondering if anyone has any sage advice about leaving a 3/4s time for a 1/2 time position. Even though I know I would be able to make up the hours, I would get less paid vacation, sick leave etc.

4

I think I’d go for it, as long as you can make enough with the extra hours. Yes, it’s going to cost you a bit now, but it’s an entry point into the field you want.

5

My wife is a nurse and has had some of the problems you discussed.

Case Manager: If you don’t like getting attacked where you work now, how will you like it if you are attacked while alone in someone’s house? My wife was once being beaten and choked in a patient’s room. A couple of doctors hearing the commotion from the hallway saved her. Often these types of jobs are in the worse areas of a city.

As far as your current boss, my wife has outlasted many bosses. - some good and some bad. Seems that the poor bosses tend to move from job to job frequently so that their past doesn’t catch up with them.

As other’s have said, apply for both and see what happens. Then make an informed decision.

6

Well I neglected to mention(sorry, late at night and kind of busy… I also edited this post considerably) I already have secured an interview at the case manager job. The hiring manager seemed impressed with my background when I spoke on the phone for about 200 minutes with him yesterday. Yes, there is potential for getting attacked at work, but I won’t be getting beaten on every day when I try to wash a patient or give him his meds. It is an older adult mental health team, so I will most likely find someone in a care facility or living with family…

7

The other thing to consider is that the application process is as much a chance for you to learn about the job as for them to learn about you. Why not apply for the case manager job and if you get an interview, use it to try and find out about anything that might make a difference in taking the job?

8

Well what I learned is that I made a fool out of myself (oh I knew what I knew, and I admitted what I did not know, but one question just had me bugging)and one of the interviewers is the a doctor where I currently work. (I hope professional confidentiality will keep her from mentioning that little factoid around.)

9

I’d say go for the case manager job, even if it’s a pay/benefit cut. Flexibility is a great intangible perk. And as long as the pay cut won’t break your family financially, it will do your mental health a world of good to get into a less-hostile environment.

Not sure what kind of professional confidentiality you’re referring to. Interviewing for a job that’s a step-up isn’t a crime, and neither is mentioning it around the water cooler. Besides, I would think if your current supv doesn’t like you, she’d love a chance to get rid of you anyway.

10

The time flexibility sort of makes up for that, though. Taking a 1-week vacation W-W means one day less than a 1-week vacation Sat-Sun, but it also means cheaper flights.