And I Said No...

Today, my director talked to me about considering accepting the offer of becoming a clinical coordinator. In this job, the coordinator is responsible for making sure that the processes and systems that we have in place run smoothly during a shift. These include admissions, medical records, dietary department and housekeeping (to some degree), and the nursing staff. The coordinator is also primary responsible for ensuring that nursing care is delivered in a safe, compassionate and competent manner. He or she must also serve as the liaison between doctors, family members, the patient and the nursing staff. Not only is it a title, but the position has a lot of responsiblities. The success of the shift depends on how tightly the floor is run. For doing this, I can earn $2500 more a month.

And I said, "NO, thanks". Not a whimper, but an emphatic NO.

I said no because of personal reasons. First, I never wanted to be a part of the so-called "management". I am perfectly happy doing my own thing and getting through my 8-hour shift as soon as I can. If I were to become the coordinator, I would have to make sure that everyone is doing their job plus mine. Nope; never thought of babysitting anyone. You have been hired to do whatever it is your doing because you were the perfect candidate (or you said, you were). And if you're not doing your job, then you ought to be fired. I am not such a great human resource manager (although that's one of my grad degrees) when it comes to telling people to start looking for another job. I am not one to mince words and if I think you're incompetent, I would tell you in your face. I can't bullshit really well. Which does not bode well for me (or my car!).

Second, if I were to take up the offer, I will never be able to demand my own schedule. As it is, I go on vacation whenever I feel like it. Or with at least two weeks notice. I can call off (which I rarely do unless I really feel like shit) or trade days off with the other nurses whenever as long as it doesn't cause overtime for anyone. I like my days off the way it is now. I work my professional stuff around the rest of my life and not the other way around. This way, I could spend as much time with my friends or my family or just by myself if I want. I believe that there is more to life than working your ass off. I am amazed whenever I hear people working 10- or 12-hour days for four or five days in a row. I have heard of people getting called in during their "holidays" to fix something at work (and not get compensated appropriately). No one is ever that indispensable!

Finally, work is not the "be all, end all" of my being. I use work to "support" what I love to do (shopping and travelling). I know 2,500 smackeroos add up and can make a difference on whether I retire in 10 years or in 20. But that's not my point. Why work and then retire? Why not enjoy the fruits of your labor now while you're still young and able to do all these stuff out there? You might have a great retirement fund but what if you are too sick or too feeble to even enjoy its perks? You might not even get to see "retirement day"!

Don't get me wrong: I love what I do and the place I work in. I am as loyal, if not more, as the next employee. I love the people I work with (well, some I hate). And I like the fact that I can and do make a difference in someone else's day. It's just that at the end of the eight hours, you're on MY time. And that is valuable to me.