[Preston]

Trying to figure out the best thing financially for my family.
Currently work as an ICU nurse at a VA hospital. I make 100k a year. I have been here 2.5 years.

They are currently reimbursing me for my student loans $8,400 a year for a total of 5 years.

If I stay 2.5 more years I will get the full amount, qualify for FEHB (health care) in retirement, and minimum pension because I will be vested after 5 years. This is assuming things don’t change federally.

Opportunity presenting itself to work full time with benefits as an icu nurse making 140k a year. I will be floating between 3 hospitals all in the ICU.

End goal is get into crna school. Was hoping to wait until my kids are at least in preschool to make it a little easier family wise.

Potential for crna school people graduating in my area making 250k with a 40k sign on bonus.

There are 3 prereqs I have to retake since it’s been over 10 years so I can’t start immediately into crna school so my option is to pretty much wait until that is done then apply.

My question is switch jobs now and give up the health care benefit, student loans reimbursement, and minimum pension to make an addition about 30k a year. (Looking at 100k plus 8,400 for student loan payment)

Also considering another child, with the federal job I get full pay for 12 weeks paternity leave.
Really torn between the long run benefits and the higher pay now.

I will not get FEHB health care unless I retire and immediately collect pension per another member. I’ll have to check since 3 different HR members told me otherwise.

[Cesar]

From a CRNA. I would stay for the benefits. The extra income will be taxed at your highest bracket.

Get ready for CRNA school in the mean time.

[Kim]

I would stick it out. Are you able to find out what the minimum pension would be?

[Surma]

CRNA here. Get the medical benefits. It will 100% pay off and allow you to work wherever and whenever you want later in your career without having to worry about medical benefits.

I see a lot of older CRNAs that are only working FT for the medical benefits.

It will pay for itself many times over.

PS — The only students that failed out of my program were parents. Proceed with caution as that can lead to complete financial devistation.

[Sarah]

Can you get on PRN at the other job picking up just an extra shift a week or something for now for the extra cash?

If you like your job now, I’d say stick it out because you could end up hating the new gig and then it’s all a loss.

[Kim]

I am also a CRNA, and agree with the other 2 CRNAs here, stay where you are, get your student loan gone, get the retirement money!

Those perks outweigh the extra money that will be taxed, plus the stress of learning 3 new ICUs (plus it’s never fun to be the float person).

After you graduate as a CRNA you will be able to pay off any loans you take out.

And a foot already in the door at the VA is great if you want to return later!

[Jennifer]

with 2 tiny kids your life is hectic and crna school will likely be rough on the family so I vote for whichever job is most life/family friendly for the time being

[Dustin]

2.5 years is $100k of income at the new option versus healthcare and a pension (even if not “huge”). I’d recommended staying (I am a CRNA btw).

The cost for grad school when it’s all said and done will be well over $200k despite whatever lies they tell you when you interview.

Your capacity to work will be completely eliminated or severely diminished in order to keep up.

It wasn’t allowed at my school, which meant more debt to cover expenses beyond just school costs. The pace to pay it off will depend on your life situation and spousal buy-in.

Also, I’d highly encourage you to research the stats of divorce and affairs during CRNA school. It’s a pretty toxic environment, so just proceed with extreme caution with your wife and the kiddos.

I got married during school just because I always have to do everything the hard way

Anyhow, just be ok waiting for now for that switch, you will need loans most likely in any event.

But if you have that same work ethic as a CRNA when you graduate, you will be well over $300k/yr with a dash of OT or 1099 work here and there.

[Elle]

I see a lot of subjective comments (that are valuable – don’t get me wrong)
But I would sit down and run the real values – numbers.
Numbers don’t lie.

How much this healthcare ins is vs that.
How much commuting will cost.

How much it’s costing for school loans vs increased income. I.e, with extra salary, can figure 20k to the student loans in year one alone without changing your lifestyle.

Would have taken 2.5 years to get that from the VA Hospital.

With that… the increased $, in a HYSA over the long term, or in a IRA account how much will you make?

The fed gov is going through some big changes when it comes to FERS and there’s many many of us who once thought this was a good gig… are going to move on.

There’s were reasons we sacrificed and accepted lower pay – stability and benefits. “Big beautiful bill” is changing all of that.

Make your decisions based off of financial facts – pros and cons – then factor in subjective wants before hitting “final answer”.

[Graham]

Strictly financially, your best move is to get the crna asap. Every year you wait on that is a much bigger impact so I’d choose whatever interim employment that allows you to get the prereqs done sooner than later.

[Kim]

It sounds like a no brainer to me. Stay the 2 1/2 years while taking the three courses and having that other baby.

Once vested be ready to jump to your next phase.

[David]

CRNA here. Best decision is to start CRNA school as soon as eligible. Seems like you have the experience to apply.

Just make sure you are working in a ICU with complex patients.

CRNA school frowns on “fake” ICU experience. I went to school with young kids, and it worked out, but CRNA school is not easy.

Financially every year you put off CRNA school you are costing yourself millions at retirement with compounding growth over time

[Jessika]

I wouldn’t leave all the VA has to offer. Not to mention, you may be able to keep your job and seniority, and work there as a CRNA!

Seems like the benefits far outweigh the extra 30k cash though! Good luck!

[Sarah]

For me, as another ICU nurse, the answer would 100% be based on the work itself and not the money/benefits. A horrible ICU job isn’t worth any amount of money.

At the float position, will you be floated between hospitals in the same shift? Will you be canceled due to patient census (thereby losing your PTO)?

Do they triple the ICU nurses regularly? Will you spend most of your time floating to step down units, and if so, what are their ratios?

Also, a lot of CRNA programs are picky about what type of ICU nursing you are doing.

Some specify CVICU. I do ICU resource now at a non-VA hospital and the resource pool nurses spend a lot of time in progressive care/step down units.

In the ICUs, we never get the higher acuity patients or those that are specialized to the unit (neuro, CV, etc depending on which ICU it is).

So, for the actual experience, it wouldn’t be a great lead-in to becoming a CRNA.

Does your current hospital not require a work commitment for the student loan reimbursements?

Would you be able to get your loans paid off before starting CRNA school in either situation?

Seems like deferring loan payments for thr RN degree for the 3 yrs of CRNA school would be a bad financial move.

[Jennifer]

Can you apply for the VA CRNA program?
CRNA school is expensive. So, if you can get the VA to fund it- stay there.

If not, I’d probably still stay at the VA for the paternity leave.

A pension is a pretty cool gig plus you might consider going back to the VA as a CRNA..

Plus does the VA qualify for PSLF?

I think so. Can you stay on at the Va during school and work like one shift a month?

[Rebecca]

I am pretty sure it is a minimum of 10 years to receive the a VA pension and 5 years to be fully vested in TSP, but I am not sure the requirement for health benefits.

[Kim]

Stay and lock in pension. Figure out how much you would have to save if you were taking that amount every year for 25 years

[Author]

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