It finally happened. The rumors actually turned out to be true. I am getting laid off at the end of the month.
This news came as a shock to most of my colleagues this afternoon. My poor fellow nurses. Our organization is laying off all the nurses in my department. One of them just recently had a baby, and the panic in her voice was unmistakable. I put myself in her shoes and the thought scared me. How will she support her family? What if she can’t get a job right away? What’s going to happen to her benefits for her baby?
Situations like this are the reason I constantly run simulations in my head. In one simulation, I try to predict my life in the next six months to a year. After making a prediction, I put into motion a plan to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best. Fortunately for me, I had predicted this outcome about six months ago and have been preparing ever since.
The work I’m currently doing deals with COVID in public school districts and I am very knowledgeable about COVID isolation and quarantine protocol. I also happen to know that the school year generally runs from September to June. I’m aware COVID mandates have been around for a couple of years and I know that the government funding for COVID is drying up. Using these facts, I deduced the high probability of being laid off at the end of the school year, which turned out to be true. So six months ago, I started my research.
Preparation
In my last post, I discussed the requirements needed to apply for remote nurse positions today. The most important requirement is to be licensed in as many states as possible. There were some obstacles, but I am officially licensed to practice in 39 states. The process took five months of trial and error, processing, and waiting. In doing so, I have increased the probability of finding a new job by a factor of 39. It is so important to understand that jobs now cross state lines and that opportunities exist beyond the bedside or doctor’s office. Because of my preparation, I can start applying for these positions today and will most likely be hired before I’m laid off at the end of the month.
And that’s not all I did.
Income Diversification
I also made sure to increase my number of income streams. If you’ve been following along, you know I have a second remote position I’m working in secret. As long as I get the work done, what I do with my time is none of my employer’s business. I’m capitalizing on my efficiency and increasing my pay without having to strike or demand it.
Another important income stream comes from successfully automating my Amazon FBA business. I am fortunate enough to have found and developed good products and am utilizing an FBA prep service. So now all I do is order products from the supplier. The supplier ships them to the prep company, and the prep company ships to the Amazon warehouse. I spend less than 10 minutes a month to place an order and create a shipping plan for a business that provides $3,000 of profit a month.
My final income stream is the option to work pro re nata (PRN, or as needed). I remain compliant with a nursing registry. When I need money, I pickup ER shifts as they’re available. I use this as a last option because of inconsistent shift availability. That work also requires an abundance of physical, mental, and spiritual energy to perform.
All in all, I’m mostly sad because I have to leave such a great job. Out of all the jobs I’ve done, this one offered the greatest autonomy and independence. The organizational structure was efficient in dealing with problems. Our experience, skills, and insight were appreciated and our decisions respected. The truth is that nurses always have the best interest of others at heart and that’s what makes our job so fulfilling. We are naturally in the giver role.
That being said, thanks to my preparation, losing this job didn’t feel like the end of the world. Instead, it’s a new beginning.