Shannon Penney: A Nurse's Career Journey Amidst the Great Resignation

July 5, 2024, New York City — Amidst the wave of career changes during the Great Resignation, Shannon Penney, 37, has embraced a path that demands double the effort for nearly the same pay as her previous endeavors. Yet, she wouldn't have it any other way.

Penney's transition began almost a decade ago when disillusionment with her freelance work in the advertising industry set in. However, it took the pandemic for her to make a decisive change. The pivotal moment occurred while battling Covid-19 in an ER, an experience that underscored the urgency for a career shift.

"This is really important," Penney recalled, reflecting on the chaos of the pandemic's early days. Recently completing her first full year as a registered nurse at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan, Penney now earns $120,000 annually, comparable to her past income but with newfound stability and benefits, including her first employer-sponsored retirement account.

Residing in a modest 550-square-foot Manhattan apartment with her dachshund, Baguda, Penney's economic stability stands in stark contrast to the uncertainties of her previous life in advertising. Supported by her retired nurse mother and investment banker father, her upbringing provided a solid financial foundation for her career transition.

"I felt a responsibility to give back to a society that had given me so many privileges," she remarked, acknowledging her privileged position and her commitment to pay it forward.

Transitioning from producing commercials to nursing wasn't merely a career shift but a values-driven decision. It followed years of navigating budget cuts and witnessing unsettling dynamics within her industry. Enrolling in nursing school in March 2020 marked a definitive turn towards a more purposeful career path.

Penney's financial prudence is evident in her retirement savings, totaling over $65,000 across brokerage and Roth IRA accounts, complemented by a growing 403(b). Despite her financial stability, Penney remains conscientious about spending, adhering to a monthly budget and refraining from unnecessary expenditures.

"I continue to live well within my means," she affirmed, mindful of maintaining financial discipline amid ongoing economic uncertainties.

Penney's nursing career presents its own set of challenges. The field grappled with pandemic-induced upheavals, including nurse burnout and staffing shortages. While wages and staffing have improved, persistent challenges underscore broader systemic issues within healthcare.

On her hospital floor, where affluent patients pay up to $1,500 per night for exclusive accommodations, Penney confronts stark healthcare disparities, a far cry from the glamour of her former career.

"Transitioning from the dazzle of production with celebrities to this reality, you instantly see the glaring inequities in healthcare," Penney lamented, highlighting the sobering disparities she now witnesses daily.

In a labor market reshaped by the Great Resignation, Penney's journey exemplifies a quest for purpose and societal contribution. She navigates an economic landscape where personal privilege intersects with professional commitment, illustrating the evolving dynamics of work, values, and economic disparity in contemporary America.