[rjc729]

I am a newbie. Just licensed last week! I have two job offers on the table. One came out of no where and is an awesome opportunity. ICU! They will train me. But it is 12 hour shifts (nights 7-7, weekends, holidays) The weekends and holidays really no biggie, part of the job if I want to work in the hospital. But I am 42 and never worked nights before, quite honestly, not sure I could adapt. I also have fibromyalgia and am concerned about throwing myself into an episode. But I am so honored and feel this is an opportunity many don't get. The other is at our community clinic. Mostly Mon-Fri. Our clinic includes a lab and pharmacy and immunization center, all of which I would rotate through, but mostly would be on the floor working with a provider. I would like to go all the way to nurse practitioner and this would be the envionment I would like to be in. Both are the same amount of money, really no issue there. My heart says clinic, my head says ICU. The head of ICU is also on the selection committee for the RN program and will teach one of the classes. Is it nursing school suicide to turn her down? I want what is in the best interest of the patients...and I am not sure I would be worth much in the middle of the night. HELP!

[TheCommuter]

Your health comes first, and working daytime hours in a clinic setting might be more conducive to managing your fibromyalgia. If you already know you're not a night person, I wouldn't even attempt to throw oneself into 12 hour night shifts, no matter how wonderful the unit and learning opportunities may be.

I'm a night person who loves the relative quietude of 12-hour night shifts, but I realize that not all people are capable of adapting. Good luck with the decision-making process!

[Fiona59]

I'd take the clinic job. You clearly state you have health issues and doubt your ability to nights.

The clinic offers a stable routine, working with varied populations with the opportunities to grow in your skills and knowledge base.

ICU is seen as "THE place to be" by many and I've met just as many former ICU nurses who left it after a while.

You shouldn't worry about ONE individual on the selection committee this far ahead. When the time comes you stress your experience and how it relates to your ultimate goals.

Now go work in the clinic.

[metfan]

Boy, do I understand. I recently had to leave my first job and went job hunting again. I got offered two jobs almost immediately. One at a hospital as a med-surg float and one at the most beutiful LTC facility you have ever seen. (It is like a 5 star hotel). I am going on for my RN so I my brain was telling me med-surg for all the experience. But my heart told me LTC. I love geriatrics. After alot of sole searching...I chose the LTC facility. I want to be happy. I am really excited. Listen to your gut and your heart. Colleen

[rjc729]

I really appreciate all of your encouragement to go with my heart. The clinic it is!

[pagandeva2000]

Well, I am mixed. I work in a clinic, have weekends and holidays off and have no intention of trading it for the world. But, I also work per diem to keep up with skills, because I found that if I limited myself to just listing the clinic as my nursing experience, I would be more limited. I decided to work per diem to be able to add it to my resume so that I would have more job opportunities. I work the weekends when I feel like it, and it is better for me, because I control this, not them. In fact, I signed for an agency and they had alot of wonderful opportunities for LPNs in my area, but because I didn't have the bedside experience, they could not send me, so, I decided to use that agency, but work per diem med-surg at my own hospital.

However, you have health issues that may rise with the night schedule. You also want to become a nurse practitioner, which will mean more years in school. Will you be able to handle this in addition to your current health issues...going to school while working (unless you can afford to stay home and just focus on classes when the time is right). Most RN programs are given during the day, which may conflict with your regular job, most don't care that you are working (I understand your dilemma-it is just that your job as well as the nursing programs may not).

I plan to stay in the clinic until they kick me out (and my heart tells me to suggest the clinic to you based on your current needs). My goals are, however, to gain floor experience because there are many LPN jobs advertised in my area that are away from the bedside, but, require at least a year or two of bedside experience to apply. You have to really weigh what your future goals are, and how this affects your health.

[rjc729]

Originally Posted by pagandeva2000

Well, I am mixed. I work in a clinic, have weekends and holidays off and have no intention of trading it for the world. But, I also work per diem to keep up with skills, because I found that if I limited myself to just listing the clinic as my nursing experience, I would be more limited. I decided to work per diem to be able to add it to my resume so that I would have more job opportunities. I work the weekends when I feel like it, and it is better for me, because I control this, not them. In fact, I signed for an agency and they had alot of wonderful opportunities for LPNs in my area, but because I didn't have the bedside experience, they could not send me, so, I decided to use that agency, but work per diem med-surg at my own hospital.

However, you have health issues that may rise with the night schedule. You also want to become a nurse practitioner, which will mean more years in school. Will you be able to handle this in addition to your current health issues...going to school while working (unless you can afford to stay home and just focus on classes when the time is right). Most RN programs are given during the day, which may conflict with your regular job, most don't care that you are working (I understand your dilemma-it is just that your job as well as the nursing programs may not).

I plan to stay in the clinic until they kick me out (and my heart tells me to suggest the clinic to you based on your current needs). My goals are, however, to gain floor experience because there are many LPN jobs advertised in my area that are away from the bedside, but, require at least a year or two of bedside experience to apply. You have to really weigh what your future goals are, and how this affects your health.

These have all been concerns in weighing my decision. I am blessed enough that I won't have to work while I am in school when the time is right. I know that I cannot work 40 hours and go to school, I would be unable to give my best to either effort. School would be my priority at the time and the patients needs would be what should come first. I know my training would have been costly to the employer as well and I would have needed to commit to a longer period of time to make it worth their while. So, I have decided the clinic is right for me at this time. It really is where my heart is as well. I don't know what will come of everything else. Just taking a step at a time. Thank you for your input!