Advice on search for a new job

[adpiRN]

I've been working in L&D for 2 years and am starting to feel a little burnt out and ready for something new. I'm interested in Peds and 2 appealing opportunities are available:

1 is a neighborhood Pediatric office where my friend works. She got me in touch with someone there who said they'll have a position open in late fall and they'd love to meet me then. Sounds promising! I think I'd enjoy the work and it'd be good experience for me b/c some of my career goals include school nursing and FNP school. I also like the hours - 4 10s and no weekends or holidays : )

So I'll definitely pursue that in the fall.

In the meantime there's a position open at my hospital for a part-time pediatric float (NICU, PICU, Peds). It'd be great experience and I'd probably learn a lot. (And look more attractive to a Pediatric office I'd guess). It's an internal transfer so I can keep my health insurance with no interruption and the pay is the same as now (and I assume better than the Peds office job) But it's another hospital job which means busy 12 hr shifts, probably weekends and holidays. Something I was hoping to avoid with an office job. And the job is advertised for nights. I did nights for 4 months in L&D and hated it... I've been on days now for a year and a half and I just don't know if I could do nights again. Maybe there's a chance that if they like me, and I say I will only take it if it's days, they'll let me do days (?) Or maybe I could suck it up (?)

What if I took the float job, did it for a few months and then the office job came through? (one can dream!) I'd feel really guilty quitting after a few months. But I'd be happy to stay on per-diem if they'd let me. And there's a chance that if they're both part-time days I could do both for awhile.

I'd hate to pass on the float job and then have the office job not work out!

To make matters more complicated, my husband and I may try to get pregnant soon. I'd feel bad starting a new job if I'm pregnant or soon to be, since I hope to take a LOOONG maternity leave if we can swing it financially. And if taking the office job means a break in our health insurance (I supply for me and my hubby) that would be BAD if I were pregnant.

But I can't put my career goals on hold, thinking "I'll be pregnant soon and then I can stop working". Because it may take months or years to get pregnant plus 9 months of pregnancy - that's a long time to stick it out at a job I'm no longer that happy with.

I think I'll apply for the float job and see what happens. They most likely won't hire me anyway (since I have no Peds experience) so it may be a non-issue. I'll just always wonder what-if, if I don't try.

Sorry this was so long!

Does anyone have any insights or advice?

[Genista, BSN, RN]

Hi there. I can relate to your dilemma somewhat. I think you are smart to seek that float job, just in case. You never know! It is true, that once you get pregnant, you will not be as able to move around in jobs for awhile. Best to look now while you can. I'm a mom of two little kids, and I was feeling a little burned out on my job too, when I was pregnant with my youngest. I had to wait until she was older until I could start to look for new jobs. I took the maximum leave I could after I had my babies, too. I'm sure you know it is tough out there right now in the job market, and it seems all jobs are harder to come by than used to be. So, look into every opportunity that appeals to you! There's no way to know what the future holds. Roll the dice and hope for the best. Good luck & I hope it all works out great for you!! :-):redbeathe

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

I would not apply to the float job if you are going to accept the office position in a few months. Chances are you will still be orienting for the float position in the fall. (NICU and PICU are complex fields!) It would not be good to accept the float position and then leave right away. You've already mentioned that you hated working nights, so why would you want to go back to nights?

It really sounds like you have locked yourself into these two options, but it doesn't have to be that way. You can look at other hospitals for opening in their pediatrics departments. You can keeping looking for other office positions that might suit your needs. There is no reason to rush into a decision that is not a good career move.

Can you ask your friend about the health care benefits at the doctor's office? Keep in mind that most places will require you to be employed for at least a year before you are eligible for maternity benefits. That means that if you want to take a long maternity leave, you had better be employed for awhile before you get pregnant. Otherwise your employer is only obligated to hold your job for the federal or state mandated 6 weeks. If you don't return after that time, you could lose your job if you don't qualify for maternity leave. So that means that if you are serious about changing jobs it would be best to either have a baby before you change or find a new job and wait awhile. But you would probably be able to transfer with no change in your maternity eligibility.

IMO, you're probably likely to get the office job since your friend works there and can give you a good reference. I'm not to sure about the float position, since they will likely want you to have experience in one of the three areas that you will be floating to.