Conflicted about keeping current job while starting new one

[NoviceRN10]

I have had the same acute care hospital job for four years since I became a nurse. I have never liked it. I have struggled handling the stress and the work load. I have had many mgrs. come and go in that time, as well as coworkers. There has only been one veteran nurse hired during that time, most of the new staff are brand new nurses, most of them fleeing to other units after they put a yr in, or just quitting for greener pastures elsewhere. I have managed to keep my head above water through many changes and issues. Finally I got the dream job offered to me that I have wanted since before I graduated nursing school. I start in two weeks.

I am totally confused about whether to try and keep my current job (I am prn and only need to give them two shifts a schedule) or just walk away into the sunset and hopefully a great new position. After working full time the first year I was able to go to prn status, and have worked pretty much part time hours since then (2-3 shifts a week the first year, and then usually just two shifts a week the last year and a half. This is the only reason I stayed. I knew if I had a bad shift I wasn't going to be having a bad week, so to speak. I wasn't obligated to be there weekends or holidays and that worked well for me.

My new position at a different hospital is also prn. I have to work two shifts a schedule. I was thinking I could work both jobs, but make the new job the priority. I am not sure if I will get the hours I need at the new job or not. Right now I can work as much or as little as I want. So that is making me wonder if I should just hold onto the old/current job for at least a couple of months to see how it goes at the new hospital. I don't know why I am so conflicted!

Any words of wisdom?

[klone, MSN, RN]

I would keep the first job, maybe cutting down to one shift a week or pay period (depending on your financial needs), at least for the first few months while you feel out the new job and decide if it's a good fit. Plus, it's been my experience that some PRN jobs don't deliver on promised hours.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

No matter how difficult your current position is... do not close that door. You can handle two shifts /schedule

until you know how your new position plays out.

Been there, did that.

[Caffeine_IV]

Keep your current job until you see how the you like the new one definitely. To me, it is not a bad idea for nurses to be at more than one hospital system.