Is it worth travelling 4 hrs to work?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in med/surg/ortho/tele.

My friend just got a job in NICU and she always wanted to be NICU nurse, pay is good but her job is 4 hrs away in rural area. She has been a registry LVN before becoming RN and my advice was if she can try registry for a while close to her home if she cannot find job of her choice. She has a 7 yrs old girl who'll be with grandma for 4 days a week. This is not travel job but she would be travelling 4 hrs, staying in hotel for 6 days work and drive back home.

I am wondering how many of us would be willing to travel 4 hrs for job they want and leave kids with grandparents. .

Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

Nope, I wouldn't do it. I would either find a different job or move where the job is located. If this were my dream job, and the location/move was a good decision for the family, too, I would move. Kids are resilient, and a move can be fun for kids, something new, etc. No job is worth that much time away from family, but that's just my opinion. Some people value their career over family, so they spend most of their time working on advancing their career. It all depends what she values most; I don't think you can help her with this decision.

I would only do this until I had made the decision to stick with the job, then I would move near the job. I have lived in hotels and extended stay establishments, the rent adds up. They raise your room rate on a regular basis until you can't afford to live there any longer. She would do better to rent a room in a private home.

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

either move in closer to work or forget it. THat is not a life and the child will be growing up without her. She will regret it for so many reasons.

Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

No way. I could never take a job that took me away from my child for 6 straight days. IF I decided the job was worth uprooting my daughter and moving away from my support system, I would move closer to the job and find a reputable daycare provider for my child during the day.

No way.

Specializes in School Nursing.

Not a chance...unless I suppose I had absolutely no other way to put food on the table for my child. If there was any other option, I would not even consider a desirable job taking precedence over time with my child. No brainer.

When I first read the title of the post, I thought to myself there is no way I would do that. After reading that she will be working in a unit she always wanted to I thought.....it might be worth it, this is her opportunity to do something shes always wanted to. Then after reading that she has a 7 yrs old daughter, I thought....hmm maybe not.

Sooooo what it comes down to is is she willing to sacrifice spending time with her daughter over fulfiling her desire to work in a particular unit. That is a choice she has to make herself.

Maybe she can work in NICU for at least 1 to 2 years to gain experience and then she can move on to work in a hospital closer to where her daughter lives. In this economy most hospitals prefer to hire experienced nurses so it would be to her benefit having those years of experience when she applies to a differnet hospital.

Specializes in Forensic Psych.

There is absolutely no way. If it was the only job I could find or we were going to be homeless, maybe, but then I'd be wasting a ton of money on hotels, eating out, and gas, so I imagine I'd take my child and move closer to the job.

My kids are mine and my responsibility. I hate even putting them in daycare full time...I cannot imagine literally letting someone else raise them for a job unless it was a dire situation.

Yes - I would do it. And when I could I would save up the money and move closer with my child. And be thankful that I had a job and a mom or mother in law to watch my child while I was away. But that is just coming from a bitter person (me) who has been searching for a job for eons. This situation sounds like a dream to me. xoxo

Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

No...no...and NO! Oh, did I mention...No!

Specializes in med/surg/ortho/tele.

I showed your comments to my friend and she is rethinking of joining this job. I am pushing her to join local registry and like you all, I also care for her daughter.Thanks y'all :)

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