Please share advice/thoughts- help!

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Med/Surg since ‘96; PACU since ‘16.

I've been looking for a change- as you can see from my username :)

(Med/surg for > 8 1/2 years)

Okay, today I got a job offer !! - working with babies!!! but the job pays only a dollar more than what I make now and the drive is double- (I'd be driving 50 miles/1 hr vs. 25 miles/30 minutes.)

Plus! now my kids will have to go to daycare or we have to find a babysitter.

(I've recently been working only weekends so my husband keeps them when I work.) The new job will be 3 months of days M-F then evenings. I think this would be a great opportunity but not money wise. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

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You spend 1/3 of your life at work. Life's too short to be miserable in your job.

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You got one offer, so maybe you might get another --closer to home. Do you think that's possible? If not, and you really think you'd like the new job better, I would take it. --I'd use the time in the car to learn a new language or listen to books.

Good luck! Let us know how it works out.

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The drive will add two unpaid hours to your day. With having the kids in a new daycare you will have, at best, a challenging transition period. If you plan appropriately, you can solve these problems, but just think over your options very carefully before making your decision. Your situation is why I love my 12 hour shifts; yes the shift is long but you are only away from your family 3 days of 7. Plus it seems like it takes 12 hours to get all the work done from the first 8!

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Specializes in Med/Surg since ‘96; PACU since ‘16.
you got one offer, so maybe you might get another --closer to home. do you think that's possible? if not, and you really think you'd like the new job better, i would take it. --i'd use the time in the car to learn a new language or listen to books.

good luck! let us know how it works out.

thank you for your kind response. unfortunately there is nothing closer.

i am working at the closest hospital to me now- 1/2 hr away.

other hospitals are at least 45 minutes but more realistically, an hour away.

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Specializes in Med/Surg since ‘96; PACU since ‘16.
the drive will add two unpaid hours to your day. with having the kids in a new daycare you will have, at best, a challenging transition period. if you plan appropriately, you can solve these problems, but just think over your options very carefully before making your decision. your situation is why i love my 12 hour shifts; yes the shift is long but you are only away from your family 3 days of 7. plus it seems like it takes 12 hours to get all the work done from the first 8!

wow, yes, two unpaid hours to my day. yes, challenging. scary.

i've been working less than part time for 7 years on a med/surg floor.

now that my youngest is 2, i've been thinking of finding something new-

i am really disappointed and unhappy working med/surg.

i dont' know- maybe i should wait another year? my middle child is starting kindergarten next week. yikes- talk about transition! bad timing?

i do appreciate your words to help me think about this dilemma.

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

ooh you will love working with babies.. i work med/ surg and OB and i love to change off. med/ surg alone can me so draining.. i love your user name.. i just laughed when i read it.. med/surg can make you old fast.. the loss of money will be hard , but maybe you will have a chance to pick up some hours there to make up for your loss. i hope things work out for you. i'm rootin for you.. there really is life after med/surg... lol keep us posted

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Salary is only one of the things to consider. If you are stressed and miserable in your current job, that can affect your children negatively.

If you can manage with the increased travel expenses to provide for your family fairly well, then it may well be worth it to go work somewhere that you really enjoy.

I would always choose to enjoy my job and be happy than hate my job and have a bit more money. (And I have made a choice like that, so it's one I am familiar with!)

Good luck with your decision!

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Specializes in ER.

All I can say is this, I recently took a job as a Trauma RN in a level 1 trauma center, I now drive 45 minutes daily, compared to the 15 I used to drive, although I did get a significant pay raise my Expedition uses the raise (can't imagine driving anything else in NE PA), but the 45 minutes one way is actually nice, time to myself and time to prepare mentally for the challeges I will be facing and time to unwind on the way home, I also have in calling and call my friend in Pittsbugh on my drive. I have always worked nights and always worked ER and this step up for me was worth it, I absolutely love my job and I haven't felt this way about nursing in almost 6 years. You have to be satisfied with your job, it is absolutely essential to your sanity and your personal happiness, when you are satisfied and content you treat your patients better, in fact it becomes easier to treat your patients well, even the difficult to deal with ones. I do not regret the change and if you are truley that unhappy with your current position change may be essential to your happiness, and sanity, your family will thank you in the end.

Sorry this is so wordy but I didn't know how to express it any other way.

Good Luck and be Happy and love what you do!:monkeydance:

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Specializes in Med/Surg since ‘96; PACU since ‘16.
salary is only one of the things to consider. if you are stressed and miserable in your current job, that can affect your children negatively.

if you can manage with the increased travel expenses to provide for your family fairly well, then it may well be worth it to go work somewhere that you really enjoy.

i would always choose to enjoy my job and be happy than hate my job and have a bit more money. (and i have made a choice like that, so it's one i am familiar with!)

good luck with your decision!

well the job offer came tuesday. yesterday when i was ready to say yes, i was able to only get the recruiter's voice mail. so that gave me more time to think. today we played phone tag, several rounds. and now i'm leaning toward declining. i have 3 kids- the youngest is 2, next is a 5 yr old who'll be starting kindergarten next week. they've never been in daycare. i didn't find out until after the offer was presented that orientation will be 12 weeks full time 7 to 3. that would mean the 2 yr old will be in daycare for over 10 hours m-f. the 5 yr old would go all day twice a week and then afterschool but the 2 yr old is the i'm most worried about.

but since i've had more time to think... driving home for 1 hr around 11:30 at night? i now work 7p-7a and driving home 30 minutes after that is very difficult. is driving at midnight a better choice?

geez i just don't know what to do. it's no longer a money question. it's how much it's going to mess up the family situation.

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