Would you take the higher or lower stress job?

[mystory, BSN, RN]

I am in my late 20s. These jobs are just about equal in pay, benefits, and distance from home.

One is at a laser removal clinic. I have a good friend that works for the chain at another location. She raves about the job and low-stress environment.

My other option is keeping my current job as a Med/Surg nurse on a very fast-paced floor that is chronically understaffed and underfunded.

I dislike my job very much, but at least I am building my resume and my marketability by working Med-Surg, which at this particular hospital is well-known for being busy and a sink or swim weed-out challenge for many nurses, new grad to seasoned.

I may be moving in the next year or two if/when my ailing grandfather needs me to be closer. If I was staying here indefinitely I would take the laser job..but since I will likely be on the job hunt in a few years can I afford to limit my marketability in this economy?

Would would you do? Thank you in advance for your consideration.

[Novo]

If you're leaving after 2 years I would stay away from the laser clinic it might limit your future career prospects as theres a chance you'll lose some of your acute care skills. If you plan on staying at the clinic for more than 3 years then I'd say go with the clinic. It all depends on what your goals are. Are you in a position to take a pay cut? Do you feel like you won't be challenged enough or are you happy with a routine but low stress environment?

[Tait, MSN, RN]

The laser clinic sounds mind-numbingly boring to me. However, I just think about my practicum rotation in a neuro clinic where I sat and read magazines more than I had patient contact.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

Depends on your long term goals.... Only you have the answer . Seems like you already made your decision and just need us to reassure you.

[RyanCarolinaBoy, ADN, BSN, MSN]

Go prn on the med surg job and keep it on ur resume :) then work the laser clinic full time. No brainer

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Obviously, the RN with fresh med/surg experience will be more marketable when looking for an acute care job than the nurse whose most recent experience has been in a clinic. This goes without saying.

But I think when people say "you'll lose all your skills" or "you won't find a job" they're being overly dramatic. I doubt very much that a RN with a background that includes med/surg will be "unhireable" just because her last few years happened to be in a plastic surgery clinic.

If you want to try something new and you're unhappy where you are, go for it. You'll be able to pick up where you left off in acute care if you want to down the line. From what I gather, you got a med/surg job as a new grad with nothing to offer. So what on earth makes you think you wouldn't be able to find one as an experienced RN? Don't make the med/surg job out to be more than it is. It's just a job.