nursing career switch...help!!

Nurses Career Support

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Hello, everyone-

I am an RN/BSN, and have been for 3 years. I live on the west coast.

Since graduation, I have been working in Public Health (which I love, but the pay is AWFUL, and the politics of being supervised by non-medical staff are even worse). I am also getting my MSN in nursing education (graduate in May, 2008), so am teaching part-time in preparation for this (co-lecturing for med surg).

I have been thinking that it would be best to work med-surg just to get all of the fundamentals down pat, plus it would make me more marketable once I obtain my MSN degree. The pay would be better, too. I am looking at a day shift, full-time (12 hrs per shift) med-surg position.

Question is: do I leave a job that I love, but is not challenging or mentally difficult in any way, or......... do I take a job that I might not like as much, but challenges me as a nurse and keeps my skills fresh, plus makes me more marketable as a nursing instructor?

Please help....I have a huge dilemma here, and will be having an interview soon. I don't know who to ask if this is the correct decision or if I should just stay put!

Thank you in advance for your replies...I will definitely take them to heart!

Kathy F.

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Oh, I think you should definitely do the med-surg! That's tailor-made! How wonderful to get an opportunity to do the exact thing you will be teaching. And you will have all the latest information, having been "in the trenches," so to speak. Should make you VERY, VERY desirable as an instructor.

I'd go for the med-surg!

Good luck to you. I'm sure you'll do well. :balloons:

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Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

I would have to ask you, if you love public health nursing, why are you getting an MSN and planning to teach? Do you plan to teach and do public health nursing? If so, and the med-surg position is just a temporary thing to improve your marketability, then I'd say go for it.

I would also have to ask you, if you get no challenge out of public health, why do you love it? Is there a way you could use your MSN to stay in public health and improve your position, making it more challenging and better paying?

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When it comes to choosing between two offers, it's all about your priorities in life and your perspectives for the future. It really depends on what you want to be in the future. And it also depends on your personality. I mean what would to like to do best - to be the best at one thing or to evolute and try to polish yourself in other directions as well?

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