Your input is all appreciated, so bring it on! I'm a nurse for 25 years, and have had only 3 jobs- 5 years in a hospital, 12 years for a home health agency, and nearly 9 years at the nursing home I now work at. I am at a point in my career of 25 years where I am feeling burnout. I am an MDS Coordinator at the LTC facility, and have held that position since I've started there. I'll try to be brief without it turning into a venting session. I used to LOVE the position, worked 32 hours a week with flexible hours, and it was great. Over the past several months, MANY big changes have been made corporate-wide, really affecting my job. I now work 36-50 hours a week, and with the changes, I no longer feel like a nurse, more like 90% secretary/billing clerk and 10% nurse. I really need a change. I would consider going back to home health but I've been there/done that with on-call and miles of travelling. I miss patient contact and patient care- I no longer have an opportunity for that in the nursing home due to my job changes, and I don't want an 11-7 floor nurse or supervisor position there, all that's ever available. I am seriously considering private duty. There is a Bayada agency close by and I have heard mostly very good things about them. I have been reading though the posts here. I already anticipate that I'd have to take a pay cut, and health insurance will take more out of our budget if I have to go on my husband's. Do any of you do private duty as your primary job? Since I haven't done hands-on patient care in nearly 9 years, I fear being totally lost. I've had trach experience and was comfortable with it, no vent experience, and as for peds, probably the last time I've cared for a child was my nephew, who is now 22! I'd like to work 32 hours a week, day shift, and a very occasional 3-11 or weekend. Am I living in a dream world? Would it be a wise move to consider?
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