Additional Position?

Nurses Job Hunt

Published

So I have been working FT on a Tele unit for about a year (it is my first RN job & about 30 mins south of my house). I have began looking for a position in OB a couple months ago but there are very few positions available in OB in my area. I have an interview for a position that is 1 1/2 hours north of where I currently live. There is a PRN and a FT available.

My husband thinks I should take the PRN position and stay full time at my current job in case I don't like the new one or hate the commute. We will consider moving (but then my husband will have a long commute) but only if I love my new position and transition to FT.

I was also considering taking the FT position and going PRN at my current job but then there's the issue of a long commute/moving.

What would you do?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Honestly, I would not take any job that I would have to commute at least 3 hours round trip for. You need to consider cost of fuel, your time, traffic, running late getting off work, etc. If the shifts are 12 hrs you are looking at 13-14 depending plus your drive - that isn't really smart or safe. As much as you want to work in OB it sounds like this position - unless you could move somewhere in between your and your spouses job to cut the travel time for you both, would not be the way to go. Can you pick up PRN on the OB unit where you currently are?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

For the past year and a half, I've been working at hospital 1.5 hours away (up to 3 hours with traffic). And that's only one-way. Round trip could be about 4 hours on top of my 12 hour night shift. I couldn't do it anymore so I just accepted a position at a smaller hospital about 20 min away from home. My health really depended on it. I've almost been in car accidents because I was dozing off on the way home and my brain honestly wasn't functioning as sharp, I think, because of sleep deprivation. I wouldn't recommend it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Question - if you are changing specialties, how will you obtain training in the new specialty area? How is this going to work out for your schedule? It would be very unusual to hire a PRN nurse without any relevant experience, because that category of staff is expected to fill in for absences with very little advance notice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment