I have two job offers: one is at a world-reknowned hospital in the ED and the other at a nice university hospital in medical telemetry. I worked for 2 years in telemetry as a new grad, but I always knew I wanted something more exciting and challenging, like ED or ICU. Eventually I'd like to go back to school for Acute Care NP.
Although the ED job is a dream come true, it will directly affect my family in a hard way. I have a young infant and a sweet though clueless husband (let's face it, he needs me). It will be very difficult for us because the job is for evening/nights rotating shifts, not to mention every other weekend and on-call. Much of the baby responsibilities will fall on my husband. If I take this job, I will be making it hard for him, my baby, and even my mom who has been outspoken against it from the beginning. *However*, I will have immense personal fulfillment in knowing that I am working in an area I've always wanted to and at one of the best hospitals in the world.
Or, I can work day shift in telemetry, and make everyone happy but me. Ok, that's not entirely true---if my family is happy then I'm happy, and also I hated working nights. But it's just a so-so job. It's not a wow-zer on my resume for when I want to go back to school. It pays a lot less too.
In my opinion I would put family first at this time. This is not to say that you should not follow your dream. It is just right now the timing doesn't seem right. Infants demand a lot of time, add on top of that hubby in medical school to me that sounds like a lot of stress. To add to all of that the stress of the ER job, yikes!
I chose....the telemetry job. I was grieved for a few days, but now I see that it's really the best decision by far. Don't even know why the answer wasn't jumping out at me from the beginning! Family comes first at this stage in my life, and I'm confident that other great opportunities will present themselves.
Thanks you all who replied here because it really did help me "see the light". I start August 8. :)
I chose....the telemetry job. I was grieved for a few days, but now I see that it's really the best decision by far. Don't even know why the answer wasn't jumping out at me from the beginning! Family comes first at this stage in my life, and I'm confident that other great opportunities will present themselves.
Thanks you all who replied here because it really did help me "see the light". I start August 8. :)
I think you are wise to put your family first. You have a baby and a husband in med school. And you are young, both in age and career. Taking the steady day job will give you a chance to build your marriage, your relationship with your child, your skill level and your networking connections. When you have a solid foundation beneath you, that will be a good time to branch out and try for something more exciting.
You can't ever go back and experience your child's early years again. And your husband's career responsibilities with med school are more likely than not to increase and escalate. How wonderful that you can be the anchor person for the time being. Your willingness to do so says a lot about your maturity and your desire to have your family function as a whole.
"Personal fulfillment" can sour quickly if it costs too much on the home front. I put that in quotes because I don't know how fulfilled a person can be independent of their family's well-being. At any rate, I doubt that you will have cause to regret your decision.
The right job at the wrong time is still the wrong job.
Someday, when the timing is right for everyone, you'll get another crack at one dream job or another. And then it will be good for all of you.
Congratulations on finding balance and peace. Best wishes in your new job.
.thumb.jpg.b5941a59ea32ff932e67dc1d73a2705b.jpg){kind=small}
bubblymom373
123 Posts
In my opinion I would put family first at this time. This is not to say that you should not follow your dream. It is just right now the timing doesn't seem right. Infants demand a lot of time, add on top of that hubby in medical school to me that sounds like a lot of stress. To add to all of that the stress of the ER job, yikes!