Advice Needed Please!!!

[CTICU-RN]

Long story but to make things short, i have been a CTICU nurse for 2 years and worked at the same hospital in the same unit for almost 10 years. Things (life in general) were getting too "routine" for me and I wanted a change so, I decided to make a drastic change and completely relocated to another state. I accepted a position in a CVICU at a small local hospital in the area and have been there for about 3 months now. I HATE everything about the hospital that I literally cry everyday I have to go to work, I hate it THAT much!!

Now I love life in my new state but absolutely can't stand my job. My job is very important to me and I have NEVER in my life hated my job or dreaded going to work like I do now.

For starters, I used to work in a very large hospital and had everything I ever needed at my fingertips. The unit was very challenging, which I loved and is a lot of the reason I enjoy being a critical care nurse to begin with. Also I am still a new enough nurse that I feel like I NEED that challenge. The hospital I am in now is.....very different - to say the least. From the hospital as a whole to the unit itself, it is just complete and utter chaos. And the ICU pts are basically floor pts to me. I feel like I am paying $40,000 in student loans I acquired to become a nurse to sit and stare at walls, it's that bad!! The pay is good and it's easy but not for me.

The area that I relocated to offers very limited job opportunities for a nurse if you want the high end, fast paced, challenging sick pts. The closest big hospital similar to my previous one is 2 hours away, and I've seriously been thinking about just moving back "home". When you work a 12 hour night and drive 2 hours to work and 2 hours home, it just sounds ridiculous to me, BUT in my career as a nurse, I believe I would be much happier at the larger hospital.

I have no family here but a very good day care here for my children. My fiancé absolutely loves it here all around and the thought of going back home is not even an option in his mind.

Do I just give up and go back "home" (without my fiancé) or do I suck it up, apply to the larger hospital and take the drive to be happy in my career??

I am at a complete and utter loss but also completely miserable where I am.

At the end of the day a paycheck isn't worth compromising your happiness!!

Any thoughts?? Please and thank you!!

[midisland]

sounds like you moved to central Florida. I like to call it the drip pan for the country.

1. while you are young get the hell away from bedside and get a higher advanced degree.

2. I hate to tell you money is what pays the bills

3. get out of or don't come to florida

4. good luck

[danmarin_99]

Bravo fellow central Floridian... I work in a CCU in central FL and it's exactly as you describe. I was a brand new graduate and was hired on immediately out of school. All I want to do now is get away from bedside ASAP for the challenges I hear about at larger hospitals... Not because of the nature of the CCU, but because I feel like I am missing out on some huge experiences I could find at larger hospitals... I echo the previous posters suggestions to OP.

[Biffbradford]

I know where you're coming from. I also went from a major CVICU with VADs, BiVADS, TAH, transplants, etc to a small general/cardiac ICU with the 'easy' CABGs. Occasionally there were the hot STEMIs with hypothermia protocols or other sick patients, but not the 'sicker than snot' cases seen in the major hospital. I don't think we ever sent a patient back to O.R. for bleeding. There were days when I'd take report, look at the clock and think "11 hrs, 30 mins to go. First med pass in 2 hours" and then have one of my two patients walk by as he walks laps around the unit. I eventually moved on, but for personal reasons other than that.

I was looking for a change though. I had enough of the rooms so full of equipment that you wondered if there actually was a patient in there somewhere. Been there, seen that, still trying to forget.

Perhaps you can get a split assignment between the ICU and the cath lab? Mix it up a bit? Or use some of that time to work on some education that interests you.

Best of luck!

[Bossy Boss]

I have to agree with midisland on education. I was in the same boat I felt that I hit the glass ceiling being a clinical nurse superior. Don't get me wrong it was very challenging on a CCU floor at a trauma one center but I felt that I was just not going anywhere. So, I went back to school to add chaos and stress back into my life. I am now a manager dealing with more people and more problems, but with better pay. I like what am doing. Maybe step into a charge nurse position or fill in the ER there. Could go back to school and change you title and become CRNA,PA or Nurse Educator. The great thing about nursing is that your could cross train into so many position or advance on. I also did fire & rescue for years. If trauma and adrenaline is what your want, see about becoming a life flight nurse. Best of luck.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Your SO is happy here and not anxious to leave. If you do go back "home", it will probably mean leaving your SO -- and the relationship behind. Is happiness in your job really worth your relationship? If so, it probably isn't the right relationship, so go for it. On the other hand, your life is happy here, you just don't like your job.

You COULD make up your mind that the rest of your life is more important than your job, suck it up and deal with the boring job while you look for another in the area. ER, cath lab, transport nursing?

You could get a job in the big hospital 2 hours away, work 3 12s in a row and stay there overnight for two nights. You'd have a hellacious commute your first day and your last, but only one round trip commute a week. Rent a room from a coworker and get the monthly rate at the local fleabag motel.

If you do get a job in the big hospital, is your SO willing to move an hour in that direction so you split the commute?