Am I Crazy to Do This??

[dtrmnd2sccd]

I graduated this past May with my BSN, Sigma Theta Tau, 3.94 GPA, excellent references, yadda, yadda. I worked as a student nurse/aid at one of the big teaching hospitals, but alas, they have no new grad positions, even for internal applicants. I applied to hundreds of jobs, including community hospitals, rehabs, nursing homes, flu clinics, doctors offices...

I managed to land a school nurse job at a local small parochial elementary school thru the help of a friend, and have been basically been doing band-aids and ice packs, with a little bit of trauma to keep things interesting, since August. I'm out in time to pick my kids up from school, have all the same holidays, weekends, vacations, etc. But the pay is about 1/2 the typical new grad salary, and I'm not getting any kind of acute care experience that I can use to apply for "experienced" RN jobs.

I was just offered a job at a long term acute care/rehab hospital that is 45 mins from my house. Permanent nights. E/O weekend, E/O holiday. Pay is good, but they only have 8 hr shifts, so I would only do 32 hrs (4 nights) instead of 40 (5 nights). I could get home and go to sleep while my kids are in school and still be there to pick them up afterwards. Plus, I'd be getting acute care experience that I can use to move forward in my career...

I'm leaning toward taking it... even though it means leaving the cushy job close to my house. Am I nuts??

Is this the right decision??

[jpeters84]

I would take the Acute Care position. Only you know what is best for you but you went to nursing school to work in acute care, no? I would want that experience even if its going to make your life rough for a year. After a year there I bet you could take a day shift or a shift that work better for your life. The 45 minute commute is tough but it won't be for forever. With any hope this economy will turn around in a year or two and with some experience under your belt you can move to a hospital closer to home. Congratulations on the job offer and good luck to you!!!

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

The school job will lead nowhere, unless that is where to want to stay. You need to get in the game and use your skills so you can have a career. I say take the new job. Good luck.