Am I crazy?? Job decision advice... time sensitive

[ivyleaf]

So, I've been a psych nurse for 5 years, straight out of school with no m/s experience. I have been looking for a new job in psych or case management and on Fri. was offered a job that initially would have been my dream job-- inpatient psych case manager at a large teaching hospital.

However, over the past few weeks I have been considering venturing into medical nursing. I am feeling pretty burned out with psych and am itching to learn more medical stuff. I loved my ED rotation in school and would love to eventually work there. However, I HATED m/s rotations in nursing school, felt like I was always running around, never time to breathe, just throwing meds at people without talking to pts or understanding the big picture of what was going on.

So last night I was at my PD job and talked to a much more experienced nurse who recommended I go in person to a local hospital where she used to work, saying she thinks they would hire me into a tele unit (where they have a posted opening), even w/no experience, with a thorough orientation.

However, I need to let the CM job know on Monday.. She recommended to go down to the hospital tomorrow (Monday)-- which I could do (I work outpatient community mental health), but it would require a lot of finageling with my schedule, changing clothes during the day -- I am feeling stressed out thinking about it. And I'm not 100% sure I would even want the job! And if I did get it, I would have to back out of the CM job after accepting...

Am I crazy for pursuing the tele job, when I have this other job offer and it is causing me so much stress?? I am worried about starting the CM job and wanting to leave before a year to transfer into a medical unit...And I don't want to be forever pigeonholed in psych!! But am I crazy going back to m/s after I hated it so much in school?? Would tele be much different?

Any advice would be much appreciated!!!

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I would advise against it, to be honest. I can understand not wanting to stay in psych forever, but you'll kick yourself around the block if you don't accept the "dream job". And compounding the mistake by taking a med/surg-type position when you didn't enjoy it the first time around......why would you deliberately do this to yourself?

It's OK to be curious about other types of nursing jobs. I've thought for years that I'd make a good hospice nurse, but I'm a DON in assisted living, and loving it for the most part. Recently, a brand new hospice facility opened up in my area which is much closer to home and the pay is probably equal to or slightly better than my current salary, but did I even consider it? Yeah....for about two seconds, and that's for a job I know I'd enjoy.

If I were in your place, I'd take the IP case manager position and forget about being "pigeon-holed". There's probably a darned good reason why you've stayed in psych......such as, you're really good at it. :) Do a 'gut check'---listen to what your instincts are telling you. Best of luck!

[forgop]

I'm just a new grad after changing careers, but from what I've heard, you can virtually always go into med/surg at any point in your career after becoming an RN. If case management is a role you highly desire, go for it. You can always go back to med/surg bedside nursing whenever you want as those jobs are available ALL of the time.