Any advice for a nurse in limbo?

sauconyrunner · May 17, 2012

If you really enjoyed what you were doing before, I'd go for it. Some weekends and call and holidays are not that bad.

I did that once...I was sort of burnt out in the ED, so I took a clinic job, doing pre op prep appointments. After about 4 months...I had to just go back to the ED full time, the job was SO mind numbing....It was so totally worth weekends holidays, etc.

CarryThatWeight, BSN · May 18, 2012

Wow. I'm sorry, but in this economy when allnurses is filled with stories of nurses that are unemployed and new grads that can't find work, you're complaining because you have a great paying job and got another offer that requires you to take call and maybe work some weekends or holidays? That is nursing--it generally isn't 9-5. Most of us have to work weekends, holidays, nights, and other inconvenient hours. I understand being bored and seeking another job, but please don't complain because the offer you got was too inconvenient. Many nurses on here would love to be offered that job and would gladly take call every so often.

nursalicious · May 18, 2012

Wow. I'm sorry, but in this economy when allnurses is filled with stories of nurses that are unemployed and new grads that can't find work, you're complaining because you have a great paying job and got another offer that requires you to take call and maybe work some weekends or holidays? That is nursing--it generally isn't 9-5. Most of us have to work weekends, holidays, nights, and other inconvenient hours. I understand being bored and seeking another job, but please don't complain because the offer you got was too inconvenient. Many nurses on here would love to be offered that job and would gladly take call every so often.

I genuinely sympathize with the struggles many nurses on this board are enduring. I feel blessed that I have never had to go through needing a job and being unable to attain employment; however, the reason behind this post is not to moan and groan about a problem others wish they had. I came to a nursing board humbly seeking nursing advice and I appreciate my fellow nurses who take the time to help me through my own problem.

Ruthfarmer · May 18, 2012

Could you approach your current employer about tweaking your duties? Is there another nurse on staff who might prefer more of the paper pushing duties? Perhaps you could assume some of her/his patient care duties in a trade. If not, you'll just have to weigh how comfortable you are with the frequency of on-call of the new job against the mind numbing or soul killing aspects of the current job.

orthonurse55 · May 18, 2012

I worked in an Ortho office for 20 years and a lot of the job was paperwork. I understand what you're saying. About 50% was surgery though, so I loved it - best job I ever had!

My advice to you , as a nurse of almost 40 years - take that job that you will look forward to getting up for in the morning. We spend a lot of time there so you better be happy doing it! Very little turnover in the radiology dpeartment? That sounds pretty good, even with the change in hours. Good luck! I hope you are happy with your choice!

nursalicious · May 18, 2012

Could you approach your current employer about tweaking your duties? Is there another nurse on staff who might prefer more of the paper pushing duties? Perhaps you could assume some of her/his patient care duties in a trade. If not, you'll just have to weigh how comfortable you are with the frequency of on-call of the new job against the mind numbing or soul killing aspects of the current job.

Thanks for the suggestion. "Mind numbing" and "soul killing" are eerily accurate descriptions of what I'm feeling. My current job is definitely not making me feel alive.

anotherone, BSN, RN · May 18, 2012

haters gonna hate, (lol) good for you op for being able to obtain a job with hours you like, if that at least!!! Are there any flex/per diem positions in any local hospitals? icu, step down or med surg, I am guessing in other areas you would need more experience in those and therefore they wouldn't hire you per diem or flex.(?) this way you can stay where you are , just in case you do not like it, and still get to use more nursing skills ....Do you want to give up the other job completely? How often are the on call people called to come in for the radiology position? is this a small hospital with bigger ones near by, where traumas would go there? I can't think of many hospital jobs that do not do nights/weekends or call aside from mangers and educators but that is more paper than anything else.

nursalicious · May 18, 2012

Orthonurse55: HR called me today to extend an offer for the rad nurse job, but I was unable to answer my cell. By the time I was able to get back to her, she was gone for the day. I think I will definitely delve into this a little deeper before I just turn it down. The nurse manager told me people usually die or retire from her department, so I assume that means it's a pretty good place to work. Then I'm thinking, then why haven't you hired from within? Cautiously optimistic here. :-)

nursalicious · May 18, 2012

haters gonna hate, (lol) good for you op for being able to obtain a job with hours you like, if that at least!!! Are there any flex/per diem positions in any local hospitals? icu, step down or med surg, I am guessing in other areas you would need more experience in those and therefore they wouldn't hire you per diem or flex.(?) this way you can stay where you are , just in case you do not like it, and still get to use more nursing skills ....Do you want to give up the other job completely? How often are the on call people called to come in for the radiology position? is this a small hospital with bigger ones near by, where traumas would go there? I can't think of many hospital jobs that do not do nights/weekends or call aside from mangers and educators but that is more paper than anything else.

;)If I found something that had suitable hours for me and I really liked the job, then yes, I would leave my current job completely. My hours now are M-F 0730-1600, so I would pretty much have to leave. The hospital with the rad nurse job is a level I trauma center, so I'm sure I would get called in most for specials cases. Not sure about how much week night call is required, but weekend call is every 5-6 weekends.

CarryThatWeight, BSN · May 18, 2012

Honestly not trying to be rude, but I'm confused as to how the OP thinks they will get a challenging, stimulating position that doesnt' require weekends, holidays, or call. Do those exist? This is nursing, after all. Clinics have the best hours, but tend to be the most mundane. It seems to me that the current job is not going to change, and you really have no choice but to leave or continue to be bored to tears. As a night nurse, working days with call every 5-6 weekends doesn't sound so bad. I'm not hating, I'm being realistic.

Palmetto_Nurse · May 18, 2012

Honestly not trying to be rude, but I'm confused as to how the OP thinks they will get a challenging, stimulating position that doesnt' require weekends, holidays, or call. Do those exist? This is nursing, after all. Clinics have the best hours, but tend to be the most mundane. It seems to me that the current job is not going to change, and you really have no choice but to leave or continue to be bored to tears. As a night nurse, working days with call every 5-6 weekends doesn't sound so bad. I'm not hating, I'm being realistic.

Absolutely those jobs exist! One example is an outpatient/ambulatory surgery center. That is a wonderful, stimulating job if she doesn't mind waiting a little while to snag one as they are, in my experience, fairly difficult to get. I am assuming the reasoning is because it is a "you can have your cake and eat it, too" kind of nursing job. (I hope that doesn't offend any nurses that do this!!) I just mean you can practice clinical nursing without the dreaded nights, holidays, weekends, and call. I know several nurses that hold these positions and they say no one ever leaves. Hope this helps, OP!!!