At a crossroads... any advice?!

[JLB1215]

Hi everyone, so I have been an ICU nurse for a little over 2 years. I really do enjoy my job and love the hospital I work at. I was lucky enough to get a day position and even a part time one with ability to pick up extra time whenever, since having my son! The thing is I have ALWAYS had an attraction to women's health. I struggled having my son and figured I could help others given what I went through. So I have been applying to L & D positions for quite some time now and NADA. Everyone is looking for experience only and even having critical care has not been good enough. I heard about a "fellowship" for L & D but it is for a full time nights position only. I am not sure this would work with my sons schedule. I have a phone interview on tuesday and am deliberating weather or not I can take this position. I have been waiting so long for this opportunity and a fellowship at that would be amazing!! But I don't know if I want to go back to nights full time again. The pros to taking this position are... better benefits, more money, more opportunity in multiple ways if I want to go back to school etc. but the cons are further and longer commute, nights, starting over as a "new nurse" type feeling, making this leap and not knowing if I will love the move... does anyone have any advice to add to this scenario?? Im just not sure what I should do!! I know someone who works there who said its a 2 year waiting list for a day position and its very hard to even get a night time part time position....Thanks in advance to anyone who answers!!

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

Night shift works well for some parents, specially if the children are school aged or they have some support at home to help with child care. Working nights, you're home in the morning to get the kids ready for school, can sleep while they are in school and are awake and home for dinner time. You mentioned the commute is longer, though, so you'll need to figure out exactly what that means. If you're scheduled 7p-7a, but you have to leave the house before 6 to get to work and don't get home until after 8, the benefits of night shift may not be worth it. With younger children, you would need someone to care for your son during the day after your shifts so you could sleep, and you would need someone that is home at night time. Working night shift can also be very physically and emotionally difficult for some people. It sounds like you've done it before, so you're the best judge of whether it's something you're willing to take on again. Your kids are only young once, so my personal advice would be to choose the position that allows you to spend the most quality time with your family. Opportunities to transition to women's health will keep coming up, especially with ICU experience.