At a crossroads

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I guess I just need someone to talk to. Maybe get some ideas. The posts on this sites have been extremely helpful and there is a lot of wisdom out there.

I have been an RN(ADN) for 16 years, I am single, I have a grown child who will be leaving home to move cross country later this summer. I have no family nearby. I recently found out that I may not have a full-time job in a few months if my current company doesn't get their contract renewed with their major client. I have been working for them for 1 year. I went prn at my former job when I took my current full time job and still pick up a few shifts there. So, if I must, I can go back to working full time at my old job.

So, right now I have a lot of choices to make. Do I sell my house (or try to), move back closer to family even though the weather there is cold, taxes are high and the job market tough (but not impossible). My parents are in their 70s now, and it would be nice to be close in case of health problems. It would also be nice to see my 3 nieces.

Do I travel? I have heard nightmarish stories about the facilities travelers are assigned to as well as traveling companies not paying, disregrading contracts etc... I also have 2 large dogs (labs) who would make lodging a challenge. But, I also realize that this may be the last chance I have when I have very few barriers to have an adventure like this.

Do I just pull out a US map and throw a dart, pack up my stuff and move?

Do I stick around here and go back full time at my prn place of employment or try for other jobs in the area?

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Specializes in Med/Surg,Cardiac.

Do you have an adventurous spirit? If you do, maybe traveling would be great for you. What is going to make you happiest? You could always take one contract and see how you like it? I hope you figure it out and it makes you happy :)

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Pray about this! Our heavenly father has all the answers!

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Specializes in ER.

I think family trumps everything else. Family is what matters in my opinion. I know some would disagree, but I have lost both parents, a sister and a husband and I hold my children and grandchildren very close to my heart. I can't imagine why you would even consider staying where you are. Travel? I had good luck as a traveler, great experiences! But I had my husband with me then.

I agree with horsebytes. If you are a praying person, you will get a clear answer.

In this economy, choices are a bit harder to make, but I wish you very well.

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I lost my mother a few years back. I would seriously consider moving close to your parents. When they are gone, you will have similar opportunities available, but when they are gone, they are gone.

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Specializes in Emergency.

I've been a traveler...it is for some people, and not for others.

I have found for my own health I prefer a stable job...no having to relearn personalities each assignment, relearn different charting systems, etc etc...

Travelling with my dog (golden ret.) was an enormous hassle. It was hard hard hard to find appropriate housing. I some times ended up having to stay 35-45 min away from the hospital I was working at. I also found the money was really not that great. I have 10 yrs of experience, so now I actually make more at my local hospital than I would as a traveler...That said... I got to experience some really great times as a traveler. Fall in New Hampshire, Florida in Winter, New Mexico...well, I never want to return to NM. Etc. But to be honest I had housing problems for almost every assignment due to Fido.

I would say go for family, but...I can not say much...as I don't live anywhere near my family and my parents are ALMOST at the same age.

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

i would be curious to see the outcome of your situation, after all you sound like a true survivor to me. therefore, i have no doubt that you'll succeed in more ways than you're aware of. wishing you the very best in all of your future endeavors as i send you a warm hug from across the miles...aloha~

p.s. keep us posted :cool:

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Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.

Wow, I know this must exciting and scary to you! I have always LOVED travel nursing and the freedom and independence it brings. That said, it's not for everyone. I even get homesick at times, and I know now after my divorce, I would feel strange traveling alone. So my advice, . . .

Search your heart! It sounds like you are a pleaser/servant spirit like me, (the way you are already planning care for parents who aren't yet sick, and the child you have raised who obviously left you with a case of "empty nest." Use this time now to make YOUR life what you want it to be. Move where YOU want to be. Live so that when your on that deathbed, you will breath a sigh of relief that tried everything you wanted to do, and have no regrets!

Those who never try, never make any mistakes. Don't be afraid to fail, failure teaches us what we don't want to repeat. It is a bittersweet lesson. You are bound to nothing. Try it, and if you don't like it, the only person you have affected is yourself. Then move on and try the next thing. But Please, take care of yourself now, and focus on what makes you happy! You have spent a whole life in service to your family!

Now have a little fun!

:redbeatheBoston

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I lost my mother a few years back. I would seriously consider moving close to your parents. When they are gone, you will have similar opportunities available, but when they are gone, they are gone.

This.

Jobs come and go, destinations will always be there... your folks are the only ones you'll ever have and are in their 70's, so who knows how much time you have with them.

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Thank you all for reading my post. I am still exploring options. I have found some seasonal positions in Arizona and Florida that look interesting. I applied for 2 in Florida and heard back from one recruiter today.

I did not like my conversation with her on the phone. She talked and talked and I could barely get a word in edgewise. She kept going on and on about how they are looking for permanent Dialysis employees but do not have seasonal Dialysis job openings. When she paused to take a breath, I said "I don't have to do Dialysis. I am interested in a seasonal med-surg position". Then she went on about how they need people with current acute care experience, and so she went ahead and forwarded my application to the head of the Dialysis department and they would be in contact with me and could even fly me down for an interview.

I had to interrupt her again so I could speak. I told her that although I work in Dialysis full-time now, I am still employed part time at an LTAC. (Long term ACUTE care) She said "Oh,you don't have that listed". I KNOW I have that listed, because I have worked there 8 YEARS and would not have forgotten to omit it. Then she said "well we don't take nurses whose experience is long-term acute care". I then went on to explain what long-term acute care was, how the patients are really like stable ICU patients ie, ventilators, IV drips, wounds. She said "well let me have you talk to so-and-so, she can explain it better than I can, but we do not feel nurses with an LTAC background have appropriate experience". So, she put me on hold for several minutes. The phone even hung up once, and I called back, she apologized for accidentally hanging up. Then she tried to connect me again, but it just rang and rang. Then she came back on the line and said she would have this other woman call me to explain. I said "Okay, sounds good". I don't expect to hear back.

Geez...

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P.S. I am not interested in living in Florida full-time. I just wanted a warm place for the winter

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I live in Florida and our winters are bone chilling cold - all 4 days of winter! tee-hee!

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