Commute Time

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I was wondering how long everyones commute to work is. If you have a long one, how do you manage it with 12 hr shifts? I think I may have a long commute (over an hour) to a new job soon until I am financially stable enough to move.

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Specializes in ICU.

I've been doing it for almost 3 years now. My commute is about an hour (51 miles door to door). The commute to work isn't the problem for me, just the trip home. It gets pretty tiring, especially when I've had a horrible shift. There was one time that I genuinely did not feel safe to drive after work and I ended up napping on a coworkers couch for a few hours before driving home. I find that it helps me to have something to snack on for the drive home. Just be mindful of your limits when it comes to being able to safely do the drive.

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I used to drive 1.5 hrs. It did not work for me. Too much wear and tear on my car (quadruple the norm) and worrying when the weather went bad. However, I know people who do it and make it work.

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

I am incredibly lucky. My main job is 15 minutes on a good day, and my per diem job is 50 seconds from my door. After years of long commutes I am very happy with this.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Currently, my commute is 8 minutes, door to door (I live in a small community).

The last time I worked nights was in Denver, and my commute was 30-40 minutes. It was not unusual for me to have to pull off at the truck stop midway home to nap for an hour before continuing home in the morning.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

I only work 8 hour shifts but my commute is 50-60 minutes - a rural country drive. I've found podcasts help more than anything (especially liked S-town and Serial). I tried some audio books and I enjoyed them but I find my mind starts wandering and then I miss something important, where a podcast doesn't matter as much if my wandering mind takes off.

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I was wondering how long everyones commute to work is. If you have a long one, how do you manage it with 12 hr shifts? I think I may have a long commute (over an hour) to a new job soon until I am financially stable enough to move.

I had a 1 hour 45 minute commute. I lasted 18 months. In the winter I would have to leave hours earlier to make sure I got there and then it could take hours to get home. The wear and tear on my car and gas got really spendy, I was exhausted ALL the time and my quality of life was absolutely zero. If you can find a cheap room to rent and get your days scheduled back to back you might make it work but that isn't always possible. I know there are a few here that made it work but I couldn't. Plus because of the nature of my job I often worked 5-6 hours past my scheduled shift.

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I can get there in less than 10 minutes. The length of time it takes to get from parking lot to building to floor is twice that long!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

My fifteen step 'commute' up to my office from my kitchen is looking pretty sweet right now. :)

But I used to drive about an hour- and actually liked it because it was my way of leaving home at home and work at work. But yes, pull over and take a short nap if you are too tired to drive. Better late than never (arriving)

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Specializes in Trauma ICU.

I left a less than 10 minute commute for an almost hour commute. The drive there is no problem. Sometimes coming home I am really tired, doesn't help that I'm on nights. In some ways, I prefer the longer commute, it gives me time to mentally process my day.

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

You will hate me, 5 blocks

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Specializes in Pedi.

I have never lived more than 6 miles from my primary workplace. I may go up to 8 miles depending on where I get an offer in the coming weeks as I am currently looking to switch jobs. When I worked in the hospital, I mostly took public transportation. I sometimes fell asleep on that on the way home so I don't know how the people who lived farther did it driving. I did get to a point where I drove at night and parked at meters that didn't operate overnight and even on my 15 minute drive home I'd get sleepy so I definitely can't imagine driving an hr after working a night shift. Fortunately I don't rotate shifts or work 12 hr shifts anymore.

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