Commuting.....Need advice!!!

Nurses General Nursing

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I would like to know how far have you or would be willing to drive to get to work. I will be accepting a position that is 2 hours from my front door to theirs. As we all know the job market sucks right at this moment and we have to take what we can get so to speak....It wouldn't be everyday either only working three days a week 12-hour shifts nights. Any advice or information on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Ladies and Gents!!!

I have known nurses who 'shared' a one bedroom apt to stay at part-time to avoid some of the commuting.

I would be exhausted with a 17 hour day!!!

Best wishes!

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Specializes in ER.

I just graduated and got an RN job 20 minutes from home. Until I start there, I am still a tech at a place 50 minutes from home. I thought when I took the job that I could handle 50 minutes easily and it wasn't a big deal. However, I work nights, and oh my word do I get sleepy on the way home! It's really only by the grace of God I haven't wrecked yet. I like to work all my nights in a row, to minimize "hangover" days, but it is hard if I leave work even just a little late (and we're not allowed to clock out til 15 after) to get enough sleep and get back to work on time (have to clock in 15 min early). I would have made a significant amount more as an RN there, but chose not to take it (in part) because of the drive. Most of the nurses are there at least an hour late, and I would never have been able to get enough sleep. It just wasn't worth the money to me to drive there any more. If you are able to hold out a little longer for a job closer (if your finances allow), I would wait. A long commute is a major PITA.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

you have to factor in that you may get out of report late, something may conspire to keep you around longer, you may have a emergency close to shift change, etc. NEVER jeopardize your life due to a job. If you're tired, get off the road!

I once did not heed this advice. I wound up missing a guardrail by 4 feet, landed in a farm ditch that was full of water(thankfully, otherwise I probably would have crunched myself up in a car), and my car drowned. thankfully I am alive to post this.

resign yourself to needing to stay in a hotel, or with family, or get that small apartment or even a rental room. Just somewhere with a bed.

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Hello. Long ago a few of my RN co-workers traveled from their homes in Kentucky to Tennesse to work every weekend in our neonatal intensive care unit. At that time, the hospital offered a special employment option of full-time pay if one agreed to work two twelve hour shifts every weekend. These nurses made arrangements to sleep in a local motel between the two shifts of work. As some other posters have mentioned, long commutes to work are less user friendly if one has a family. Best wishes!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Oncology.

I drive 2 hours to work and am there 12 hours Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights . I stay with a friend who is gone on the weekends. On day shifts I drive back and forth, but it just about kills me. I am married with kids. It works perfect for my family. I am able to have the weekdays off to help my kids with homework and after school activities. We have a couple other nurses that drive an hour and a half or better, but by the 3rd day they are zombies. I don't think I could drive everyday... HTH

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Specializes in Assisted Living Nurse Manager.

You will get quite a few different answers on this subject. You will have those who think the commute is not big deal and those who would not do it at all.

I personally have taken a job that I will have to drive too 5 days a week that is an hour away. :rolleyes: We do what we have to do for a job these days. I graduated over 8 months ago and I am just now getting an RN job.

I am a firm beleiver that you will never know unless you try! Some things just have a way of working themselves out!!!

Good Luck!!!!!

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Specializes in floor to ICU.
I have family I could stay with while there for back to back shifts.

I think it would work if you stayed w/ them. Otherwise, it may become too dangerous because of sleep deprivation.

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Specializes in PP, Pediatrics, Home Health.

I work night shifts in a city that is roughly 45 minutes away from me if there is traffic.Without traffic i could get there in 30-35 minutes.The farthest I have commuted is an hour and it was hard especially when I was doing 5 days in a row.By the last few days i felt like a zombie.

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Specializes in Women's Health.

folks I have worked with in a hosp did this... for your & your co-workers mental well being... do NOT do all 3 shifts in a row.......one nurse was a maniac @ the end of 3 shifts and was asked to leave

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I don't think it's so easy to just get a hotel room...I mean even if you got a reallly cheap one and only spent 100 a WEEK..well thats 400 a month....thats a HUGE bill!!!! And I doubt you could find a decent safe hotel for that, plus youd have to eat out all the time.

I say NO WAY to a 2 hour drive, even if I knew people to stay with, thats way too much time away from home.

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Specializes in ED.

Dont commute by car. If there are some cheap options like train etc try that. I have a friend who lives in Boca Raton, FL, takes the trirail down to downtown Miami. He brings his roadbike with him inside the train

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Specializes in Alzheimer/Dementia.

30 minutes

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