Confused on what to do

I currently work in a community hospital for the past 2.5 years with nurse to patient ratio of 1:9.. lately we have been 1:10 and I feel very unsafe, overwhelmed, burnt out, etc. management is taking advantage of us and I think im ready to find another job because I have anxiety attacks before I get to work because I never know what Im going to walk into. It is mentally and physically draining and I am done with this place and the turnover rate is ridiculous. The only thing holding me at my current job is the fact that they are paying for my tuition and if I leave, I will owe the money back. Anyways I am trying to decide if I should find another RN job at a different facility.. or should I do travel nursing? I work on med surg/tele. I feel if I work at another facility, then there will be a delay in my travel nursing but I do not have the funds as a cushion to travel at the moment if I pay back my tuition. Any advice? I need a change and I feel traveling will get me out of my small town where nothing ever changes. I just feel very stuck in life, I am 26 years old and I need something more out of life. I have no kids, no boyfriend and my family will be moving to NC within the next 5 years.

I would look for another job in a new facility and leave travel nursing on the back burner, for now. With that many patients in acute care, you're probably operating in survival mode, not learning as much as you could be, and not taking care of patients in the manner that they should be taken care of.

I started out as a new grad with insane ratios 1:8 and an LVN with 8 to cover. I'm great at prioritization and multi-tasking, but had a lot of fine tuning to do when I finally got out of that place after two years.

It often costs hospitals too much to 'go after' you for tuition reimbursement. They may send a letter or what not but don't expect to be

in court for it.

I would agree with the others. Those are horrible ratios; if you are that unhappy I would think about leaving to get experience on another unit

If after 6mo+ somewhere else, you feel competent enough to try traveling, go for it

Or, if you are really feeling the itch to travel now, give it a shot. I wish I traveled more when I was younger/unattached

You'll never get this time back!

*feeling old and nostalgic*