Covid RN quarantined away from family

[WxCxRN]

Hi everybody, I'm new to allnurses. I'm hoping to get some advice from this. I was an LVN for the past 10 years, working through the H1N1 outbreak, and the Ebola outbreak. I can say I've seen my share of scares. I recently got accepted as a New Grad RN for a Tele unit which was eventually converted to the Covid 19 unit; treating positive cases. Since the beginning I decided to quarantine myself away from my family. Both my wife and son's health hx makes them high risk. It's been over 2 months since I've physically seen them. Being a city apart, and with there not being a prosperous end date, both my family and I are starting to feel the stress of separation. Quitting is not an option; this is an amazing opportunity, and with the hiring freeze, getting another job would be a challenge, but I do terribly miss my family. I'm sure theres others out there with a similar situation. How are you guys handling it? Has anyone quit? transferred to other units? Is anyone living with a toddler at home? My co workers are either young/single new nurses or experienced nurses with grown up kids. I seem to be the only one on my floor with a toddler. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Moved to Disaster Preparation/COVID-19 forum

[LawyerRN2b]

I feel you--- I started a new grad residency back in October on my dream unit. I worked incredibly hard in school and was so excited that it paid off. Fast forward to this virus nightmare. My 6 year old has severe asthma and my mother in law (who lives with us) is being treated for colon cancer and multiple myeloma. I resigned back in early April. Heartbroken is really the word. I didn't have a choice to quarantine myself away from my family--- nowhere to go really and my kids need me. They're young and definitely wouldn't cope well-- and me either! I would miss them too much. They're 6 and 3.

My unit was "low risk" (mother baby) but the ironic part is the only two nurses I know from school who caught COVID were both on "low risk" floors--- L&D and psych. So goes to show I made the right choice. But I am floundering. I am trying to get approved for unemployment-- half way there. I've been applying to remote nursing jobs but that seems pointless b/c these jobs are competitive and you really need experience. I have been contacted to interview for the contact tracing investigator positions here in my state. If the department of health decides to go forward with my application, I would interview this week. But still---- so many "what ifs".

I also had planned to apply for NP school after 1 year of full time work, but moved that ahead and am waiting to hear whether I got in. I was so late in the game....but we shall see.

It sounds like your situation is not ideal but you are making work. If you can keep working, I would. This is going to go on for a long time and there are no guarantees of being able to transfer or getting a lower risk position. Maybe you could work and apply to other positions? Research? I wouldn't suggest remote unless you have more than a year or two under your belt (no calls at all after like 50 resumes and applications here).

Wish you the best of luck-- I couldn't imagine being away from my family---so I understand how difficult that must be. Hugs!