which direction to go???

[LevitateMe, RN]

Ok, so I am a "new" RN, graduated in May, however I have 6 years of prior LVN experience (clinic, assisted living and pedi home health). I have an Associates degree and have noticed that most hospitals are preferring BSN. After graduating I stuck with my position i've had for a year as a pedi private duty nurse, I like several aspect about it, I love my kiddo, three 12 hour shifts a week is full time, and it's fairly easy.

However, I am getting bored, it's an hour drive to and from work, I don't get home until 8 pm at night and its making being healthy and working out with my husband nearly impossible, i can't ask him to sit and wait for almost three hours for me to get home and walk the area before he gets to shower.

So i applied for a few jobs and a clinic in my neighborhood called me today. At first I was like "eh" it will be less pay i'm sure, and I was thinking of holding out for an internship this winter in the hospital, but I'm torn, cause it would be a 10 minute drive to work, better hours and could possibly work out evenly in pay, when you factor in the extra hours to make 40, and shorter drive...

And if i hold out for the hospital I'll at worst be getting 12 hour shifts downtown or at best 12 hours shift at the hospital in my neighborhood hospital still not getting home until 730, 8 or later. But since neither called me for the summer I'm afraid to turn down anything that might be better for me "just in case they call"........

And with so many new grads entering the workforce I read an article that expecting all new grads to get hospital experience is becoming unrealistic..... Will it look bad if I work in a clinic for a couple years while I finish my BSN instead of getting hospital experience as a new grad ADN???

What to do what to do??

And since the lady who called me today said she was prescreening for the position and asked what days i am off, should I call her tomorrow or wednesday and ask how it's coming and if I could get an interview friday when i'm off again??

Thanks for listening

[johnny depp23]

I couldn't do the whole hour drive to work thingy. That would get old reallll fast. :hrnsmlys:

[LevitateMe, RN]

Nice name lol

Unfortunately I have always had a job a ways away cause i've always lived outside of downtown. This clinic would be in my neighborhood like so close, I wouldn't know what to do if I didnt have to get out the door before 6 am! I just hope I didn't blow it this morning, she did wake me up.... that's why I'm thinking of calling her I don't want her to write me off because I wasn't really prepared for her call. I did go buy two new interview shirts today : )

[honeykrown, MSN, NP]

I would say interview for it unless you are absolutely sure you would get the hospital position in winter. There is no harm there. Make a list of pros and cons, try to see if the pros out weigh the con. In the end the decision is yours (you could also ask your husband for advise as mine is the best advisor to me)

[LevitateMe, RN]

mine is too : ) I am thinking I'd like to do clinic for now and apply for the hospital once I get my BSN, I want to lose weight and get that degree finished first or i'm afraid I'll never get it all done working twelves.... I have done it for a year now, with low stress (in private duty) and I see how hard getting anything else done on work days is.

[honeykrown, MSN, NP]

Then go for the clinic job, I do know that most workplace has a 90 day probation period in which you can quit and they can fire. Also a 2-3month gap in employment is not that bad.

Goodluck

[SushiRN]

I graduated in 2009 when the economy fell and hospitals weren't hiring new grads period. So I luckily found a job in a family practice where I triaged for 2 years. I got pregnant and decided I wanted to live closer to home. I accepted a supervisor position in a family practice 10 minutes away, but I'm heading into month 5 and I'm not as happy as I thought I would be. I go in at 815 and leave at 530. I get an hour break for lunch and go play with my son at my mother's who lives 5 minutes from my job. By the time I get home with my son it's 600 and I feel like I spend NO time with him. He's about to turn 8 months and I feel like I have missed out on so much. Now, I'm applying to all hospitals w/in a 25 mile radius of me for a 12 hr night position. I don't feel like I have lost any of my skills. I can still assess patients, I triage in person and on the phone, I can manage and supervise an office that see 150 patients a day. Venipuncture, immunizations, injections, EKGs, wound care, suture/staple removal. I can do it all. All the positions I've been applying for no longer mandate 1-2 years HOSPITAL experience. They say "1-2 years acute nursing experience". I would now love a new challenge and gain more experience in a hospital and work towards my BSN. PLUS if I work nights I don't have to pay $760/month in childcare. I love my mom and appreciate her leaving her server job to watch my son, but that money can go towards his college fund and she understands completely.