Do you like your long commute?

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Specializes in CCU, Geriatrics, Critical Care, Tele.

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How long is your commute to your workplace? Do you think the long commute is worth it? Do you even consider the time you spend sitting in a car, bus, or train when computing your salary?

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Haha! I am a new nursing student that will start in January and my commute to school will be 45 minutes. This is so funny.

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My commute is an hour which is long/far for the area where I live. I'm used to it though because the college I attended for years is about the same distance....and not only did I not get paid, but I spent money to go!

I did have the opportunity to take a job closer to home (20 minutes) but I chose the job farther away because it's where I really wanted to work. I would rather have to drive far to a job I like than walk next door to a job I hate.

It does make for a long day when doing 12 hour shifts, and I can never run late because it's not like I can jump out of the bed and race to work on time. Still, I think it's worth it in the end. Luckily, I drive an older, small car that's good on gas.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

I drive 3 hours each way to work. I work stretches of 12's and then go home, usually 4 on 6 off, 2 on 2 off and it repeats each two weeks (make the round trip twice each two weeks). I share an apartment in the city near the hospital with 2 other long comuter nurses who work at the same hospital. I am the shortest commute of the 3 of us. I know several other nurses who drive very long distances. In all the years I have been in nursing I have alwasy known some long distance comuters.

Even counting the 12 hours a pay period I spend driving, gas, wear and tear on the (cheap used beater) car and paying rent on the apartment I still come out way ahead of working near my home with the very low wages offered there. It isn't ideal but it works for me. I get to work in a very high paying metro area for nurses and take advantage of very low cost of living in the rural area were I live. 12 hour shifts and an understanding nurse manager make it possible.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I currently commute 15 miles one-way to work.

However, my user name is 'TheCommuter' (lol) so I have had my fair share of crazy commutes. When I was a factory worker I lived 120 miles one-way (240 miles round trip) from my place of employment.

I also had crazy school commutes. I commuted 95 miles one-way (190 miles round trip), five days per week, to an LVN program for the entire 12-month length of the school year. I also commuted 225 miles one-way (450 miles round trip) across state lines to an RN transition program two days per week for a little more than one year.

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Specializes in Public Health, Women's Health.
I currently commute 15 miles one-way to work.

However, my user name is 'TheCommuter' (lol) so I have had my fair share of crazy commutes. When I was a factory worker I lived 120 miles one-way (240 miles round trip) from my place of employment.

I also had crazy school commutes. I commuted 95 miles one-way (190 miles round trip), five days per week, to an LVN program for the entire 12-month length of the school year. I also commuted 225 miles one-way (450 miles round trip) across state lines to an RN transition program two days per week for a little more than one year.

Holy moly! I drive 38 miles one way, 45 min to an hour and 15 minute drive. I love the commute though.. It goes pretty fast when your singing at the top of your lungs and it's just about the only mental break (aside from now at work) I get from my very (VERY) energetic toddler.

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Specializes in Peds ED, Peds Stem Cell Transplant, Peds.

I drive 70 miles one way, they pay is worth it, but I really don't like my job

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45 minutes with no traffic! It doesn't bother me too much. In the morning I have time to drink my coffee and listen to music to wake myself up, on the way home I unwind before I walk into the door. I think if I didn't have that time I would be so cranky in front of my family. Usually I am able to check out mentally from the day's work by the that time and enjoy being home.

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Specializes in Peds ED, Peds Stem Cell Transplant, Peds.

Finishing up nursing school my last year, I drove 5 hours 1 way with a 3yr for a year, that was fun

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Specializes in Clinic NP.

So when I first started my clinic job, I had to drive to a very tiny town an hour away once a week plus three times a week switching sites at lunch for a 40 minute drive. After nearly wrecking at lunch hour I realized I had to change....

Ironically my boss took away the distance day re-shuffling the staff and I work at closer commutes. So i'm pretty happy!

Will say though, my other NP had worked every day in this smaller far off town, and decided to leave it despite making way more... wasn't worth the fuel, or the extra effort.

I think you've got to ask whats it worth to you. Some people acutually need the extra cash; i'll make do with the easier experience and relaxing boss.

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So when I first started my clinic job, I had to drive to a very tiny town an hour away once a week plus three times a week switching sites at lunch for a 40 minute drive. After nearly wrecking at lunch hour I realized I had to change....

Ironically my boss took away the distance day re-shuffling the staff and I work at closer commutes. So i'm pretty happy!

Will say though, my other NP had worked every day in this smaller far off town, and decided to leave it despite making way more... wasn't worth the fuel, or the extra effort.

I think you've got to ask whats it worth to you. Some people acutually need the extra cash; i'll make do with the easier experience and relaxing boss.

Exactly. I used to work with a girl who drove almost 2 hours, but it was only once a week because she got an apartment in the town where we worked. Obviously, it was worth it to her to pay rent in another town just to avoid driving back and forth every day. Her kids were grown too so she didn't have anyone depending on her to come home. Me? I don't have rent or mortgage where I live so moving wouldn't be worth it, and renting an apartment would cost more than I spend in gas. Plus, I have kids so I have to come back home every day. It would be nice to drive five minutes to an apartment and just crash though! There's no extra time at all, and barely enough to just sleep before going back when you have to wake up extra early and get home extra late because of commute time. I'm just thankful to have a job though, and enjoying it is a bonus. :yes:

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Specializes in Home Care.

I really dislike commuting anywhere that takes more than 20 minutes to get there.

My school was 20 minute drive, clinical sites were 15 minute drive.

My first nursing job was 15 minute commute.

My current job is a 15 minute commute without traffic and maybe 20 min with traffic. And now that the new light rail transit it open I can walk 4 blocks then jump on the train that goes within 2 blocks of my workplace.....a 15 minute nap :sarcastic:

And the next place I'm considering applying to is on the train line, so no driving at all.

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