Finding my niche.

[twokidsmom,rn]

I am 45 yrs old with 2 school aged children. I worked as an aide at a LTC facility during school. After I graduated May 2008 I worked for 18 months for a large hospital on a med surg floor 3 nights a week which was 1hr from home. I wanted to find full time, have been working 5 nights a week at a close VA hospital but the 5 nights a week is very hard on me and my family. I did ask to be changed to 12 hr shifts and was denied so therefore I started looking for other work. I have accepted a position for a home health company which is 9-5 weekdays. I am afraid I will not be making as much money, the agency did say they had plenty of work for me. I could also fill in time at my local Bayada if needed. Not sure if I am making the right decision. My MD suggested for me to get a day position that my current schedule is not good for my health. Just want to find my niche.

[Nursemom64]

I'm also 45 with 2 kids (mine are teenagers though), worked at a couple different hospitals in med/surg (night shift) and at an in-patient hospice house. I loved working at the hospice house but it went out of business. Working nights was fine but I'm ready to move on, don't want to work med/surg anymore...not my "bag". I want to get back into hospice, I think that's my niche. Yeah, I hear ya about the pay not being as much as the hospital, but you still make pretty good money (sounds like they have enough patients to keep you busy and they wouldn't call you off). When I think about it, I'm ok with sacrificing a few dollars for a job that I enjoy going to.