First nurse job 1.5hour commute

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 7, 2016

They laid off 60 nurses within the last 12 months and are now hiring more? Flags are flying high for me...

So much THIS.

Wrench Party · Jul 7, 2016

This long commute and past financial situation make me skeptical of this position. I want to work a place where there are a) senior nurses and they are b) happy about staying at their current institution.

Additionally, I've never seen people stay more than a few months at my large teaching hospital that have a commute > 1 hr that didn't do some shift stacking or renting rooms. Most people get burned out quickly and look for positions closely to home.

I got hired with a nurse that quit barely 4 months into her position. She lived about 1.5 hours away and had a toddler, so the floor staff knew that wasn't going to last very long.

chacha82, ADN, BSN · Jul 7, 2016

Will you be working 12 hour shift? It doesn't sound bad if you are since it is only 3 days a week but what if you don't get off work on time. Instead of getting off at 7:30a you are there until 8:15a. Now you won't be home until 9:45a. By the time you shower(believe me most people want a shower) and go to sleep it is 10:30a. Now you must leave for work at 5:15 to get to work by 7p (add 15 minutes of cushion ) That would be rough. I just assumed you would be working nights but same goes if you work 12 hour days. What about needing to go into work for mandatory meetings or educational classes? This 90 minutes is without traffic, accidents or weather delays?
If it 8 hour shifts it would be rough as it would likely be 5 days a week but you'd have more spare time each day.
I think finding a room to rent on the times you work consecutive days would be a great idea as a PP said.

This is a great point. I don't know how it is in the ED, but some days I'm not out of report until 8 or after that. If you have to be back that night, it is a long way to drive, sleep a few hours, be back for 12.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jul 7, 2016

I'm not concerned about the 90 minute drive but more concerned about the fact that they laid off 60 nurses due to "financial reasons".

How do you know you will have a job in a month, 2 months or 3 months? I sure as hell wouldn't take a job with a company that just laid off a bunch off nurses because of financial reasons. Unless you 500% need the job. I would be looking elsewhere.

RescueNinja, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2016

I have an interview for a potential employer for emergency room hospital position. This hospital laid off 60 nurses last year and the drive is 1.5 hours from my home. So a 3 hour total commute on days I would work if hired. Not sure if it would be worth it but my area is not hiring nurses with no experience. Opinions please. Thanks

Hi Gri4585,

I also had a problem with finding jobs around my area so my commute is two hours on the way and two hours back. It is a long distance, but the facility is where I always wanted to work so I am happy. If you have any friends or family close by, I would seriously recommend staying with them. I am going to stay with my friend from nursing school when I start working on the 25th.

Buyer beware, BSN · Jul 8, 2016

The commute is not your issue. The reason the facility "laid off" 60 nurses is. The financial " issues" have not been resolved and 60 laid off nurses... will be coming back for their jobs.

Once again you have exhibited an uncanny ability to cut to the heart of the matter. The difference between tunnel vision and a more substantive global view. All the best!!!

NOADLS · Jul 8, 2016

The alternative to not being willing to commute is to not accept the job. If you don't accept the job, you don't have to deal with the commute.

It sounds like the demand for nurses is very low in your area. If you pass this up, who knows when you might get another opportunity?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2016

I commuted to work 120 miles one-way (240 miles round trip) when I lived in southern California. It was doable for about a year, then it grew tired rather quickly.

I suggest you accept what's been offered to you if you have no other options. Accrue this valuable work experience while you actively seek other opportunities. Good luck to you.

Bumex, DNP, NP · Jul 8, 2016

I have to do a 110 minute commute to my first gig. I actually ended up stringing the night together and staying at a local cheap motel if I was tired and couldn't make the drive home

gelli.25 · Jul 8, 2016

My first nursing job was about 50minutes to 1hour commute each way. It was absolutely brutal. It was a night shift position, 7p-7a. However, it was the only job I could get. I went to job fairs for 2 major hospitals, delivered my resumes to all of them; I don't know what I did wrong. Anyways, 1 of the 2 major hospitals - one unit pretty much offered me the job on the spot and I was sold. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. It was a LTACH position; I definitely learned a lot, but my well being was at risk because I was soooooo TIRED when I got off work. I'd be sleepy on my way driving home and wide awake when while trying to fall asleep for the next shift. I was there for 9 months then transferred within my network to a day shift position with a set schedule in the OR -- now 10-15minutes away.

Also, the laying off 60 nurses is a HUGE red flag...at least for me it would be.

Good Luck!

GRN005 · Jul 8, 2016

Thank you everyone!!

Erythropoiesis · Jul 8, 2016

I nearly panicked when I read that this hospital has laid off 60 nurses. It seems like you already aren't hot about the drive, so why take a job like that and then risk the very REAL possibility that you may end up being RN #61 that is laid off.

My area is crawling with nursing jobs so I guess I don't have to take only what I can get, but the only way I would take a job that far away is if it was my dream job. A facility that made 60 nurses jobless doesn't sound like a dream I ever want to have.