Long term care or clinic job?

[shine123]

Need some advice. I have an opportunity to work at a foot wound clinic Mon-Friday, all evenings/weekends off, or at a long term care facility on the sub acute transitional unit, but the shifts are all nights (11-7). The wage is higher at the LTC facility, but the hours are better at the clinic. Also at LTC I would be the only RN on for the night shift in charge of 32 patients (to me that seems like a very big pt load). These two are my options as there are no other places hiring right now due to cutbacks, so I am grateful for the opportunities, but still not sure what to do. I should mention that I am still a fairly new nurse with only 1 year experience on a med/surg unit, and I have a one year old at home.

I am having trouble with this decision. What do you all think? Thanks in advance..

[shine123]

Thank you so, so much for all of your responses. They have all really helped me see things more clearly. The only reason I doubt the clinic job is because the actual work is not my idea of where I wanted to be (never thought I would be working with feet and doing nail care and all that). But it may be worth it for the peace of mind alone. I don't feel any stress when I think about the clinic, but when I think about LTC I feel the stress pouring in, I just feel like the patient load is too heavy for one person, not too mention how difficult nights can be. As well, child care is so much easier to find with a normal work week.

Thanks again everyone!! I am so grateful for this discussion board...

[anurseuk]

Are you drawn to either one particularly? Neither would appeal to me but in your situation with baby at home I would opt for the clinic job. Once baby is older you'll have plenty of oppertunities to go for something more in depth.

I don't know how much you would learn as the sole nurse to 32 patients, as really no one to learn from, and in LTC you'll be constantly busy... good luck with what you decide :)

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Okay...I re read the OP post. I prob would take the clinic job too. Esp since I have kids. It would be nice to work day light hrs and have a set schedule.

I do think you pick up tons of experience in LTC, but the OP did state she had about a year in M/S so that really counts.