Going for it

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Specializes in Ortho/Neurosurgical.

So I've had a short but varied career so far in nursing. Background, I have a B.S. in Business Management and finished nursing school over a year ago. I did about 10 mos in the hospital and realized even a great nurse is unsafe because hospitals just completely overload with patients and acuity levels are skyrocketing. So back in Sept I got a job offer to run an ALF. A well equipped high end ALF and I thought, perfect. Mon-Fri, 9-5, no holidays or weekends. And then I had the joy of dealing with idiot carestaff who think just walking someone to the dining room is complicated. Or if a resident has an accident how "disgusting" it is and this week I snapped. One girl who is perpetually late and stupid I have a huge documentation trail to let go and I can't because the boss doesn't want our turnover stats to look bad. ***. So I picked up a side job doing weekend home health and I feel like a real nurse again. With ONE patient at a time, and paperwork was no more than what I had to do in the hospital so I'm fine with that too. I really love it. I can do teaching and take my time with it. I have no concern about my skills other than if I keep doing my full time job I'm going to lose them slowly. And I love the variety with home health. So....the home health boss of mine offered me a job today. Majority is Mon-Fri with one weekend a month (which I'm doing every weekend right now because current job is salary and doesn't allow for OT), a 9k increase in pay. The insurance is pretty much the same at a worse rate, but still I'll net a 7k increase. I want to say yes so badly, because I really just hate management so much, but I know that my boss at my full time job will lob a guilt brick in my direction and I won't be able to avoid it. Plus, typically she shames and ignores people when they leave. With her controlling attitude, I don't think she will really like me after I leave even though she knows that I'm wayyyyyy too good for the job I'm in now. I feel like a "nurse" again when I put on my steth and assess my home health patients. Please, someone....tell me one reason why I should stay in my current full time job? BTW, I should add I have a 5 year old kiddo and I'm married.....just if it helps paint a picture better.

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Specializes in LTC/hospital, home health (VNA).

Only you know the answer. Since money will be about the same.. you need to go with the one that will leave you feeling the most fulfilled. Go the way that will leave you with the least regrets. The drama with the staff that you work with will fade, angry ex-bosses will not be an issue for long. What is going to be the best in the long run for you and your family? Where is your heart...management or patient care? No job is worth being miserable over. So, in other words...go for it :) Good luck!

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Specializes in Ortho/Neurosurgical.

My heart would always choose patient care over management. That's a no brainer. I think I will have to face the devil and type up a resignation letter this weekend.

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Hope you find hh to be a better workplace situation for you and that you like it as much as most hh nurses like it. Who wants a controlling boss and not-with-it subordinates anyway? Good luck.

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Specializes in Ortho/Neurosurgical.

Okay so here's how things have gone down so far this week. I told my HH company that I was interested in the full time position, so she said "I'll get an offer letter to you by noon Monday". Great! So then Monday I roll into work and my old boss tells us she has to be out of the office from 11am that day returning Thursday. I get my offer at noon (as promised). I don't give notice on a job until I get a solid offer, I've always been that way. So I write a letter of resignation and also email my boss a copy. No reply. So I call her this morning to ask if she has read her email and she says no, so I tell her exactly what I type. Her response was "I thought we were close enough to talk about this stuff". My reply was "my decision had nothing to do with you and the only person I discuss my career goals with is my husband. It has nothing to do with this job and all to do with doing what makes me happy." So I head into work where subsequently her assistant sends me home (paid) for the next two days until the boss returns. How lame? Now I'll leave work for other people to do (which I could have had done today) and I'm sure on Thursday I'll go in and she'll send me home yet again and just pay out my two weeks notice. Works for me, I'll start the new gig on Monday and make a double paid week of it. But how lame and unprofessional. Her assistant said "she told me she felt suckerpunched by you're leaving." Wow, way to take professional things personal. Gotta love making enemies huh? I have always left employment on good terms but I will say, I'm not feeling good about leaving this place (at least the method in which she's handling it) but it does confirm my decision leaps and bounds. Thanks for all your support here.

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Best of luck to you in your new position!

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If you really want to know what they think of you, find out what they told the unemployment people! I guess the better the employee you were, the bigger and better the lies!

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Specializes in Ortho/Neurosurgical.

Caliotter-

No need. The old boss sat me down the other day and said she thought I WAS MAD when I called and gave her notice. Uh huh, that is why you got the call from HR before I came into the office huh? Yeah. Okay. None the less I worked out my two week notice to the tune of many emails from her saying "I really wish you weren't leaving" and even a request for me to work part time until they find someone to fill the position. Which they didn't post until my last day. Anyhow, I finished up last week and worked saturday for home health (as I was for the past 3 weeks) and today was my first day full time. It was good, just like the weekends have been for me. Tomorrow I'll be tackling a few discharges (which I've not done before) and I'm just ready to keep rocking out the visits and setting me in good shape financially for my house closing. All in all, a very good job change. And by the way, the company I'm now working for knows I have supervisory experience and offered me a supervisor position after I am comfortable with all the medicare rules and regs. LOVE IT!!!

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Good for you!

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