Help me decide please!

[newnurse085]

I am a somewhat new grad (graduated last fall). I had a baby shortly after graduating and it has taken me awhile to get things going for myself. I also recently found out that I am pregnant again (oops!!!!!) and due in December. I find myself with a few different possibilities as to what I do next and I really don't know what to do. My husband doesn't have much advice, he just wants me to make a decision but I feel stuck and am having trouble sleeping at night because I can't stop thinking. I should add that my dream job is mother baby, I also think I would like school nursing especially because of the schedule (no weekends or holidays sounds awesome!)

1. I have a job offer where I did my capstone. It is the observation unit at a large level 1 trauma center teaching hospital. Night shift. I get along well with the staff but it is, well....med surg, which I don't care for. Low acuity but very fast paced. However if I put in my time there is the option to transfer to mother baby. 45 minute commute.

2. Peds private duty. I could do this part time and still be home with my kids most of the time. Could be a good stepping stone to school nursing. I already have an offer, just have to pass the skills check off and train. Not sure how I will like being in someone else's house with them potentially breathing down my neck.

3. My best friend is a new nurse in a mother baby unit at a really nice hospital about 30 minutes from me. She has spoken to her manager about me and I may have a shot at a September internship.

None of these jobs know that I am expecting, which is another hurdle but I am going to keep that to myself until it has to be divulged. I don't know what to do!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

If you don't want to do med surg, don't take the obs job. You never know when the transfer could happen.

The internship in mother baby would completely depend on how the manager would feel about you completing the internship.. and going on maternity leave. There is nothing to divulge... it will be apparent you are pregnant. If not, you should offer that information. If you didn't, and I was your manager.. I would find a way to make you gone.

Part time private duty.. more time with kids... priceless.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

[newnurse085]

Thank you for the advice! You are right...I will definitely be showing by the time I interview for the September internship, if it comes to that. I agree that honesty is the best policy, but I have also been warned not to give that information out until I have the job offer in writing so it's confusing for me. However, if I am clearly showing that takes away any debate on that issue!

I am definitely leaning towards turning down the med surg position. When I think about how physically demanding that job is (I was pregnant during my capstone and was so exhausted and hurting after my shifts) I think that it is not the right move right now. Thanks again!