Help with nursing career choices....pros/cons?

[jpicurn]

Hi to everyone,

I am new to allnurses as a member; have been coming on here and reading for a long time, but usually do not post or submit articles...

My big (nursing and life!) dilemma is options for myself in my career and what to do next....

I am currently a PICU RN that works part time nights (2 nights per week) every third weekend. My second job is teaching, I teach pediatric clinicals one day per week and have also taught nursing fundamentals for college students. I have my BSN and enjoy a lot of things with each job.I like both job

s, I enjoy the two different "worlds" of nursing, per se, and like scheduling myself for 3-4 nights in a row and having a week off in the summer to spend time with my husband and kids. I do not teach from May-September usually, and it's a nice break.

Today I was offered a part time or full time day spot in the PICU, which I have considered on and off for awhile. I have been working there for 12 years, with the hospital for 16 years, and love, love my coworkers and docs I work with....

However, we have been increasingly busy and it's been sometimes hard to juggle the work stress and nights with my family life, along with the lack of sleep, switching to days to teach, and having no time to enjoy life on my days off! I have gained weight in the past five years, (starting to work out regularly again in the past couple of weeks, New Years resolution and all!) I am tired all the time, and it's hard to keep up with my kids schedules, my husband's job and schedule, and have any time left over for me.

I have been teetering between a full time teaching job, which would mean better hours, better retirement benefits, and less stress, but would require going back to school for my MSN/MBA/MEd, or should I take a part time days PICU job and keep teaching for now? Or stay nights, which works better for my family and keeps things status quo?

It is so hard to decide what to do....

Thanks for listening!

[jpicurn]

I need to add as well...

My "dream job" would probably be as a school nurse, or working somehow with kids/teens outside of a hospital.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

If your long term goal is to be a school nurse then I wouldn't pursue a master's degree. Just keep doing what your already doing. Sounds like you have the best of both worlds...

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

If your dream job is to work outpatient or in the school setting, a master's and FT teaching would probably be your best bet. Personally, I would take the PT day shift position and teach one day per week.