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Discussion

Help :(

I'm not sure if I'm asking for advise or just venting but a recent interaction with a man, relationship is becoming more serious and grounded with time may be taking me up to North East Texas. I'm a city nurse from the large Houston Metro area. I've only ever worked in a teaching facility with tons of residents and at level one trauma centers.

I am honestly terrified of what I'll encounter at smaller community hospitals. 3:1 ratios? Lower acuity? No learning opportunities????

These decisions are difficult and I truly care for this man but I want to be somewhere where I will succeed and be happy. I am a career man.

Any recommendations on North East TX hospitals? Longview TX/Tyler TX/Nacogdoches TX????

what hospitals do I stay away from?

as much as I love my career and my current job I also am willing to make it work with this person.

fyi I work ICU and would like to remain in ICU for right now... I will not work medsurg

I am open to OR/PACU/Cath Lab...

Featured Replies

So sorry. Thats very sad. One of our nearby high schools has Tractor Day, where they all drive their family tractor to school.

It sounds like fun moving to the country. It may be a lot less stressful and more laid back and friendly. Plus it will be good to get your assessment writing skills back. Good luck in your relationship. You could have a garden if you like that kind of healthiness.

Awww... hang in there, take the time you need to figure out what's best for you. I can see why you're conflicted.. seems tough.. Best of luck to you, and I wish you all the best, gay nurse to gay nurse :)

LOVE THIS!!

And I second UT Tyler (good school, good nursing program, attached to good hospital). There is a hospital in Athens as well, and one in Navarro County that I remember responded well when we were doing a massive contact tracing for TB. Many of the hospitals up here are owned by either Baylor, Texas Health, or MCA....

East Dallas is less than an hour from Tyler, if that helps at all.

Best of luck.

Congratulations on the relationship! As a fellow nurse in the rainbow spectrum, I know dating can be a bit of a challenge sometimes... It's not like you can just walk into Starbucks and shout, "Hey, who in here is gay?" I feel your trepidation about moving to a more rural environment. I've been in community facilities and they're great, but after so many years of urban nursing, I'd be a bit cautious too.

And I definitely echo a PP on making sure this relationship is The Real Deal before making life/career changes based on it. I speak from experience on that one. I got so wrapped up in emotion that I made instant decisions awhile back and it threw my career off-course of where I wanted to be for about a year. Recoverable - I'm right on track now! - but, you know, annoying in the end. Love can make you look at red flags and think about how much you just adore the color red instead of seeing them for what they are.

Wishing you the best in this relationship and your career!

...but, you know, annoying in the end. Love can make you look at red flags and think about how much you just adore the color red instead of seeing them for what they are.

...

Wow, that was really good stuff! Thanks for your insight on that you put in to simple terms so nicely, audreysmagic. I've never heard it put quite that way. Brilliant-red flags! :banhappy:

Hey look, there's an emoji with a red flag but he says banhappy. What does that mean? :coffee:

Wow, that was really good stuff! Thanks for your insight on that you put in to simple terms so nicely, audreysmagic. I've never heard it put quite that way. Brilliant-red flags! :banhappy:

Thanks. :) I heard it from one of my co-workers and I've been using it ever since, because it's so true!

  • Expert

One of my friends works in a critical access hospital in Texas and she knows her stuff. Why, because there isn't always a doctor physically in the building. So she runs codes, manages airways, delivers babies and kills the occasional rattler that slithers in through the EMS doors with a ball bat they keep in the nurses station. Don't sell the small hospitals short. They might not have all the bells and whistles but the staff is top-notch.

Congratulations on the relationship! As a fellow nurse in the rainbow spectrum, I know dating can be a bit of a challenge sometimes... It's not like you can just walk into Starbucks and shout, "Hey, who in here is gay?" I feel your trepidation about moving to a more rural environment. I've been in community facilities and they're great, but after so many years of urban nursing, I'd be a bit cautious too.

And I definitely echo a PP on making sure this relationship is The Real Deal before making life/career changes based on it. I speak from experience on that one. I got so wrapped up in emotion that I made instant decisions awhile back and it threw my career off-course of where I wanted to be for about a year. Recoverable - I'm right on track now! - but, you know, annoying in the end. Love can make you look at red flags and think about how much you just adore the color red instead of seeing them for what they are.

Wishing you the best in this relationship and your career!

^Brilliant. You really are magical!^

Where you end up depends on how you want to follow your heart.

I can tell you I have been working in the city (Munich Germany), (Cook County Hospital Chicago) and (Seattle) and many rural hospital to include Critical Access Hospitals.

When you are at the big level III and up hospitals you are defined by a unit on which you are assigned. Day in and out unless you are part of the code team. You get good at doing your specialty and see some real sick people.

When you are at smaller facilities you are going to have to wear many hats. I was at a rural hospital and a patient came in with a tree limb stuck through their abdomen. We got a life flight out for this patient. We also had the recurrent patients with all sorts of issues. I worked med/surg which included emergency room coverage. I got good with emergency room triage, and me being a geriatric nurse and Nursing Home Administrator caught on quick because of my assessment skills.

I guess it is what you make of it. You stated you do not want to do med/surg I can tell you in the smaller hospitals you more than likely will be doing some similar med/surg direct patient care, it depends on the size of the hospital.

Good luck to you.

I'm not sure how far you are from the community hospital, but is it close enough to to apply for a per diem position and work a few shifts a month? Good luck with the new relationship!!!

since i cant cancel ,all I say is at a smaller place you will find they are behind not cutting edge but maybe nicer,you will be made to go to other areas as in floated.Good luck

  • Author

Thank you everyone for all your responses. I've read each and everyone and each offered me great insight.

Congrats, on the new relationship! I love the idea of working one day a month as sort of a trial.

There is something about the new phase of the relationship, heart racing, daydreaming, loving the sound of a voice. Most of this is hormone related, btw. But it sure is nice.

Now, how invested are you at your current job? Can He move to you, or is that out of the question? My other suggestion would be if you are set on making this move, stay prn at your current job, and work there occassionally. You would be able to keep up your skills, and maybe come back.

As a Mom, I would say that right now you are in the "honeymoon" phase. Everything is perfect. The real test of any relationship is:

How well you as a couple react to adversity

Have you had your first argument yet?

How will finances be handled

How are your communication skills as a couple?

I wish you the best whatever you decide. And if you move North they will be damn lucky to have you!

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