How far would you commute for awesome salary?

BrandonLPN, LPN · Mar 22, 2015

As tempting as a $12/hr raise sounds, I couldn't handle a 90 min commute each way. Unless maybe I only had to work two days a week, or something. I could dig having five days off every week.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2015

In the area where I once lived, there were media articles on the people whose commute was so far (because of the skyhigh housing costs) that they came up with novel ways to cope: typically to live in their vehicle and go home on their days off.

When I was living in California many moons ago, I lived in Bakersfield and commuted 120 miles one-way to my workplace in Oxnard (Ventura County). I worked three 12-hour shifts in a row at a factory and, on my work days, would stay with family who lived near the workplace.

I commuted due to the sky-high cost of living near the coast. I lived inland in a city with a low cost of living and low wages, and commuted to a city with a high cost of living (and hence, higher wages).

Nibbles1 · Mar 22, 2015

I commuted 2 hrs one way and 2 hrs back for a nursing job that was paying me 7.00 more per hour. I did it 5 days a week for 18 months. I moved to the Dallas region and drive 1 hour one way and 1 hour back. It sucks, but the money is good, for now.

Libby1987 · Mar 22, 2015

I would if that was my only way into Kaiser.

ThatBigGuy · Mar 22, 2015

Take a look at the finances, as others have stated. However, look at how much your rest and sleep will be affected. Can you do a 12 hour shift, plus stay late to chart, then drive 90 mins, sit in traffic because of a wreck, walk the dog, eat a meal, say hi to the family, and still get adequate sleep?

Don't minimize the safety of your patients or yourself because you're not getting enough rest.

I'd probably take the job if this commute happened 1/3 of the time or less, or no more than two shifts in a row.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 22, 2015

I drive 45+ minutes to the job i love. I bought a new car @ Thanksgiving and save about $50/week in gas. To me it's worth it. I only work 3 days a week and I travel at times that are not rush hour. I have learned to make sure that I get my charting done so I am out of there on time (occasionally things come up). IN the next year or so, we plan to try and sell our house to move closer (hubby drives more than 30 min to his job, which is 15 min from mine).

I would do it and work on getting closer.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Mar 22, 2015

I would ask if they could give you a realistic view of how often you will need to go to the facility that is far away. Currently, I drive 50 miles each way but get there in an hour because there isn't much people on the road when I'm driving. I work 12 hour shifts 2 days a week so it's not bad. Now, if I drove the distance every day...it's a good private duty case that allows me to focus a little bit on school when my patient is sleeping. In the past I worked at a hospital that was 30 miles away from my house and it could take an hour or 1.5 hours, depending on traffic. It was near the beach, so I had to deal with all the spring break traffic during the season which can be brutal. However, at the time location was every thing. I could drive there and make money like you mentioned, or I could drive to a facility about 20 minutes from my house and make about the same difference you are talking about. I took the money and found some music to listen to in my car.

Overland1, RN · Mar 22, 2015

Is the extra money really going into the bank as savings, or is it going into the bank toward gasoline, repairs, and the next vehicle? Maybe it is going into the bank to help pay for what seem to be unrelated expenses that could become apparent (and related) later on.

Having been there and done that, I found the extra money did no good whatsoever. Thank goodness my wife was (and remains) a saint and never complained about me spending most of my week working sleeping and traveling. I now look back at it as a learning experience.

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 22, 2015

Not a chance I would commute 1.5 hours.

I think about 45 minutes would be my max. But I say this as someone who already has a great job, good salary, and great benefits, and my current commute is about 25 minutes. If my situation were different/more dire I might have a different answer.

And if the position were nights, the answer would be even less. I had a 35-minute commute on night shift, and I frequently had to stop at a truck stop halfway from work to home to nap for half an hour. It was not safe at all.

RNHospice · Mar 22, 2015

Get what you can, when you can, and better it as soon as you can. I once took a 2.00 an hour cut to stop a commute to South Miami. It took me more than 3 years to get that back. It was usually a 20-60min commute depending on traffic. I would not do that now but at the time it was realistic as a new RN

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2015

My max was 1 hour each way but in a no traffic straight line situation. If it involved stop and go traffic and lights I could not have done it psychologically. Had an awesome CD collection and I did 2 doubles back to back and crashed in nurses quarters at the facility the night in between so I only had one round trip. It was a lot of money and I needed it.

ShelbyaStar · Mar 22, 2015

I've done it before with a different job, but not even for good pay, just experience! Oy. I didn't mind it so much, I went through a lot of podcasts and audio books, but it definitely wasn't something I wanted to do forever.

I would only consider it for a part time or maybe 3/12 kind of schedule, or if I knew someone I could occasionally crash with, or if there was somewhere I could sleep at the hospital and work two days in a row, if I had to drive. If I could take a commuter train or something I wouldn't really mind at all, since I could read or play on my phone or whatever.