How far would you commute?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Would you commute to a job that you love even if it was 1 hr away? Or would you work at a job that you don't like even though it is more convenient (i.e. much closer to home, better hours for family)?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Step-Down.

It depends a lot on your personal situation I think. I am young and don't have kids. For the most part I love my job now, I currently commute half an hour but give myself an hour to get there because occasionally I hit bad traffic. At this point in my life, I feel an hour commute would be worth the job I have now. Personally I feel like my happiness at work outweighs the unhappiness a long commute would cause. I went into nursing because I wanted a job that would be rewarding, I think I would come home very unhappy every day if I was at a job I found unfulfilling. But all this could obviously change if I had kids to come home to or other life circumstances demanding more of my attention.

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Specializes in SICU.

I commute 1hr to my job. its not bad-i guess that's because i don't dread going to work anymore.... :)

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long commutes? that why the goddess gives us npr :up:. i have learned so much about interviewing people listening to terri gross!

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Specializes in CICU.

I love listening to Terri Gross... but not enough to enjoy a long work commute. I live less than 1/2 mile from work. When and if I change employers I would move.

I guess some might have an attachment to living in a particular place, or own a house, etc. that might make moving alot a hassle, but I prefer to be relatively free to move as needed.

So, no, I wouldn't commute for a job I loved. I would move closer =)

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

If I could not find work near home I would move. I hate wasting time on the road.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

If I had to, I would commute an hour. I'd prefer not to but it's doable.

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.

I commuted 50 miles through downtown LA traffic for TWO YEARS! My new job is five minutes away! :cheers:

Oh and I HATED that damn job. We lost thirty nurses in those two years and it sure as heck didn't have anything to do with me ;) . Man am I glad to be out of that place.

It was a sacrifice I made as a new grad but it was a stupid decision because I took the first job I was offered and didn't look any farther (or closer?). Lesson learned.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

I have commuted 59 miles each way to a job that I hated for a year, just because it was the only thing around and I wanted to get experience.

I would and have commuted farther than that for a job that I loved. But as the gas prices went up it made more sense to just move closer.

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Specializes in Pedi.

I only live 6 miles from my work and it takes me at the very least 40 minutes to commute on public transportation. Yesterday I worked 7-3 and didn't get home until nearly 5PM. I have several co-workers who live an hour or more away.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

When I was in my early 20s, I lived approximately 120 miles from my workplace. Keep in mind that I was (and still am) single with no children, and I was not a nurse back then. I worked my three 12-hour shifts in a row and always had three days off in a row.

My place of employment was located in a coastal city in southern California with a sky high cost of living and astronomical rents. I ended up buying a house in a cheaper inland city with monthly mortgage payments that were lower than rent payments on a studio apartment in the high-priced coastal city.

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Specializes in ICU.

When I first started, my commute ws 45 minutes, night shift. Handled it well for the first few years, but starting from my pregnancy, I could barely keep my eyes open on the way home from work, and had to pull over and sleep.

I again work an hour away and I hate it. The traffic is very unpredicatable and I have to get my daughter to and from preschool. I am divorced and her dad only does one weekday. So the pressure and responsibility of the unpredicatble traffic stinks. I needed a paycheck though......

In a nut shell, without the responsibilites I have now, I would do an hour commute for the right job.

Just be careful for nightshift, it really is dangerous to drive too far after being up all night.

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