How far did you travel?

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I have accepted a position at a major University Hospital. I will be working on a unit that has a mix of 3 different units...ortho/uro/dermo. I am very excited. I live in a little hick town, so was well aware that no matter where I work, I would have to drive...My drive will consist of about 1hr 45min to get to work. I chose a shift that will allow me to make it during the winter months, by allowing time for roads to have cleared(somewhat)...I chose an 11a-11p shift. The hardest part of all is the first week is central orientation, which means being away from my son the whole week, as they pay Salary and I will not receive my first check until 10/1...(starting 9/8). So to cut cost, I will be staying at a friends house that lives in a suburb. My husband is very excited and clearly "blinded" by the money. I just wish he would show a little bit of whatever about my not being here all week! I am truly excited, this is such a great opportunity, one of the top hospitals in the country. How far did you drive for your job?

Specializes in L&D.

About 20 minutes. I would love to move out to the middle of nowhere but can't stomach the huge cut in pay for gas prices (which I'm certain are just going to go up up up). I'm glad you are able to stay with a friend to cut down on the commuting cost, that will be really helpful. I don't know what to say about your son though, I bet he'll adjust pretty quickly and you'll still spend lots of time with him on the weekend which will be nice. I don't know if I could do it, but I hope it will work out perfectly for you (and it will be nice for your son to have special time with daddy, I think).

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

since you're working 12 hour shifts, you may want to consider grouping three of them together and staying near the hospital between shifts. i know plenty of mothers who have chosen to do that. they leave home before the first shift, stay overnight between the first and second and second and third shifts, and then drive back home after the third shift. they stay with friends or relatives or sometimes rent a room somewhere. i know an older couple that rents out rooms to nurses so they can afford to stay in their four bedroom home now that they're retired. a two hour drive on either end of a 12 hour shift sounds dangerous to me.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I drive about 40-45 miles one-way (about an hour give or take a few). I live in the middle of nowhere and wouldn't trade it for the world. I know the gas prices are killing me but in order for me to keep my sanity I have to live in the middle of my 12 acres! Plus the drive gives me time to just chill after a long, hard night and by the time I get home I'm ready for bed. Wouldn't trade it for the world....well maybe the gas prices :)

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i was commuting an hour each way for a year. but with gas prices going up, and a few scares on the road (blinking and opening my eyes way further down the road than i should have; having to pull over and take little naps on the side of the highway just to make it home) i wimped out and got myself a little apartment about 10 minutes away from my hospital. even with the extra rent i'm still saving money with gas. i don't think i'll ever do more than a half hour commute after this just because i am so tired at the end of my shifts (but then again, i'm a bit of a wuss).

^^i've been through this a few times over the years and i am not a nurse yet. i live in outter exurbs and commute an hour to town to work. when i am a rn i want to work nights and 12's. i'm not giving up my house but i already know that i will have to buy a condo crash pad as close to the hospital door as possible. i know people who have been forced to give up otherwise great jobs or retire earlier than they planned to because of commuter fatigue and i don't want that to happen to me.

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Specializes in L & D.

I drive 56 miles one way-about 50 min each way-7p-7a. I have had to pull over and stop b/c I was so tired. I just call someone and let them know where I am. I set the alarm on my phone and take a "power nap". I occasionally stay with people from work too and that helps a ton! Hope it's working out for you.

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Wow. I'm currently 10 minutes away from the hospital that hired me, and we're thinking of buying a house in an area that will push my commute to 25-30 minutes. That's one of the major sticking points in the move, too - I feel like adding another hour of driving to a 12 hour workday might be too much to handle. I could never imagine adding FOUR. I wouldn't even try to drive home between shifts - you'll spend 16 hours between work and commute and only be home to sleep. Then again, I'm someone who has never even lived in a suburb, let alone a rural area. I love public transportation (even though the city I live in now doesn't really have any), I walk everywhere I can, and I hate being in a car for any length of time. I got my driver's license at 26 - so maybe my viewpoint is different than that of many of you. I just can't fathom spending that big of a percentage of my life driving, just to have a job.

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Thanks for everyone letting me know what you go through as well, its nice to know there are others out there! I clocked the mileage and drive time...it is about 84 miles to the hospital, about 1hr 45min. I went yesterday for my Tb test and physical...my husband and son went along for the ride...my son was amazed that mommy is going to work at such a big hospital...one of the biggest in Iowa! I know now it will be ok. my son tells everyone that mommy helps sick people. Its like he is proud of me...what a feeling!

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Specializes in clinical pathways - ED, home infusion, IT, lab.

working a 12 hr shift to decrease number of commutes/week + having a husband who wants it too are big things in your favor. as long as the commute issafe (eg not falling asleep after a night shift) i'd go for it. you don't say how far along you are in your career, but a university gig is m. likely a great feather in your cap + cutting edge experiences, but try to stick with it a couple of years.

having had 3 kids while working full time, being away short-term can be a great learning experience for the dad (time management + all the things kids need he's not necessarily regularly involved with). i mean no offense to those who've had a really all-out supportive partner; i'm only speaking from my experience w/ a more "typical" husband when we've both worked full time.

and this may sound lame, but is there a possibility of car pool at all? i liked train idea too.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I drive about 70 miles/day...5 X week.

I drove to the same area for the last 3 semesters of nursing school, and even farther for the first semester.

I'm passing up several hospitals for this University hospital. I'm in the OR, and they teach scrubbing and circulating to their OR interns...a rare perk. :)

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Specializes in ER; HBOT- lots others.

i have about a 45 min drive. i dont totally mind it now, i would be in a little bit of shock to have the 5 min drive to the hospital down the road from to me walk in and get jumped right away. the drive helps me wake up and be more "prepared" for my day. the drive home helps, cuz if i need to complain about work, i can do that and then when i get home, i am calmed down and ready to play with my new kittens before going to bed. i work 3-11 shift. someday i would like to be closer, but i wont move to that town either, nothing good cept for the hospital.

you are not a bad mother, you doing this for your child and family, and your hubby needs to understand too that its NOT ALL ABOUT MONEY. my fiancee sees that too, when they call me every flippin day to go in, he says "its money". yeah, okay, you do what we do and you wouldnt want to be there 24 hrs a day 7 days a week either! he will understand once you are coming home super tired, or had a bad day- he will see its not all peaches and cream. i am not trying to scare you, but at least once a month, you will have a day that isnt PERFECT, and you deal with it, but need to complain sometimes.

you will be fine! all good!! drive careful, be safe!

-H-RN

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working a 12 hr shift to decrease number of commutes/week + having a husband who wants it too are big things in your favor. as long as the commute issafe (eg not falling asleep after a night shift) i'd go for it. you don't say how far along you are in your career, but a university gig is m. likely a great feather in your cap + cutting edge experiences, but try to stick with it a couple of years.

having had 3 kids while working full time, being away short-term can be a great learning experience for the dad (time management + all the things kids need he's not necessarily regularly involved with). i mean no offense to those who've had a really all-out supportive partner; i'm only speaking from my experience w/ a more "typical" husband when we've both worked full time.

and this may sound lame, but is there a possibility of car pool at all? i liked train idea too.

my husband works full-time as well, we are going to give it a go. i graduated last november, took boards in jan. i'm nervous, excited, stressed...but somehow we will make it work.

as far as car pooling, i know no one that works there, but things could change down the road...maybe looking for a place closer, or something

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Well I started at my job, since it is 95miles away, I am staying at a friends house close to the hospital. I haven't seen my husband or son since sunday afternoon. I thought I was ok, until I found out my husband was on his way up to see me...I started crying...

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