How far are you willing to commute?

green34 · Jun 10, 2013

As a patient care tech, I drove about 45 miles which was about 50 to 65 minutes depending on trains and how fast I sped. I liked it better because I didn't see anyone I knew. I had job offers at hospitals less than 20 minutes from my house but I liked it better. I did end up moving up to a hospital about 15 to 25 minutes depending on trains.

Katniss88 · Jun 10, 2013

I know as a new grad RN I can't be really picky about what position or hospital I get hired at but I don't want to travel over an hour. It would be better to move there, but then again I don't want to move.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jun 10, 2013

Well then, you have some decisions to make. :) Personally, I resent every bit of time I spend in transit as time I could have been spending doing something nicer. Suppose you wanted to go out after work with some buddies, but you have an hour drive ahead of you? Bummer.

Also consider that your car will rack up all those miles quickly, meaning more frequent visits to the dealer for periodic scheduled maintenance, and it may well increase your auto insurance premium when they ask you how many miles you commute. And gas. And tolls, if any. And parking, if you'd have to pay for it vs. taking public transportation to / from work. All these added up could make you a couple of months rent right there.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 10, 2013

My user name is 'TheCommuter' because I've racked up some crazy commutes during my time.

A 40-mile commute seems like a drop in the bucket to me, considering I used to live 120 miles from a previous workplace. When there are few (if any) employment options in your immediate area of residence, beggars cannot be choosers. I'd rather commute for a job than remain unemployed.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jun 10, 2013

I'd rather commute for a job than remain unemployed.

Absolutely true. But if I could, I'd rather move than commute. :)

Katniss88 · Jun 11, 2013

Wow, 120 miles is a long drive. Some of my friends are just applying to one hospital that they really want to work at, but I have applied at a bunch of places that are kind of far away because I know as a new RN with no experience I can't be picky. When it comes down to it, an employer most of the time will take an experienced RN over a brand new fresh out nursing school one. I have a car that gets good gas mileage and it doesn't even have 90,000 miles yet on it and it does bother me about the amount of miles I'll be racking up by commuting to work. I got an email from the HR department at a hospital today that isn't really too far away saying they forwarded my application to the hiring department, hopefully I'll get an interview. I just hope that when I do finally land a job that I will be able to adjust and transition from student nurse into a "real nurse". I worry way too much about things.

Sun0408, ASN, RN · Jun 11, 2013

I drive 52 miles one way.. I don't dread it anymore because I love the hospital, my job, my co-workers, the pay and benefits :)

PMFB-RN, RN · Jun 11, 2013

I drive 3 hours each way. I don't do it every shift. I actually share an apartment with several other nurses who also have long commutes. Our apartment is only a mile from the hospital. I actually spend 6 hour per two week pay period driving to and from work.

calivianya, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2013

I'm not willing to commute more than 15 minutes, personally. I'd just move closer if I got a job an hour away. Yes, moving is really aggravating, but at least you only have to do it once. The drive is every single day you work, and it's wear and tear on you, your car, and everything else.

I just landed a job nine hours away and I was more than thrilled to pay a little extra to get a rental place less than two miles from the hospital. That's about how much I enjoy commuting. More than five miles = too far to drive for work.

greyL · Jun 14, 2013

Don't just fill out an online application and forget about it. All of my interviews have been from calling the hospital and finding out the email address of the director and sending my resume directly to them. Most of the time hospitals follow standard email formats. Usually it's the first letter of their first name, then the last name. For example: John Smith = [email protected].

Smaller hospitals are usually better because the directors at bigger hospitals won't even give you the time of day.

Good luck!

KJ87, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2013

The most time I will spend commuting is an hour and a half each way. That would allow me to get just enough sleep for the next shift, and time to jump into some clean scrubs and get going. I would only do that for a 12-hour shift 3 days a week though. Shorter shifts with more days means more gas, and that is just as valuable as sleep to me.