Well, I'm currently working 3-12s on a med/surg floor. I don't like it, the hours interfere with my family, and it's becoming VERY difficult with daycare.. especially when my husband TDYs (he's military). I have an 8month old and an almost 7 yr old.
I just picked up a PRN job at an endoscopy center (btw, I'm a newer nurse.. graduated 8/10), and it pays a $22/hr (hospital is $18.90) And the hours are really great.. they only need me 1 day a week which is perfect. I think this is something good to have on my resume, with the procedures done there and the conscious sedation, and I will need to get my ACLS.
Anyway, b/c the hospital job is stressful on my family (and daycare).. I thought about returning to my family practice job. I talked to my old boss, and she can give me Mon-Fri hours of 815am-515pm (one half day off a week) and $20/hr. That's $3/hr more than what I was making before I quit.
-The hospital job is 13 miles away, the office job is 2.2 miles away.
-Staying at the hospital allows more time off and I'll be able to work once a week at the endoscopy center to make more money and have it on my resume.
-Office job allows me to have weekends off for the most part (we rotate saturdays, maybe every 6 weeks it's only 9am-12pm and we'll get an additional half day off during the week).
-Office job allows major holidays off and allows me to pick up the kids myself whenever my husband is away.
-The hospital job probably looks better on my resume though.
I was trying to think of pros and cons I guess.
What would you do in my situation? I'm the worst at making decisions. I'm going to talk to my husband about this tonight. Thanks for reading!!!!
I'd do whichever I enjoyed more, the hell with everything else. 30-40 hours a week is a long time to be stuck with people or a situation you don't like!
No one can decide for you. You need to decided for yourself. I understand you want guidance and help but you really need to follow your heart. Every situation is unique and different. ### IJS!
I don't know WHY this is such a hard decision to make! It's making my stomach hurt
Ok, pros and cons list!!
FP
PROS:
-Close to home
-Normal hours so daycare won't be an issue
-Hour long lunches
-More flexibility
-Potential to be nurse supervisor
-$20/hr
-Half day off during the week
-Major holidays off (6 total I think)
-Less stress
-Less potential to harm someone
CONS:
-Have to work M-F ( I kind of enjoy having a weekday off here and there, but the half day is helpful)
-Can't make extra money if I wanted to
-Work with a couple annoying people
-Job is kind of boring
-There's always some sort of potluck or birthday they want to pitch in money for (I hate that... I don't always want to give out $5-$10. That's money I can use for my daughter's school trips, etc)
Hospital
PROS:
-Pay $18.90/hr, but weekend pays $5/hr more
-Time and a half on OT and holidays (4 holidays to get paid for)
-Lots of learning potential
-Large teaching hospital, looks good on resume
-Days off during the week, only working 3 days
-Being able to cluster days off without taking vacation
CONS:
-12 hour shifts
-Working weekends
-Coming home late and not being able to see kids before bed
-Working holidays
-So many meetings
-Need to do SO much to get recognized for a raise that requires you to be at the hospital on your days off
-Stress of doing something wrong (med error, harm patient)
-Dealing with doctors
-Dealing with cliques and other nurses that don't care to have you there
That's a start I guess... I'll add on to it as I think of stuff.
Look, I'm going to be direct. The reason you can't decide is because you already KNOW what is best for your kids but you can't put aside your own desires. If you can focus on what your babies need, your decision will be made for you.
It's hard to get back into acute now when have been out of hospital ... just think what it will be like in a few years with lots more competition for acute nursing ?
Near impossible and you likely may not be able to just go back in. Those days are nearly over when we could flit in and out of the hospital without much effort.
Yes the kids are only young once but you are not planning on working full-time so the kids wont miss out on much.
Am starting to see mothers who have left the hospital really being disadvantaged now ...some have had to leave nursing and then get stuck in a minimum wage job because they have no other skills.
It makes more sense for mothers to work a shift a fortnight in the hospital PRN .
Family is the most important to me. I miss my family while I work nights, but it is what I had to do in order to get in the ICU. It sounds like you already know what you want to do and you are only looking for confirmation. Do the endo and FP for a while. If it doesn't suit you needs, med surg is always wating with open arms. Good luck
Family is the most important to me. I miss my family while I work nights, but it is what I had to do in order to get in the ICU. It sounds like you already know what you want to do and you are only looking for confirmation. Do the endo and FP for a while. If it doesn't suit you needs, med surg is always wating with open arms. Good luck
If I could do the Endo with the FP I would, but I can't. FP is 4.5 days a week, and Endo wants me 1 day a week.
That is tough Maybe FP will make it 4 days per week?
I posted it in one of my replies I think But the FP won't do 4 days.. I REALLY tried to do that. I'm bummed a little bit by that. She said it's much easier to staff for a half day than a full day. Boo
I posted it in one of my replies I think But the FP won't do 4 days.. I REALLY tried to do that. I'm bummed a little bit by that. She said it's much easier to staff for a half day than a full day. Boo
Specializes in L&D; GI; Fam Med; Home H; Case mgmt.
I don't know your financial situation, but I can almost guarantee that the endo job would probably increase in hours quickly. One day a week will very likely turn into 2 or 3 (personal experience). You could try doing just the endo and see if it blossoms into more hours but that's a risk. If you have any financial wiggle room you might try that.
linearthinker, DNP, RN
1,688 Posts
I'd do whichever I enjoyed more, the hell with everything else. 30-40 hours a week is a long time to be stuck with people or a situation you don't like!