icu or don???

[brhamlin]

Here is my predicament: I am a 3yrs experienced nurse with 2 being in ltc....the place where I was employed is now looking for a don and I was successful as a case mgr/adon, however I have been working in the icu at a hospital now for 4mos and if I jump ship I am afraid that I will be "blackballed" from any further employment at that facility. Any words of advice would be greatly appreciated!

[icu/don]

Well, as my name implies, I am both an ICU nurse and a DON. 8 years ago I left a full time ICU position for my current DON job. I stayed on per diem at the hospital and still work there 2 shifts a month.

I had about 5 years ICU experience before I went per diem. The only way this works is because I am not placed on the schedule at the hospital, but can always call up and sign up for a Saturday shift.

I tell my fellow ICU nurses that I go there to relax. I just take care of my two patients and don't have to worry about all the management garbage.

After 8 years as a DON, I have asked my employer to find a replacement for me. If this doesn't happen, I will give them a resignation.

So my advice is too make sure you know what is expected of the DON before taking the position. What kind of "on call" time is there? What other hats will you wear? What kind of support will you have?