In Need of Some Advice Please

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Specializes in School Nurse, Med-surg/Tele.

Hello! I am a new grad nurse (well I'm not sure if I'm considered new grad anymore...I graduated in May 2018 and have been working as a RN since December '18) I currently work as a contracted nurse for students who need nursing services during school hours. My students include T1 diabetics, epileptics, asthmatics, and children that need GTF just to name a few. I love going to work each day and enjoy caring for these kids. I really can’t complain about this job other than the low pay, unsteady hours, and lack of benefits. I work within a 5 minute radius from home, my son's school, and my in laws (whom take my 7 yo son to school and pick him up). In starting this position, I was advised that the I would lose the nursing skills I learned in school as I would not use them in a school setting. Although this is true, I am using another skill set such as administering Diastat, epipens, inhalers or treating a T1DM for their highs and lows.

So here's my dilemma...I have been accepted into a med-surg new grad program at a hospital 20 miles from where I live. I know this is an opportunity of a lifetime, especially in my area where new grad programs are very competitive. Many new grads would say that it would be an easy decision to leave their job at the school and accept the new grad program position. I am really torn. I love where I work now and the population I care for, but I feel like if I do not take this opportunity I am throwing away my my chance of ever becoming a floor nurse if I so should decide to do so. I don't know if I will be happy working in a hospital setting where the hours are long and days can be like running around with a chicken with no head. I know the final decision is up to me, but any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Below I have listed my pros and cons of each position:

Med-surg New Grad Program:

Pros:

-Opportunity to enhance my nursing skills in a hospital setting

-gateway to specialize in different departments in the future

-better pay and great benefits

-steady hours

Cons:

-commute time would be a total of 4 hours (2 hours to get to work and 2 hours to get home all d/t horrible traffic).

-would need to leave the house at 530am, will not return till 9pm

-Would need to find childcare for my son at 530am

School Nursing Job:

Pros:

-Love working with the kids

-Work is close to everything (home, school, and in laws)

-Work schedule mimics my son's school schedule (start when he stats, finish when he finishes, have the same holidays off)

Cons:

-limiting my opportunity to become a more skilled nurse

-only work 182 days out of the year (only work when kids are in session)

-low pay, only have medical as a benefit

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Specializes in CEN.

I would do the new grad position, you can go back to school nursing later, but your opportunity for acute care training may not be there later

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I would 100% be behind the new grad program, except the 2 hour commute is a deal-breaker for me.

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Specializes in ED, med-surg, peri op.

I agree the 2 hour commute is far to long. Youll be doing long hours, and driving becomes dangerous. Plus you have young kids you won’t get to see at all on the days you work. I use to have an hour commute and it was awful.

Two questions you to need to think about, firstly are you able to manage on your current income? And do you really want to do bedside nursing right now over school nursing?

If you think this is only chance for hospital nursing, it’s not. people always say you wont be able to work in a hospital if you don’t start there, but it’s not true. Many nurses have started in different roles before going to the hospital.

Also nurses work in so many areas, that are all important. If your happy where you are that’s ok. Don’t let the pressure of you must work in a hospital get to you.

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4 hours of commute a day on top of a 12 hour shift, Do not do it! You will be exhausted and most likely feel like you never have any time or energy for your son.

You have a job that you enjoy. Keep that job and continue to look for jobs will improve your skills and pay without taking such a huge toll on your unpaid time.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Two hours to go 20 miles? Can you explore other means of getting to work? Different routes? What traffic is like during different times of day?

I commuted to downtown Chicago and never had it this bad. You will not be driving during rush hour with 12-hour shifts. Make the actual drive during those hours and see what happens.

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Specializes in ICU, trauma, neuro.

When will you have an opportunity to be the mother that you are now to your child again? Nursing opportunities will always be around, but your kids will only be young once.

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Specializes in School Nurse, Med-surg/Tele.

Thank you everyone for taking time to respond! I am taking everyone's input into consideration.

@meanmaryjean unfortunately I'm not exaggerating. I live in Hawaii and on the island I live, majority of the island commutes to downtown Honolulu for work, which is where this new grad opportunity is. I live on the westside of the island and what usually takes only 30 mins to commute to town, during the weekday rush hour 30 mins turns into 1 1/2-2 hours. It's complete madness. Our island is in the process of building a rail system that is suppose to ease up the traffic from the westside. It has taken 10 years to build only 10 miles of the planned 20 miles to make it to downtown. Its construction is truly on Hawaiian Time lol!

@myoglobin you are absolutely right! I only have 1 child. He is my everything. He is the reason I wake up each morning. I definitely do not want to miss out on any of the little things. I have to take in all the hugs, kisses, and cuddles I can get now before he gets older. I've been thinking that maybe I should stay in a school setting until my boy gets into middle school, then if at that time I want to pursue bedside nursing I can do so.

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

I started in long-term care. Some of my classmates actually said "I'm sorry" when I told them where I got a job. People said "you'll lose your nursing skills", "you'll never get into a hospital", etc. Well, here I am seven years later in critical care, in a hospital. You are not losing skills, you are using assessments skills, critical thinking, and you're working in a job that you enjoy. That's worth a lot these days. Yes, the med-surg job sounds good, but if you can live with what you've got, I'm not sure it's worth the trade off. I have missed years of events with my kids because of nursing school, working two jobs, nursing shift schedules, etc. Now they're getting older and will soon be out of school and the house. It's NOT worth giving up time with your kids for work. Can you find a per diem position somewhere for extra hours or during the summers? Good luck with your decision.

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Specializes in Dialysis.
4 hours ago, urijahsmommy said:

I live in Hawaii and on the island I live, majority of the island commutes to downtown Honolulu for work, which is where this new grad opportunity is.

From what I understand about Hawaii, you may want to consider taking the new grad job. It is VERY hard and EXTREMELY competetive to get into the hospital even if you have experience. Good luck with your decision

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Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

Is it possible to move a little closer to the hospital to decrease the commute? If you work 12 hour shifts at night you would be traveling against the traffic. I would try hard to work up a plan to take the hospital position. It seems that the start of a new career is the time to work that ambition and learning. Once a person gets to my age, their ambition can decrease and they start looking not so much to advancing their career, but for working their niche and having stability (but maybe that's just me ?)

I know how important it is to be around your young child, but in my experience (both personal and professional) early adolescence can be VERY high risk. These kiddos need alot of close monitoring and mentoring. Not always, but quite often, if a kid is going to experience serious peer pressure and/or psychological/self esteem issues, they tend to start showing up around 12-15 years of age. I believe it's a critical period for kids.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I am a school nurse in Texas. I feel the same way when it comes to my nursing skills as well. I am also LVN so i definitely get paid less, less than the teachers. In regards to your job or program, I would stay in the job at this time. Like you said he is your everything. I do not have kids but I would definitely choose the job that would work around your family. I hope and pray for you the opportunity arises again when your son is older so you may pursue your nursing career in another field, if you wish to do so. As for extra pay, does your school district offer summer school? Ours does and we get paid hourly. Maybe look into this or try PRN at a LTC facility. Good luck and best wishes to you and your family.

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