Info & Opinions Wanted Please!

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Okay, here's the deal. I am leaving my current employer (a human service agency in non nurse position)with whom I've been with for nearly 25 years to work as a Nurse full time. I am a new graduate btw.

I've been offered fulltime work at a really nice nursing and rehab facility 7 -3 shift every other weekend.

BUT I am also real close to being offered a fulltime LPN position 7am - 7pm 3 day per week sched on a cardiac monitoring unit in a community hospital. What I am look for is you input. Anything will be greatly appreaciated.

Thanks much.

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Hi

12 hour shifts are long....but they make the work week go by so quickly. Ultimately it comes down to what kind of nursing you want to do.

Best of luck

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

I agree with Canadianrpn....it depends on the type of nsg you want to do. I work 12 hr shifts and LOVE it----short weeks. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Psych/Corrections.
Okay, here's the deal. I am leaving my current employer (a human service agency in non nurse position)with whom I've been with for nearly 25 years to work as a Nurse full time. I am a new graduate btw.

I've been offered fulltime work at a really nice nursing and rehab facility 7 -3 shift every other weekend.

BUT I am also real close to being offered a fulltime LPN position 7am - 7pm 3 day per week sched on a cardiac monitoring unit in a community hospital. What I am look for is you input. Anything will be greatly appreaciated.

Thanks much.

well first of all 25 years on a job is a long time so I take it you are maybe middle aged? well hopefully you have a nice 401K or roth IRA thats well to do,and maybe your home is paid off,kids grown,if you fit that shoe,I would go for my RN,and then hit the travel road as a travel nurse and she the world for free/working vacation,but take a specialty that you like,because to me rehab,and LTC are fast burn outs.I think cardiac would be a better choice,because you just will have more options,rather LPN/RN if you want to travel.I stated out in MPLS,minnesota,work agency LTC/MEDSURG in the summer and then played snowbird for the winter,TX,virgin islands,hawaii.every winter it was someplace diffrent,so thats a option that might intrest you,and as far as the finance stuff.I check suze orman's show and e-mail her a lot,and I have got wonderful advice for free.but thats just my opinon.

also check with the cummuter she always seems to have good advice.

GOOD LUCK

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Only you know if you want to work in rehab or in a hospital setting.

I find that 12 hour shifts are long and hard when you are in your 40s. You will use that first day off recovering. Most nurses I work with that are over 45 are looking for 8hour shifts.

When you say fulltime every other weekend, do you mean five days a week with every other weekend worked? I do something similar and it works for my life.

But only you can decide what you want to do.

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Fiona,

Yes you are right...my bad in not being more specific. 5 days per week with every other weekend on. I am currently already working almost 14 hrs per day and then add about 1 hour each way commuting time...:lol2:

I am less concerned about having the stamina and more concerned about feeling so lost!

Thanks everyone for responding.

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You may be working long days at your current job, but, and it's a big but, do you take your breaks? Have time to take lunch, coffee and bathroom breaks?

Twelve hour shifts have given me bladder infections, dehydration, and plantar faciattis. I'm back on 8s. It just took too long to recover from 12s, plus I would leave for work before my kids were up and be home around 8pm which gave me, maybe, 2 hours a day to talk to them, make their lunch for the next day, walk the dog, and try and keep on top of my life.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

I am 40 and I found that 12 hour shifts were really hard on my legs. I was doing 4 12's and it was brutal. I also found that my kids did not do very well with me being gone for 12+ hours. My spouse doesn't have a lot of patience for helping with homework and my kids are still pretty young, so they need quite a bit of time. I think it boils down to what really interests you. As a further thought, do you know what the hospital culture is like? Some are certainly better than others.

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Specializes in Addiction.

I worked on a medi/surg floor my first year out of nursing school. I found it a very valuable experience in learning how to impliment the skills I learned in nursing school and setting priorities etc... Not sure if I would have done well in a speciality area.

I ahve also worked 8 hr, 10 hr & 12 hr shifts ove the years. I have found I don't have the ooopmh to do the 12's anymore.:uhoh3:

Good luck, only you can decide what's best for you. :lol2:

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