Is it wise to work from home?

[SilverBells, BSN]

At work, I’ve recently been given the opportunity to bring a laptop home to complete work without distractions from others and theoretically cut back on hours.  

In theory, this seems like a good idea, but I’m not sure how well this would actually work. If anything, this might resolve in me working even more since I would have access to check up and follow up on things over the weekend and other days I have off.  I can see myself checking in frequently too, since  I almost always have at least one or two patients I’m worried about.  

Is this wise? 

[SmilingBluEyes]

The way you work, I don't think so.  You need boundries between you and work. IMO.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Not wise. Pass. I work at home full-time and it is very important to create boundaries, and I am glad you recognize that you'd struggle with that. When I am done for the day, I shut my office door and don't log into my work laptop until the next workday. 

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

It doesn’t matter what we think because you seem to post for the attention and drama, not for actual sound advice, and will continue to do what your want and provide dramatic updates for us all. 
For what it’s worth though since I’m a sucker, you answered your own question in your post.

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

I work from home and I love it, but I agree with SmilingBlueEyes and Pixie. You sound like the kind of person whose brain is so wired for the dopamine shot you get when you look at a screen that having it available to you 24/7 would be deleterious to your health and contribute to your already-evident downward spiral.

If you deny this, then think.... how often do your look at your phone? Are you like the alcoholic who says, "I could stop anytime if I wanted to"-- but you know they can't? The smoker who hasn't really thrown away every pack, the lighter, and the ashtrays?

If you are bound and determined to try this, promise yourself you will get and install some of that productivity software that absolutely prevents you from logging on for at least 14 hrs/day (or more). It will be horrible for you at the beginning, as breaking any kind of addiction is. How much do you want to quit?

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

Don't recommend it. I briefly had access to charting at home when I worked at a community clinic, and my friend and I who was an NP would find ourselves obsessively checking on pt's labs and imaging that we were worried about, and calling pts to follow up =/

[SmilingBluEyes]

I did it; worked way more than I would have if I had not charted from home. Work should stay at work. AND you need to find your own happiness and self-fulfillment away from work. You have a lot of work to do on that.

[Davey Do]

5 hours ago, JadedCPN said:

It doesn’t matter what we think because you seem to post for the attention and drama, not for actual sound advice, and will continue to do what your want and provide dramatic updates for us all. 

 

[macawake, MSN]

Sure. You could set up a weekly delivery of one pallet of a cola beverage of your choice and one pallet of Peanut Butter Cups and have at it. Make sure to work at least 20 hour days and limit your sleep to a maximum of 90 minutes per 24 hours. Also, you should probably cap your water main lest you’re tempted in a moment of weakness to drink something that is actually good for you. 

You know, if I thought you were being serious about asking for advice and at least considering listening to it, I would happily offer you a genuine reply. As things stand, I don’t think you are. I’ve watched other posters offer you tonnes of advice out of concern for your well-being, hoping to get through to you. To me, it seems like a Sisyphean enterprise.

Your post tells us you already know the correct answer to your question (and I happen to agree with your assessment), so why are we doing this? What need does it fulfill? This forum is full of people who’d be happy to help. We’ve chosen to work in healthcare after all. But you have to want help in order for it to work. 

[Davey Do]

1 hour ago, macawake said:

Sure. You could set up a weekly delivery of one pallet of a cola beverage of your choice and one pallet of Peanut Butter Cups and have at it. 

[SilverBells, BSN]

5 hours ago, LibraNurse27 said:

Don't recommend it. I briefly had access to charting at home when I worked at a community clinic, and my friend and I who was an NP would find ourselves obsessively checking on pt's labs and imaging that we were worried about, and calling pts to follow up =/

This sounds like something I would do.  I worry about work and patients who aren't doing well even on days I am gone.  In theory, I'd like to be able to monitor patients, even from afar, with the hopes of preventing anything bad from happening.  Unfortunately, it seems that no matter how much I keep an eye on patients, some of them end up declining anyway. 

[SilverBells, BSN]

2 hours ago, macawake said:

Sure. You could set up a weekly delivery of one pallet of a cola beverage of your choice and one pallet of Peanut Butter Cups and have at it. Make sure to work at least 20 hour days and limit your sleep to a maximum of 90 minutes per 24 hours. Also, you should probably cap your water main lest you’re tempted in a moment of weakness to drink something that is actually good for you. 

LOL, the sarcasm is great ???