Is it worth travelling 4 hrs to work?

I love my cat! · May 30, 2012

No. My time is money. That is just wasted life to me....even without children, IMO.

prettymica, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN, APRN, NP · May 30, 2012

Yes, only because I dont have kids or a husband. If I did have kids or a husband I would manifest a dream job close to home :)

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · May 30, 2012

But that is only if she were doing it for the money, which I don't think is the case. It is a means to an end. A way to get the experience and training to help secure a job in her desired area. She might have to suck it up for a year, but then she can move closer or apply at a nicu closer to home and have a better shot at getting the job. It is not always about the money.

And if she (and her daughter) in in financial ruin and debt up to her eyeballs after getting the experience and training (which may or may not land her a better job after a year), would that make it worth it?

I agree it's not always about the money. It's also about your family. And if the OP were a single woman, I'd say go for it. But she has a 7 year old daughter to support right now. Her daughter's needs (both financial and her need to have her mother in her life as a support system- not at work 4 hours away for half the year) can't just be sucked up and put on hold for a year.

CalNevaMimi, LPN, LVN · May 30, 2012

I wouldn't even leave my dog for that long. As far as I know, nobody on their deathbed has ever said, "Gee, I wish I would have taken that job and been away from my child." NO WAY.

RNHURT · May 30, 2012

Being in rural area, where difficult to find experienced nurses, her per hr rate is 38 plus 3 diff :)

PennyWise · May 30, 2012

Is it worth it? Umm.........................NO.

Having a job you love is an important part of life, but your job should not be your life. If you have that kind of commute to work, you will have no life other than work. That will eventually burn you out, and you will hate the job in the end.

Stephalump · May 30, 2012

Dream big.

Be a parent.

There are some people on AN who will tell you to follow your dreams right off of a cliff into a pit of snakes.

I've honestly never seen/heard the "Dream theme" as often in my entire life as I've read it here on AN I'm all for going after what you want, but not at the expense of everyone around you. Not into financial ruin. Not into a career you're not cut out for. Proceed with clarity, reason, and purpose, not desperation and impulsivity.

RNHURT · May 30, 2012

I never thought I would get so many votes agreeing with me that its not worth it. No, her parents are well off and she will not go hungry without this job and may have some bills piled up for a while. Thanks again for all your reply.

maelstrom143 · May 30, 2012

At this point in my career I would not.

However, were I a single mother needing an income AND had a reliable family member to help me and was a relatively new RN needing to establish my career/experience, I might consider the need to commute. However, I would think it more appropriate to rent a small efficiency or room (worst case scenario), rather than a hotel/motel, as it would afford more comfort, safety (i.e. less risk of contracting vermin from mattresses) and cost effectiveness in the long run.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · May 30, 2012

My friend just got a job in NICU and she always wanted to be NICU nurse, pay is good but her job is 4 hrs away in rural area. She has been a registry LVN before becoming RN and my advice was if she can try registry for a while close to her home if she cannot find job of her choice. She has a 7 yrs old girl who'll be with grandma for 4 days a week. This is not travel job but she would be travelling 4 hrs, staying in hotel for 6 days work and drive back home.
I am wondering how many of us would be willing to travel 4 hrs for job they want and leave kids with grandparents. .

While my kids are with Gma and Gpa a fair amount b/c of my work, no way in holy heck could I leave them for 6 days in a row. Not fair to ANYONE involved in that situation. JMHO, of course

Argo · May 30, 2012

We have people in vail that commute that far. If I needed the experience I would do it for sure as long as I had family to help out. After you get your year under your belt life gets a lot easier with getting jobs. Most responders are likely experienced nurses or in a good market. I'm experienced and in OR and have never had an issue but I would get the experience where I could.....

AnonRNC · May 30, 2012

I never thought I would get so many votes agreeing with me that its not worth it. No, her parents are well off and she will not go hungry without this job and may have some bills piled up for a while. Thanks again for all your reply.

Upon reading your original post, my first thought was: It's not your business. After reading the above, it's STILL not your business.

Are you seriously soliciting strangers on the internet to help you "win" a disagreement with your friend? If you are showing her all these posts to "prove" that you're right, I think you need to reexamine what it means to be a friend to someone.

It's really easy to sit and judge the decisions others make, but without knowing ALL that they deal with, you are in no position to do so.