Job Choice: Hospital vs. Methadone Clinic

[petem35]

Hi everybody,

I just passed my NCLEX and am very excited to begin my nursing career! A little bit about myself. I am 37, a divorced dad of two boys, 7 and 4, remarried and a refugee from corporate America, where I worked as a journalist and PR person for 11 years. I graduated from a diploma program overseen by a very reputable hospital, however a local university is absorbing the program and turning it into a four-year degree operation in the next two years. The parent hospital is giving me a second interview Monday on the geriatric psych floor. I want to work with the mentally ill and/or chemically addicted. In my teenage years, I was a very self-destructive alcoholic and wound up spending three years of my adolescence in institutions. Those times are behind me, as I have now been clean and sober for over 20 years. It's important for me to give back.

That said, I have a problem. A good one -- just a dilemma. In addition to the hospital job, I have a very good chance of being hired as a staff nurse at a local outpatient rehab/methadone clinic where I interned last summer. So here's the rundown of the two jobs.

STAFF NURSE AT METHADONE CLINIC

-- Full-time with benefits

-- Days only, but very early (probably about 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

-- 20-minute commute

-- Little responsibility beyond dispensing methadone -- as far as I can tell

-- Potential of being able to shift into more of a psychiatric nurse role in the future (groups, etc.)

-- Predictable schedule

-- Probably pays better than the hospital

-- Ability to work per diem if I reject full-time

GERIATRIC PSYCH NURSE

-- Part-time (24 hours) with benefits (they say it's fairly easy to pick up extra shifts -- don't know whether that's true)

-- Evenings and nights with working every other weekend

-- Unpredictable schedule (every week is different)

-- Less than 10 minute commute

-- Varied responsibilities

-- Potential to float onto general psych floor (I'm more interested in this, but there are no openings)

-- Part of very reputable university health system

-- Relatively low pay for area and profession

-- No ability to work per diem if I reject job

A few more details. As my kids are getting older, I am trying to negotiate 50/50 custody with their mother. My older son suffers from clinical anxiety and I feel like I am his safest haven. Not to put down his mother, but she has very little capacity for empathy at times. I see them four to six days a week right now, but only have four overnights out of 14 and pay a disproportionate amount of child support vs. the amount of time I spend with them (but the court doesn't care -- they just rubber-stamp the mom). I've gotten the mother to agree to mediation this summer, but I don't know if I'll convince her to go for 50/50. A consistent schedule is certainly a factor and if I'm working at the hospital -- I won't have that. On the other hand, I'll be around a lot during the day for the kids (when they're not in school) and I KNOW that their mom will at least let me have them overnight for one night a week and every other weekend. Is that enough? Depends on daytime availability (the mom works full-time days).

I left corporate America because I couldn't stand the morals, ethics and lack of empathy. I love my kids very much, but I know that if I'm unhappy in my career, it will lessen my abilities as a parent. (I just don't hide depression very well!) So assuming I have a job offer at either place, I will have to decide. Like I said, I can probably work per diem at the methadone clinic if I reject full-time work there. But alternating days there with evenings and overnights may be brutal.

An LPN at the methadone clinic where I work now (as a medical assistant) told me to take the hospital job. He said the experience is better, I can always work per diem at the clinic and that the clinic politics are b.s. On the other hand, I did most of my clinicals at the hospital in question -- and I know for a fact things can be very weird there at times.

I still have to get my priorities in order. I just don't know. Obviously, I can't have it all, nor do I feel entitled as a new grad. Just trying to make a good decision. My career is important, but my boys won't be young forever.

Thoughts?

[petem35]

Oh, just a heads-up for further background. I have a bachelor's in another field. Both places offer tuition reimbursement (although I'm unsure of the levels). I intend to start my MSN next year.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

I say the clinic. It sounds like it would be more doable for your life.

[RNKPCE]

Family first, the clinic sounds better.

However the hospital job sounds better for nursing skills, career. You said you will just be dispensing methadone, I personally would need more than that.

But family first.

[ArtClassRN, ADN, RN]

" I want to work with the mentally ill and/or chemically addicted"

Looks like you have an opportunity to do what you want.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

In regard to your personal life, I'd say Methadone clinic.

In regards to professional development, I'd say gero-psych.

You know, you can always ask questions, even ask to meet with the manager again, see the units, if you still aren't sure which is best for you.