Juggling a full time job and new ER internship, is it possible??

N1colina · Jan 14, 2013

Hi group. Am i fooling myself to think i can continue to keep my current job of 13years and a new grad er position. I was advised that if i quit now, i walk away with nothing, if i wait to may i can leave with a buyout pkg(enough 2 pay 2 years of college tutition for my child). Im so torn, should i just walk away or try to balance it, and if i cant cope then just quit my old job? Decision, decision, decision. I do know no matter what I am keeping the ER job.[/quote']
I would stick it out until May, if I were you. Why not? If you're worried about losing your spot in the ED, why not work on med-surg first (after you leave your office job) then look for an ED position after a year or so?

sharon2012rn · Jan 14, 2013

I was hired for the ED dept new grad position. No med/surg positions available unless experience. I really want ER, I will rough it out till may. Thanks for responding

MJB2010 · Jan 14, 2013

You cannot juggle both. Can you ask for a leave of Absence from your full time position for a few months for this? An ER position is going to be all consuming. It is stressful and full time. Would the er internship let you go part time? Could you go part time at both? I think trying to juggle both full time is a recipe for disaster. No way is it a good idea at all. could you postpone the er Internship until the next cohort starts? What hours do you work at your current job? Will you be night or day shift in the er? Will there be classes you must attend?

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jan 14, 2013

Agree with mjb, you're not going to be able juggle both. You didn't say when orientation began but between now & May would include most if not all of orientation (unless it's a 6 month gig).

Also, ER orientation is a day job, 7-3 or 7-7, combining class & bedside. It's full time & exhausting. If your current job is M-F days (you didn't mention), how would that work?

Tough decision. Good luck.

sharon2012rn · Jan 14, 2013

My current job is open 7 days a week, so I was going to schedule it around my ER schedule, this schedule will only work if I'm on 3 12's, come the 2nd month of training , I'm assuming the first month might b day shift m - f, , the more I think about this isn't going to work

SNB1014, RN · Jan 15, 2013

i guess it depends on what you do now. is it relevant to your future in nursing?

new grad residencies, ( in er no less!) are hard to nab for many grads. im imagining you working 80 hour weeks. you need to sleep at some point too during the day, you know? something will give way.

i would pick the residency. if you *truly* see the future in your current job, the best thing to do IMO would be to decline the residency so someone who doesnt already have a source of income and wants to give 110% to the er can have the spot.

sharon2012rn · Jan 15, 2013

I'm someone who can juggle it all. I went to nursing school while I still worked full time and still grad with a 3.7 from a top school, so I can still give the er 110%. My current job I landed with my first marketing degree, so it has nothing to do with nursing. I really want this er job, so my only issue is to quit my full time job now or do it in. 3 months with a buyout bonus. My future is in nursing, I make more in my current job but my life dream is to be an er nurse, and that's what I'll be

amarilla, RN · Jan 16, 2013

Agree with mjb, you're not going to be able juggle both. You didn't say when orientation began but between now & May would include most if not all of orientation (unless it's a 6 month gig).
Also, ER orientation is a day job, 7-3 or 7-7, combining class & bedside. It's full time & exhausting. If your current job is M-F days (you didn't mention), how would that work?
Tough decision. Good luck.

Cosign this. If your new grad residency was anything like mine, you will follow your preceptor's schedule as well as attending classes and certification courses (IV, tele, ACLS etc.) Your schedule may change from week to week in response to census and staff needs; do you have the flexibility to change your hours at your primary job without unneeded drama? If not - I'd bow out now and save myself the stress. You might be able to do both, but will you really be able to give 100% if you're being pulled in both directions? I think this might be harder than you think. JMO.

Good luck.