Looking for Opinions on the Pros & Cons of My Work Schedule

[x19amanda]

24yr old RN, began in 2013 at age 22 working as overnight supervisor/evening charge in LTC.

At 23 picked up 2nd PT job on a Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic at small local hospital in a high crime/poverty area. Both jobs requiring separate knowledge base & set of skills.

At 24 picked up 3rd job as Per Diem on a med/post-surg floor at same hospital.

I regularly have been working all 3 jobs on a weekly basis, working each at least 1-3 days/week.

I feel very competent in my critical thinking & ability to work autonomously, but this has also been accompanied by moments of high stress & anxiety that can be unbearable.

I blame this on myself, for not working one FT job, so could familiarize myself with a routine etc..

But...I still enjoy it.

Fellow nurses, do you think I am gaining valuable experience working in 3 different areas or do you think as a nurse with only 2yrs experience I should be focusing on one speciality?

Pros vs Cons?

[ktwlpn, LPN]

Your experience is valuable,only you can answer the question you asked.Is it truly worth the toll the stress is taking on you?If so then continue,if not then pick one....

[adpiRN]

If you enjoy it and it's not causing stress I think it's valuable.

A schedule like that sounds nice to me because I get burned out doing the same thing all the time.

Right now I teach a nursing school clinical 1 day a week and work PRN at a hospital.

Am considering down the road adding a part time job (maybe school nurse) to that schedule.

[Jules A, MSN]

If you enjoy the variety I say keep at it! I love how adventurous and hardworking you sound at such a young age. I have always worked more than one job and usually a fair amount of overtime. It has enhanced my practice by expanding my skill set, many different colleagues to learn from and different ways of doing things.

[x19amanda]

Very good points, thank you. One full time job is very stressful now that I think back to previous FT jobs prior to nursing. I think it's just learning how to manage & not letting outside stressors & work stressors combine because it can drive you to crazy town.