Loyalty issues.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jan 30, 2014

I just got my license Tuesday. I've applied to tons of places with no call backs yet. Granted, it's been 2 days, but my raging Type A personality is starting to take over and my house can only get so clean. Here is my issue:
I have a family situation that makes it to where I will need to relocate about an hour away as soon as possible. The area I'm looking to move to...well...the entire region I live in really is flooded with new grads. To add insult to injury I have my ADN. I have applied to every job within a 45 minute drive from the location we're going to move to with no luck yet.
There is a doctor at my current location who has already told me I have a job if I want it. I know, however, that we will be moving and I know I will want to get a job closer to our new home eventually. What I'm having some issues with is the notion of this man doing me a favor, his hospital investing all this money in a new grad, and then me up and bailing. It just doesn't sit right with me.
So what do you all recommend? Or am I being over zealous and need to wait a bit longer? Although it's an ADN, I already got my ACLS/PALS/BLS, I was class President, I graduated 2nd in my class, I have tons of volunteer work, and I ran surgery at a dental office for 7 years before nursing school so I do have some work history. Opinions? Pretty please?

You're right to think that if you take a job, you should stay there for at least 1-2 years. (It is so good to see a new grad concerned with doing the right thing!) But there may not be a problem with taking this job. Is it 8 hour shifts or 12s? Or a mixture? Days or nights? Rotating?

You say you're moving "an hour away". I know lots of folks who commute twice that long every day. It's not the ideal situation, but it is possible. And it's a way to gain some nursing experience so that you can eventually land a job closer to your new home.

When you move to your new city, is it possible that you can find someplace to live that is closer to that hospital. (For example, if your moving an hour to the east, is it possible to find a residence on the west side of that town to decrease your commute?) Can you schedule 3 12-hour shifts in a row and stay with a friend after the first and second shift so you only have to commute once a week? Can you find someone in your new location to Ride Share? Can you invest in audio books and learn to love the drive time?

Since your move is such a small one, I think you have lots of options. It's not as if you were moving 1000 miles away!

cam_ma.am · Jan 30, 2014

You're right to think that if you take a job, you should stay there for at least 1-2 years. (It is so good to see a new grad concerned with doing the right thing!) But there may not be a problem with taking this job. Is it 8 hour shifts or 12s? Or a mixture? Days or nights? Rotating?
You say you're moving "an hour away". I know lots of folks who commute twice that long every day. It's not the ideal situation, but it is possible. And it's a way to gain some nursing experience so that you can eventually land a job closer to your new home.
When you move to your new city, is it possible that you can find someplace to live that is closer to that hospital. (For example, if your moving an hour to the east, is it possible to find a residence on the west side of that town to decrease your commute?) Can you schedule 3 12-hour shifts in a row and stay with a friend after the first and second shift so you only have to commute once a week? Can you find someone in your new location to Ride Share? Can you invest in audio books and learn to love the drive time?
Since your move is such a small one, I think you have lots of options. It's not as if you were moving 1000 miles away!

Ruby Vee thaaaaank you so much for your response. You are entirely correct that an hour commute isn't outlandish. Your saying that kind of put it into perspective for me. I know I'd work 12's but I have no idea what shift work I'd be doing. Regardless, it's doable if I want it bad enough.

I'm thinking maybe I'll wait until Monday to see if I get any calls. If I don't I'll hit the pavement and go to the hospitals I've already applied at just to get some in-person familiarity with the hiring managers. If I don't hear anything by the following Monday, I'll get ahold of the doctor. I don't want to wait around but I want to make sure I did everything I could to get the best option or at least set up a more personal connection for a possible future hire.

This helped me a lot. Thank you again.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jan 31, 2014

Ruby Vee thaaaaank you so much for your response. You are entirely correct that an hour commute isn't outlandish. Your saying that kind of put it into perspective for me. I know I'd work 12's but I have no idea what shift work I'd be doing. Regardless, it's doable if I want it bad enough.
I'm thinking maybe I'll wait until Monday to see if I get any calls. If I don't I'll hit the pavement and go to the hospitals I've already applied at just to get some in-person familiarity with the hiring managers. If I don't hear anything by the following Monday, I'll get ahold of the doctor. I don't want to wait around but I want to make sure I did everything I could to get the best option or at least set up a more personal connection for a possible future hire.
This helped me a lot. Thank you again.

You're welcome! I'm really glad I could help!

jcarl12 · Jan 31, 2014

I would say take the job, especially if there isn't any other opportunities for you at the moment. Finding a new job as a nurse is tough in the market we are in right now so I'd take anything you can get. Many of the nurses I graduated with passed up their opportunities in hopes of finding something "better" and almost a year later still don't have a job. Just remember, more than likely your first nursing job isn't going to be your dream job. It's a place to gain experience in order to move up in the future. And an hour drive is doable. Many nurses that I work with make that commute and where it may not be ideal at times, it works and they are thankful to have a job. If you have to, rent a hotel or stay with family or friends the days you feel too tired to drive home for. Good luck!!

MsLindaW · Feb 1, 2014

Great advice. I took a job as a CareGiver to get much needed experience until I land that "dream job".