Need advice please help

[ark1992]

I need some help. I worked 8 months on a trauma burn unit then 4 months on a mother baby unit. Both were night shifts which made for a difficult, exhausting life. I just quit my mother baby job so that I could go back to get my bsn without the difficultly of night shift. I've had a couple of interviews but I'm afraid no one will hire me. What should I do? I desperately need ICU experience

[llg, PhD, RN]

I think you need to figure out what your priorities are and use them to guide your decisions. While you might get lucky, it is more likely that an ICU will be hesitant to invest in the lengthy orientation you would need if you are willing to work day shifts only -- and have quit 2 jobs in your first year of practice.

So ... what is most important for you this year? Working only day shifts? Working ICU? Going to school? You may need to put something "on hold" for now while you focus on your current top priority.

If your top priority is going to school and you feel you can't go to school while working nights, you will have to limit your job search to those that don't require nights -- and that may mean taking jobs that are not at the top of your preference list. You may have to settle for a less-desirable job because it fits your current schedule preferences. Or you may decide your top priority is to get ICU experience and that you are willing to work nights if that is what those jobs require.

Sometimes, we need to make trade-offs and/or delay some of our goals while we focus on others. That's normal.

So, what is your highest priority for right now? ... and what are you willing to compromise to achieve that?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I think you need to figure out what your priorities are and use them to guide your decisions. While you might get lucky, it is more likely that an ICU will be hesitant to invest in the lengthy orientation you would need if you are willing to work day shifts only -- and have quit 2 jobs in your first year of practice.

So ... what is most important for you this year? Working only day shifts? Working ICU? Going to school? You may need to put something "on hold" for now while you focus on your current top priority.

If your top priority is going to school and you feel you can't go to school while working nights, you will have to limit your job search to those that don't require nights -- and that may mean taking jobs that are not at the top of your preference list. You may have to settle for a less-desirable job because it fits your current schedule preferences. Or you may decide your top priority is to get ICU experience and that you are willing to work nights if that is what those jobs require.

Sometimes, we need to make trade-offs and/or delay some of our goals while we focus on others. That's normal.

So, what is your highest priority for right now? ... and what are you willing to compromise to achieve that?

Great advice!