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Discussion

Need career help!

Hello! 

I am a new nurse, I’ve been working night shift on a med surg floor for about 6 months now. I have always wanted to do L&D or Mother/Baby, and recently was offered a position on mother baby and accepted. I have been having a hard time with my physical and mental health on night shift, and really want to work days. My current manager told me she was planning to move me to day shift shortly, and the M/B is on nights. I am really struggling between working M/B which I’ve always wanted, or staying at my current job on days. Additionally, I want to travel as a nurse next year, and if I switch jobs now, I will not have the required experience to be able to travel. If I stay on my current floor, I can travel for a bit and then try again to find a job on L&D or mother/baby. I am very conflicted and need to make a decision soon. Any advice would be helpful! 

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    A few things to consider:

    1. Med/surg is more versatile and leaves more doors open. I can float to mother/baby as a med surg nurse, although I refuse the babies and just care for the mothers. I don't think anyone has to do med/surg, but for people who aren't sure where they'd like to end up, it's a good area to "hang out".

    2. A plan to move you to day shift does not mean it will actually happen.

    3. Consider why you want to travel and whether or not travel nursing is the best/only way to accomplish that want. It works for some people, but when I considered the pros and cons, it didn't make sense for me. When I first heard about it, I found it very appealing.

    4. Mother/baby might offer better networking opportunities if you hope to get into L&D.

    5. Leaving your first job so soon is not ideal, but it's somewhat understandable if you're moving to a different specialty instead of hopping from job to job in the same specialty.

    6. It's unlikely that you'll cause yourself signifigant damage by making the "wrong" choice. Sometimes we require "rerouting" after a wrong turn, but we still get to where we're going.

    As far as what's most important to you, no one can decide that but you. ?

     

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    3 minutes ago, Sour Lemon said:

    3. Consider why you want to travel and whether or not travel nursing is the best/only way to accomplish that want. It works for some people, but when I considered the pros and cons, it didn't make sense for me. When I first heard about it, I found it very appealing.

     

    Agree.

    I am not a travel nurse, but have worked with tons of travelers over the years.  My personal advice to you about traveling is get more experience first.  You have to have your nursing style down including great organizational and time management stuff.  Often travelers get only a brief clinical orientation to their workplace.  Well-experienced travelers are ready to hit the ground running.  I'm not saying you can't do it, but you most definitely need to be ready.

    On the other hand, a travel position could lead to a permanent position in a place where you didn't even know you wanted to live!  I know many of these nurses as well!  ? 

    GOOD LUCK!

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