Need some opinions.....what to do?

Nurses General Nursing

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I have been working as an RN for one year on a med-surg/stepdown floor. I didn't really want to work in this area of nursing, but that is what was available after graduation and I knew it would be good experience.....and it has been good experience. I'm just miserable there even though it is a great organization. I'm depressed, gaining weight, and generally not myself.

I now have the opportunity to take the job I REALLY wanted right after graduation, but it is at a different hospital. My only problem is that I have a 28 month commitment (not a contract) with the hospital I work for now. I am really torn between (a) not wanting to break my commitment to a great organization and (b) not wanting to be miserable for the next year and a half. I feel really guilty for even thinking about breaking my commitment, and I'm fully aware that this decision could come back to haunt me someday. My thought was that maybe I could still work at my current hospital on a PRN basis if I took the new job.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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what would the repercussion be of breaking the "committment"?

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

what are the terms of the committment? Was this for a sign on bonus or money for school? What would happen if you left other than the feeling of burning your bridges? Mind you- i am not advocating that you leave your current job, i just need more info.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I'm pretty big on honoring commitments. What specifically is making you miserable? Is there anything at your current job that you can change?

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.

I think life is too short to be miserable and a 1 1/2 yr is quite some time to remain so miserable. Have you spoken with your NM about this? You need to communicate

and see what she/he says. If you give plenty of notice to give them time to replace

you, it may not be that big of deal. But remember, they were out big money training

you as a new nurse so you need to do what's right. Sometimes the grass looks greener

on the other side, but when you get over there it may not be as good as you think.

Good luck.

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I heard these words told to a nurse who left for a new employer, "If things don't work out, don't expect to come back here". This was not said as a threat or in a mean-spirited way, they were just conveying to her that she would be replaced and there wouldn't be a way in through the back door. Consider your ability to be rehired, should you need to find a new job in the future.

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There was no sign-on bonus, so I wouldn't need to pay back any money. The consequence of breaking the commitment is that I would not be eligible for re-hire. (And of course, having the guilt of it on my conscience!)

I'm not sure what I could change at work. I work night shift (which I don't like), but I also worked day shift for 6 months and REALLY didn't like that shift on my particular unit. I like my co-workers and the hospital organization. I just don't like the type of nursing unit. I can't switch units within the hospital for another 1.5 years.

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I'm sorry to have to say this, but in this day and age, I would not willingly put myself in a "do not rehire" status. Jobs have dried up in my area and it is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the US. If there were jobs hanging from the trees, that would be a different matter. Could you possibly stay on in a part time status? That is what a lot of people do when they change jobs.

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Yes, I would try to stay on PRN or part-time at my current job if at all possible in order to avoid "burning bridges".

Thanks for the advice!

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Specializes in CCU MICU Rapid Response.

You can't even switch units? How come?

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Just curious what is your dream job?

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Specializes in Psych, med surg.

This is a difficult choice. I, too, worked med-surg right after graduation for about a year and hated it. I left for another area of nursing in another health system in the area and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I can't believe I let myself be so miserable for so long. It was not worth it. However, I was lucky. I had the support of my NM and would have been hired back if the new job hadn't worked out. I

All the above posts make very good points. Here's a few more questions: How big is the current hospital you work for versus the facility you would be going to? If the new job doesn't work out, how likely is it that you could find work somewhere else? If the hospital where you currently work is the major game in town, I would be more hesitant to leave. On the other hand, if the new facility is large and has lots of opportunities, it is likely you could transfer to a new area if the job doesn't work out.

Also, how confident are you that you will love the new job? Have you worked on that unit before, either in school or as a tech? Or in a similar situation?

As far as the commitment... It seems that the commitment you made is a way for that facility to force staff to stay in bad situations. And the "no rehire" policy just reinforces that. I do not know the particulars of your unit, but it seems like this a recipe for management to abuse staff. If you leave, you would still be breaking your word. Is your happiness worth breaking your word?

If it was me, and I was pretty confident that I would love the new job, and if I had other options if it didn't work out.... I would leave the current job in a second.

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