Present vs. future advice

Nurses Career Support

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Hello,

I'm seeking advice to some dilemmas I have been facing. Hopefully I won't sound like I am rambling here but I'll try to give a good overview:

I am an RN and currently work on a rehab floor at a VA. I work 12s with one 8hr shift every 2 weeks. My commute to work is about an hour each way. I love working for the VA but have been trying very hard for the past year or so to try to transfer within to something different. I've been an RN now for almost 4 years and rehab nursing is all I have done. I am looking for outpatient type work, something with steady hours, no weekends/holidays etc. I've applied and interviewed for about 4 positions within (some medical case management positions and an OR position) and keep getting turned down. I have a background as a social worker/case manager. Before I became a nurse I worked with people with mental illness and developmental disabilities. I like working with these populations and would really like to work with them again in the future. I keep hoping that something in the VA outpatient clinic will open up and I can apply there so I can work in the psych field again. I feel like I've been waiting and waiting and as time goes by I'm becoming more unhappy with my job.

Fast forward to the present: My husband and I welcomed a beautiful baby boy in November and I took the opportunity while on maternity leave to search for jobs outside of the VA. I am supposed to return to work next week. I wouldn't mind going part time for a while and asked my current manager if she would let me, of course the answer was no. Having a baby has made me want to amp the Job Search to get closer to home and have better hours. Even though I've been with the VA for a few years, I'm still low in seniority, so I tend to work 3-4 12hr shifts in a row and I am dreading going back because of this. I will hardly see my baby at all for days at a time, plus my commute is exhausting.

While on maternity leave I interviewed for a local human services agency (working with people with developmental disabilities in residential houses) that offered me decent pay, closer to home, good hours and benefits that aren't too bad. (Not as good as the VA). I believe they may even let me work part time for a while and go full by the end of the year. They seem to want to work with me. What raised a little red flag was they hired me on the spot. I told them I would think about it and contact them back. I almost accepted, but then got nervous and turned it down last minute. I know it seems crazy because here I am ranting about how bad I want another job. I got nervous because I worry about my future so much. I feel like working for the VA offers job security, a great retirement, and affordable health insurance. Plus its such a pain to go through the VA hiring process. I also love being a VA nurse and keep hoping for that perfect outpatient job opening that is taking longer than I expected to come.

I guess I'm just looking to hear what you would do. Would you take the job offered so you can be with family more, be closer to home and be happier with what you do for a living?

Or would you wait? Hope that your perfect job opens up, hope that you interview and get an offer, have good job security and a good retirement? Have affordable health insurance?

Thank you for reading my rant :). My husband tells me to follow my heart and do what feels right. I want to take that other job but I feel like I could have a good potential career at the VA and really grow there.

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

You've got a great Hubs - give him a hug for us.

I agree with Hubs - there are no "do-overs" when it comes to family. Babies don't stay that way very long & you'll never get that time back. But, before you finalize any decisions, have you talked to HR or a nurse recruiter about other VA opportunities? Experienced nurses with good solid performance records are not exactly easy to find. It's likely that they'll make an effort to keep you.

I reached out to our nurse navigator over a week ago and have not heard anything back :( ill try hr tomorrow when I go in for my shift. Thanks!

Hello,

I know this has been awhile but I find myself in a similar situation. I have not actively looked for another job yet, but it is something I'm constantly considering as I am currently out on maternity leave and hate the thought of leaving my LO.

Just wondering how your situation turned oit and if you had and information to share?

Thanks!

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