Really need help with a big career decision!

Nurses Career Support

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Hi everyone!

I am a new grad (May '13). Right out of school, I began working at a LTAC facility. It was not safe, but I did learn a lot. I stayed there for about 5 months when I applied, and was hired for a hospital-clinic job (Pain Clinic). I have been at the clinic for 2 months. However, I was just called from another hospital for a position there.

The clinic is a M-F 8-5 job, no holidays, no weekends. The hours are wonderful (especially because I have young children). The doctors are so great, very down to earth. However, I feel I have not learned how to be a "nurse" before specializing. Because there are not many nurses, they are a tough group to crack, lol. They have known each other for years. Although I have learned a lot from the LTAC, the training was ridiculously short. I'm also missing bedside nursing. I worry though, if I were to leave this job for the hospital position, I will regret my decision.

The hospital is offering 9 weeks of training on a med-surge floor, then I am able to bid on a floor I would like to work on. They have a L&D/OB floor which IS my dream job. They also pay $3/hr more than the clinic. But, I would be on an off-shift (seeing that I'm so new), and obviously have weekends and holidays to work, while also being on call.

I'm concerned if I stay at the clinic, I will lose all of my skills and will have "boxed myself in" for the future. The clinic is not my dream job (minus the hours), but I feel selfish if I were to leave because it works so well for my family.

HELP!!!

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

That's a tough decisions. If your dream is to work L&D someday, then I think you will be a more desirable candidate coming from acute hospital (med-surg, no less) unit, rather than an outpatient clinic. You will learn a tremendous amount working in m-s, both technical skills and time management.

Both types of hours have their up and down sides. Working nights is very very rough. Working holidays and weekends when everyone else is off really sucks. OTOH, you will have four days off every week.

I currently work 8-5 M-F, and it's WONDERFUL to come home every evening to make dinner, hang out with the family. I LOVE not having to work or be on call on weekends and holidays. It really is wonderful. The drawback is that I never have the opportunity to do things like doctor appointments, dentist appointments, eye appointments. I'm planning on taking a full day off in February and hopefully being able to juggle doctor and dentist appointments that day for all three kids. That part of working M-F really sucks.

At this point in your career, with your career goals, my recommendation would be to take the M-S job. But that's just me. Good luck in your decision! I have only worked in women's health for my entire career. It's where my passion lies. And I can say that working for 5 years in L&D has opened up SO many opportunities for me away from the bedside.

Cannot fathom why anyone would give up a Mon--Fri day shift postition...

To put themselves through the brutality of floor nursing.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Go with the hospital job...I'm partial to 3 days of working and time for work-balance...I LOVE LOVE LOVE floor nursing...go for it if that is what you want to do. :yes:

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Cannot fathom why anyone would give up a Mon--Fri day shift postition... To put themselves through the brutality of floor nursing.

I actually find floor nursing not brutal...5 days are FAR more brutal to me...and I miss it!!! :cry:

Job jumping is never a good idea, especially three jobs in less than a year. Makes you look unstable and flighty.

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