Hello everyone. It's been awhile. From my first posts, I know you guys read that I have been very depressed since beginning my career as a new nurse on a MedSurg unit doing 3 12 hr shifts a week. That stress has remained after 1.5 years of working on the same unit. I talked with my director on Wednesday to turn in a 2 week notice, despite not having a back-up plan. She is a very compassionate and encouraging person, to say the least. Obviously, I am very lucky. We talked for quite some time and she recommended I talk with the director of our facility's endo lab, as there is a full-time position open. Hours are M-F around 7-3 but can vary, and one weekend a month on call. She called and recommended me. I was offered the job after a couple of meetings this week. I am so thankful for this offer. From what my director tells me, this is a job that doesn't come around often, and there are several others, just on my unit, who wanted it. But, I am anxious. I am scared of making a mistake. Scared of starting in a new area considering how I have felt the last year and a half. I love caring for patients. When I get to interact with them, it is truly the best part of my job. But 12 hour shifts wear me out and I hate going home to an empty house. Experience, I am sure, is what I am lacking as far as the new job in concerned. But, I also think it's more than that. My husband works M-F evenings, around 2-11. Now my hours are going to be completely opposite of his. We are newly married and have no children. Therefore, we both spend a lot of time at home alone. I miss him constantly. He has worked this job for almost 6 years (we have been dating for 8 - HS sweethearts). I hate spending every evening alone. I grew up in a house where my mother worked from home and dad had his own business. I had a brother and a sister with a lot of family nearby, so we had a busy house. Now, I feel like our friends and family don't come around often because they assume my husband is working. I work a lot of weekends, so I don't see him then, either. I am just lost. I have accepted the offer and feel this is something I need to try, but I guess I am looking for encouragement and advice as far as what to expect and how to cope. Thank you all in advance for leaving out judgments, and taking the time to reply to this.
Cultivate some new hobbies- learn how to play an instrument, learn to crochet, paint, take art classes, go to swimming or water aerobics, ETC. The possibilities are endless. You could even do a few different things. Don't just depend on your husband for your enjoyment in life, make yourself an independent person who can enjoy the downtime as well as forming new friendships or spending time with those you haven't been around much, etc. Good luck with your new position, it sounds great, and you seem very fortunate to have snagged it. Be thankful!
Specializes in Psychiatric nursing; Medical-Surgrical.
Hello everyone. It's been awhile. From my first posts, I know you guys read that I have been very depressed since beginning my career as a new nurse on a MedSurg unit doing 3 12 hr shifts a week. That stress has remained after 1.5 years of working on the same unit. I talked with my director on Wednesday to turn in a 2 week notice, despite not having a back-up plan. She is a very compassionate and encouraging person, to say the least. Obviously, I am very lucky. We talked for quite some time and she recommended I talk with the director of our facility's endo lab, as there is a full-time position open. Hours are M-F around 7-3 but can vary, and one weekend a month on call. She called and recommended me. I was offered the job after a couple of meetings this week. I am so thankful for this offer. From what my director tells me, this is a job that doesn't come around often, and there are several others, just on my unit, who wanted it. But, I am anxious. I am scared of making a mistake. Scared of starting in a new area considering how I have felt the last year and a half. I love caring for patients. When I get to interact with them, it is truly the best part of my job. But 12 hour shifts wear me out and I hate going home to an empty house. Experience, I am sure, is what I am lacking as far as the new job in concerned. But, I also think it's more than that. My husband works M-F evenings, around 2-11. Now my hours are going to be completely opposite of his. ....
See girl you've got a great deal here. There are some of us that have husbands who work in different cities and we only get to see them once or twice a month. This is a Monday to Friday shift and you get to sleep in bed with your dear husband every night and get weekends off with him...please be grateful and thankful for what you have. You may never get that again. I would be happy if I had the kind of hours that you have and yes I am newly married too. stay Blessed and count those blessing that are hard to come by.
My husband and I worked opposite schedules for two years. I won't lie to you and tell you that it wasn't rough and lonely at times. But it paid off in the end that we both have much better jobs now - more $$$, better hours, better benefits, etc. Sometimes you just have to look at the big picture and decide if it is worth it.
For what it is worth, we were newlyweds as well when we worked opposite schedules.
NurseStorm, BSN, RN
153 Posts
Cultivate some new hobbies- learn how to play an instrument, learn to crochet, paint, take art classes, go to swimming or water aerobics, ETC. The possibilities are endless. You could even do a few different things. Don't just depend on your husband for your enjoyment in life, make yourself an independent person who can enjoy the downtime as well as forming new friendships or spending time with those you haven't been around much, etc. Good luck with your new position, it sounds great, and you seem very fortunate to have snagged it. Be thankful!