Seaturtle01

Thank you for all the replies! The main thing that scares me about switching is all the talk on how short-staffed everyone is right now. I saw they just called the National Guard in to help at our local hospital. On one hand, I may have a better chance of getting hired if they need people badly, but on the other, I don't want to be put into a situation where I am overworked and burned out within a couple of months either. Do you think I should maybe wait until Spring and covid dies down a little or just take my chances now?

Thank you for all your responses. It's given me great encouragement and food for thought!

I currently work in a pediatric office setting M-F 8-4, no weekends, holidays, or evenings etc. I took this job so I could be there for my kids as they were growing up. However, they are all out of high school now. I am restless. I miss feeling challenged and growing my skills. I feel stagnant and bored and I really don't like M-F. I feel like I live in the rat race. In the evenings I cook, clean, and watch TV because I don't have any energy after all that and on weekends I spend the time getting caught up on all the chores, laundry and try to squeeze seeing my kids/grandkids in there if they're available and want to which isn't every weekend. Many years ago I worked L&D and I was actually excited to go to work. I LOVED my job. I left because my husband also worked shift work and we were having a baby and I had no family or late eve daycare in our area that would watch my baby 12-16 hours a day. I immediately knew I didn't care all that much about my job but I made it work so I could be there for my kids in the evenings and I've also hoped to go back one day. I applied a couple of years back for a L&D job and was offered a position and was super excited. Then I backed out because everyone was telling me how hard it is now, how I'm too old to return to patient care, how I won't have a life if I work nights (which I'd have to start out on), etc. They got in my head and I started second-guessing myself. I also think it would be cool to work a couple years and then try travel nursing. My husband hates to travel and I love it so this would give me a way to discover new places and make money at the same time. My kids no longer really want to visit very often because they are busy with their own lives and I do feel a little lost. When I thought of all the opportunities I could have and places I could visit I felt like I had a new lease on life. Then all my friends, co-workers, and family were telling me I was crazy to blow up my life and appreciate what I have and let this idea go. However, I know things aren't great in the hospital right now and I've been away from the bedside for so long that maybe I'm just remembering the good parts and not all the stress. I did start some new hobbies and exercising more but I still have that itch. I also think maybe this is the time to get back in the hospital because I'm 50 and I feel like it's now or never and places seem desperate for nurses right now so I stand a decent chance. My husband says he will support whatever I want to do. He finally also has a M-F job which he says is nice we finally have the same schedule after all these years but I do miss the long 12 hour shifts because the days I work that's all I'm expected to do. No one expects me to cook supper or clean etc like I've done for years after getting home. Then the days I'm off I'm off to do as I choose and will have a few hours alone. I miss having time home alone. I'm an introvert and I need alone time to recharge and I can hardly get that now and it's hard. Sorry this got long. I just wanted other thoughts and opinions from others that have been there or have more insight. Thank you in advance!