quittaRN

Hello, I live in CA, the bay area and I work in a level 3 medical NICU. We don't do surgeries. I LOVE my job we have a lot of fun at work. I never feel overworked although we are short staffed at times but we work as a team so you never feel alone or helpless. Also short staffed to a California nurses and short staffed to an east coast nurse is totally different. Basically the assignments to me are pretty nice I'm originally from Florida and we would pray for assignments like this, the ratio and break laws here are a dream. I am still challenged at times as well so it's the best of both worlds. And the pay is unmatched. You should come on over here. We are hiring but for nights only. Good luck!!

Yes I do believe many jobs will have a hard time looking past or around that to hire you but I don't think it's impossible for you to find a job. I think you will just have to not be picky when looking for a job and be open to whatever comes your way. Nursing homes is what comes to mind. But I do believe that there are hospitals and clinic who will still hire you. Good luck.

My side hustle teaches others how to start their own business with low up front costs as low as less than $500 and as an added benefit I'm still helping families so it goes hand and hand with nursing. I am seeing so much profit that I may have to quit my nursing job which is hard for me because I love nursing.

I think if you like ICU then the PICU would float your boat. I think you would like it. Lots of action, very busy and very, very sad. So if you can handle the sadness then your good to go. The NICU can be sad too but not nearly as sad as peds er or PICU, you just have to decide what you can handle. I have worked all 3 and I love it. Kids are so resilient. Good luck!

I think you should stay in the ER. It seems like that is where your heart is and eventually you may get burnt out or tired of the fast pace and the NICU may become a topic again. I think while you still can you should continue your work in the ER and transition later. To work in NICU it is a big transition because your patient is doesnt speak and at times it's a guessing game but once you get used to it, it becomes predictable ( unlike the ER) the biggest learning curve is managing parents. It's also an emotional thing you've got to deal with a lot of emotional roller coasters working in NICU or with children period. Just give it some more thought but I think you may end up waiting, good luck. By the way thank you for what you do believe me I appreciate you.

Hello JRT1, Thanks for your advice, I really appreciate it. That is what I was thinking that as a manager I wouldn't have the time to work another job because it would be so demanding but I would just hate to go into management and realize that I am not ready yet. So maintaining the two would allow me to choose without losing. I am also worried that I may never go into management if I don't jump on an opportunity soon. Thanks for both yours and llg responses its given me a lot to think about.

Thanks so much for this comment it was very helpful and good advice. I appreciate it.

Hello All, I have an MSN in leadership and management and I have always known that one day I would like to work in management. I would like to one day become a CNO but I am in no hurry right now. I have a job that I absolutely love and I work in many different roles such as shift leader (aka charge nurse), transport and ALS(delivery nurse). All of these roles provide me lots of autonomy and leadership as well as allowing me to be a resource to my coworkers ( a huge resource). I also take part in many educational and developmental committees that allow me to assist with change and the advancement of my unit. As you can see I have my hand in many pots and I really really love working at my job. I was offered an Assistant Nurse Manager position at my current job multiple times but I love my job so much that I have to turn it down. I did interview for the position and take in all the information even negotiated my pay and schedule but after monitoring the current ANMs and talking with ANMs whose advice I trust and respect. I feel that I made the right decision to turn down the offers. The unfortunate thing is that I work for a well-respected hospital system that offers tons of room for advancement and many leadership and development classes which I am really very interested in. But to be an ANM for this facility and even other facilities within the system would probably make me hate working in leadership because of the demands of the ANM role and what is required of ANMs at this hospital system. I've learned that middle management sucks but upper management is where it is at. But I know I will need experience before I can transition into an upper management position. So sorry for this long explanation but my questions is: Since I still really have a desire to work in management but am scared to fully walk away from my bedside position, is it at all possible to take on a management position at a different hospital system while maintaining my current job (part time)? I would hate to leave a job I love only to return with my tail between my legs when/if it doesn't work out. I also wonder if I could work both jobs for a while until I can fully walk away from the bedside. I know I am not ready to leave the bedside but my other roles give me a lot of time to think about the change that I could make as a manager, I feel like I may need to at least get my feet wet. Please respond someone tell me if this is possible. I just need to know if the demands are too hard to work a second job at the same time. Is there anyone that has experience with this? Thanks in advance

Hey fellow Tampanian, I moved to California from Tampa, well I moved from Tampa 11 years ago but I have been in California since 2013. I have lived in southern California for a year and northern California for about 5 years. I have a love-hate relationship with California but I truly love my job here and all the benefits so that is why I stay. I do agree that if you do not have any family or friends here it will be hard to make any new friends especially being from Florida, people are not the same. The people here are nice don't get me wrong but it is not like Florida or anywhere in the south you just have to do a little more work. Also the pay and COL in Sacramento can't be beat so if you were to move to Sacramento I say do it, but please make sure you do your research because I knew all about Sacramento before I came here and just could not move there. But I live close by (because of the cost of living in the bay area). But I am mostly in the bay area. Although over the years I think that Sacramento has gone through a lot of changes and I think that it is getting better there is a lot more to do now. I hope that you will give Sacramento a try but again do your research. Also I agree that it would be ideal if you can take on a travel assignment so that you can get a feel before you take on a permanent job. It is also easier to get a permanent job as a traveler although I don't know if it is hard to get a job now of days. Good luck in your future plans.

It is never a good sign when a job is in such a need for you to start that they are okay with you leaving your previous job without at least a 2-week notice. I also think that you owe it to your current job to give them a 2-week notice especially since your current DON is already so understanding. I hope you figured it all out. Good luck!

How about you take on a travel assignment just to get an idea. I think you would really like it in SoCal and Texas is not that far so if you wanted to return home you could probably do so pretty easily. At least as a traveler you are not locked into anything and you can just leave once your contract is over. You can live pretty comfortably as a nurse in California.

I think a mixture of 12s and 8s is reasonable forcing people to work 8s is not so much since many nurses become nurses because of the flexibility in schedule and working less days a week( 12 hours 3 days full time/ 2 days part time compared to 8 hours 5 days full time and 3 to 4 days part time). Limiting a work week to 60 hours sounds reasonable but not realistic with our shortage in nursing staff nationally. I don't believe that we are all equal when it comes to abilities because I have worked with nurse who barely work and can't keep up or aren't as sharp and I've worked with nurses who can work 30 plus days in a row and still be sharper than everyone in the room and vice versa. So until we have enough nurses for safe patient staffing than it's hard to limit work week hours. (Many hospitals will resort to creating unsafe nurse:patient ratios to make up for the increasing shortage in staffing). Just my opinion.

Happy you got accepted to SMU, many of my coworkers went there and they really loved it and valued their education. I wish you the best of luck in school and finding a job.

I know its been a while since you posted this but I too am about to return to PICU nursing after being out for about 4 years. I have been working mainly NICU but I have missed the PICU dearly. I am wondering if you returned to the PICU yet and if so how did it go. I think you will be fine ultimately and if anything you can also ask for and extended orientation if you need it. I think that once your in the setting it will all come back to you. Good luck!

This breaks my heart all the care that nurses give everyday and we are attacked. Nursing is such a dangerous job and yet many of us still choose to do it. My heart aches for all nurses who have to deal with abuse, bullying and being attacked on the job, all because we love caring for others. ?

OP, Working 2 full time jobs is possible. I know several nurses who work 2 jobs, I know a travel nurse who did 2 travel assignments full time at the same time. I know another nurse who worked 40 hours a week at one job and 24 hours a week at another for more than 10 years and I have worked with another nurse who worked 2 jobs full time ( both 12 hours) he did that for years. Unfortunately, many nurses are in your situation and some just plan to retire early so tyey are willing to work hard now.

I have a job that I love and I have a job that I work but don't love. I am currently in a situation where I need to make a certain amount each month so that is why I work the second job. My second job is extremely boring and at times I feel like I'm wasting away, I cannot grow nor can I learn anything new, I am literally just there to pass time, they keep messing up my schedule and since I'm per diem I can get canceled whenever and the job is an hour away from me. The positive thing about my job is that it is easy. Both jobs are in NICU. I also have PICU experience and I applied to school to obtain my ACPNP and I miss the PICU and peds cardiac. I was offered a job at another hospital a little closer to me and I got great vibes about the hospital the manager and the unit. I interviewed over 2 weeks ago and I still feel good vibes about the job and manager. Technically, I would be losing money because this other job is benefitted (not per diem like my second job) and my primary job is also benefitted so I would be working 2 benefitted jobs it would guarantee me to make enough but I'd have to work 6 days a week. With my current situation I would only need to work 5 days to make enough but it is not guaranteed and I don't think it will help towards getting my degree.

Take a look at Sutter Health System they hire new grads to also a big hospital system so there are multiple hospitals also check out Dignity Health they also hire new grads. I know that Kaiser doesn't hire new grads but you can check if for some reason they might. I do know Lucile Packard/Stanford is currently hiring for their new grad programs but that would be too far of a commute for you. Good luck!

I am doing the same although I do have PICU and PCICU in my background the last 4 years I've been straight NICU but I'm also going back to school for my ACPNP. I think your level 4 experience should be enough you will miss out on some aspects in the pediatric population but I'm sure you'll be able to still relate with the NICU experience you have. Many PICU patients are NICU graduates anyway. ?.

Hello Friendlykeano, I currently do this. It is possible, you can PM me if you'd like.

This article was well written/said. Being a pediatric nurse myself I too have seen and dealt with many of the same situations and to me it is the hardest part of the job not to say anything and to try to be respectful to people who absolutely do not deserve it or that cannot show respect themselves. Its even worse than caring for the sickest sadest patient because as a nurse we are not supposed to "judge", although I don't think it's judging when you are the one directly involved in the care of the patient and family. But all we can do is count our blessings and continue to advocate for these patients and hope that things will one day change.

Hello, I know this post is late but I have worked at Lakeland Regional back in 2006 it is a great hospital. Don't know what pay is like as of now but it was competitive back then. The hospital is beautiful and I remember I used to love their cafeteria. I lived in the Brandon which is a suburb of Tampa so I'm not familiar with the schools and areas, sorry I can't help you with that. My drive was about 35 min. I grew up in the Brandon area and I can suggest that area is a great family area with great schools. Good luck in your move/search.

Hello all, I start November 1st too. I am doing the RN to MSN Leadership program but I hope to finish the BSN portion in the first term as well. Good luck to you all! Maybe we will all work together or confide in each other throughout the program.

This is a great question that I would like to know the answer to as well. I will follow this blog.

Hello Emilymrn, I am wondering have you started working yet and how you like it so far. I have not moved yet but I will be moving June, had to hold off but I am definitely moving in June. Just want to get more insight on hospitals to apply to. You can pm me if you'd like. Thanks