Psych RN in need of advice

[GeminiNurse29]

So I'm a psych RN working in forensics. Fascinating work but as a night shift worker, it can often feel like I'm just a high priced baby sitter with occasional moments of sheer craziness. If I'm on the Geri psych ward, it can feel like a nursing home on steroids. There's admissions at all hours of the night, a lot of patients never sleep, the whole works. I haven't been in this position a year yet. My goal was to stick it out for at least a year.

However, I recently found out I'm expecting. This happened a bit sooner than I had hoped, since I wanted to wait until my infant turned 1 first (he's 11 months) before trying. I also have a toddler who's nearly 3. So my hands are full.

My question is, should I look for a different position? There are some clinics hiring part time for afternoons, evenings and weekends (urgent care) as well as some FT days with different companies. I normally wouldn't consider leaving this soon yet but my patient population can get physically aggressive fast and there aren't enough staff at night to handle things. Techs have gotten punched and even on night shift, nurses have gotten attacked. It's part of the territory. Also, the main night shift supervisor has tried targeting three of the night nurses already and I'm afraid I'll be next.

Pros about the current job: pretty good pay, most of the time the workload isn't hard, pretty good benefits, consistent schedule. I finally feel like I'm getting comfortable, the night crew is mostly awesome. It's not too heavy of a job, since most patients are ambulatory.

Cons: when **** hits the fan, it really hits the fan; micromanaging by supervisors; the possibility of aggression or violence while I'm pregnant (yes I know aggression can happen in any setting), working nights, weekends, and holidays. Also being mandated if they are short staffed. Going from noc to AM is rough. And I do miss being able to do some skills and being able to touch my patients.

If I left, I could afford the pay cut because my husband makes enough. And I'd have more time for my babies.

But im one of those people who hate quitting too.

Thanks for reading.

Thoughts?

[TriciaJ, RN]

You're soon going to have 3 children under the age of 5, and you husband earns enough that the big bucks aren't your priority. For me, that would clarify a lot of things right there. It seems the only thing standing in your way is thinking of yourself as a "quitter". That's an arbitrary distinction at best. We use that word with children to teach them to persevere when things get tough. You, on the other hand, are an adult and a parent and have a much bigger picture to consider.

Your priorities need to be your unborn baby, your health and your family. Work is for the paycheque to improve your family's standard of living. That will immediately go down the tubes if you get hurt or sick.

People often make job decisions out of a sense of loyalty to one's employer. Loyalty that's seldom reciprocal.

Hope that helps. Congratulations on your upcoming arrival!

[dbabz]

Quit. Your babies won't be babies very long. The work will still be there when they're older.

[GeminiNurse29]

Thanks for the tips and perspective, folks. I'm very much leaning that way too. Will try and update once things get settled