FT psych vs PD in 2 hospitals? help pls!

Specialties Psychiatric

Published Sep 23, 2012

Stay at FT job or work PD in 2 hospitals?
- 0
  Stay FT, job security is more important than flexibility
- 2
  Stay FT until your ready to start a family, those 3 months of paid maternity leave are golden
- 0
  Go PD in both hospitals, quality of life is more important than job security
- 1
  Go PD in both hospitals, the experience and exposure you will pick up is worth the risk.
- 1
  Go find a PT job and work PD for extra cash.

4 members have participated

Please sign in or register to vote in this poll.

cherubhipster

193 Posts

Specializes in psych, ltc, case management.

Hello friends!

Here is my situation:

I work on a voluntary psych unit- FT days 8 hour shifts.

I just got married, and I could be eligible for health benefits through my husband's job.

I have an opportunity to work in another hospital system (a really big employer) as a PD RN on their 3 psych units- voluntary, involuntary, and adolescent. Requirement is a mere 2 weekend shifts per month.

I can't work FT at my current hospital and PD at the other one r/t orientation requirements at the new job, I just wouldn't be able to get the time off from the current one to attend.

I have been day dreaming of PD work for a while now. I have a romantic vision as a hired gun psych nurse, roaming from unit to unit, healing the mentally ill. :cheeky:

I could downgrade at my current job to PD and work PD in both hospital units. I figure surely I'll be able to collect the hours/pay I need by having 2 hospitals to work for. I wouldn't have to work so many pesky weekends. I could double up on shifts and have 16 hour days to get extra days off, instead of my dreaded 5 day work week. I would greatly expand my psych nursing experience by working on those various units in the new hospital. and I would make $10 an hour more!!!

But am I insane to give up my stable FT job with PTO, benefits, maternity leave, etc, especially in this economy? I've heard all about the risks of being cancelled, etc. At my current unit the PD are rarely canceled and we always seem to be begging people to come in and help. I don't know what the atmosphere for availability is like in the other hospital. And I realize it could change quickly if the census changes, so it's not set in stone anyway.

I am planning on starting a family in the next year or so, and I feel like this PD situation would be better for that. But I would also be giving up a future 3 months of maternity leave if I go PD now.

My heart says go for PD, my head says I'm nuts.

What do you think? Thank you!