I had to quit my job after 6 months because we moved ( It was on a Mother/Baby Unit and I LOVED it!! My last day was last week and since then I have had 2 different job offers..
Job offer #1) Newborn nursery, nights and "60" miles away.
Job offer #2) LTAC in Med/surge "20" miles away, day shift.
When interviewing this past week most employers frowned at my mother/baby experience and stated I am not qualified for most positions. I understand this, but I LOVE PP/Nursery and I could see myself there for life.. but I am not sure what is the best thing to do.. should I get med/surge under my belt and then go back to the nursery/pp ? Or take the job in Nursery that I will know I will love? Problem is that I know what med/surge is like in a short stay hospital, but I am not sure what it is like in a Long term ACUTE hospital.. ratio there is 6:1 and we have an ICU that will take all the patients with a vent. I also hate med/surge with a passion.. i had to float there often at the hospital I worked at... I HATED IT!!!!!!!!
I know what I want to do, but I am curious as to what others think about this. I have a way of convincing myself about things and I want to make the right decision!! I keep flip flopping..:uhoh3::uhoh3:
Thank you for all of the replies. You are all mentioning the exact same points that I have been going over in my head! I am a morning person BIG time, I have tried nights before and I couldn't sleep and actually had to call out because I was up almost 40 hours and did not feel safe working that night. I know that probably made me look really bad, but I didn't feel like I would be alert enough for my patients! My boss switched me to days and I was fine after that. So, with that being said, everyone I know thinks I am out of my mind for considering a night position again.... like I said.. I have a way of convincing myself of things..
I will take the med/surg position because I want to be a safe nurse in the hospital and outside the hospital on the road!! This will give me good experience and I will wait until until a day shift position opens up.
BTW, I only "hate" med/surge because I think it is a depressing atmosphere after working mother/baby... I liked leaving my shift feeling in a good mood/happy.. when I worked med/surge I left feeling down and wishing I could have done more for my patients- but there was never enough time. I just thought I would share this so that I didn't offend anyone working med/surg :redbeathe
I run by the sun...if it is sunny out I am wide awake...I am ready for bed as soon as it gets dark out...Ambien CR and tinfoil plastered over my windows plus venetian blinds and corduroy drapes have made it possible for me to be a night shifter....
( It was on a Mother/Baby Unit and I LOVED it!! My last day was last week and since then I have had 2 different job offers.. 
:uhoh3:.thumb.gif.5406a59d44f5c666e8ff3ebac639497a.gif){kind=avatar}
krstxn
44 Posts
Thank you for all of the replies. You are all mentioning the exact same points that I have been going over in my head!
I am a morning person BIG time, I have tried nights before and I couldn't sleep and actually had to call out because I was up almost 40 hours and did not feel safe working that night. I know that probably made me look really bad, but I didn't feel like I would be alert enough for my patients! My boss switched me to days and I was fine after that. So, with that being said, everyone I know thinks I am out of my mind for considering a night position again.... like I said.. I have a way of convincing myself of things..
I will take the med/surg position because I want to be a safe nurse in the hospital and outside the hospital on the road!! This will give me good experience and I will wait until until a day shift position opens up.
BTW, I only "hate" med/surge because I think it is a depressing atmosphere after working mother/baby... I liked leaving my shift feeling in a good mood/happy.. when I worked med/surge I left feeling down and wishing I could have done more for my patients- but there was never enough time. I just thought I would share this so that I didn't offend anyone working med/surg :redbeathe