Scary commute for work?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a new grad RN with only 7 months of experience on a cardiac/ medicine stepdown. I am in the middle of leaving this job in a month to move to back to my home state/city. I just accepted a position at level I trauma & teaching hospital on their SICU unit. Although I am still amazed that I even got the job, but I knew that I rocked the interview when the manager & I got along so well.

The only downside I can see for this job is the 1 hour commute there and back to the big city on major freeways. I am afraid that I wont be able to handle it for a year or more, especially during the winter months where it can get dangerous here in the north to drive.

Anyone handle a commute like that for a year or more? I really don’t want to move closer to the job because I will be living rent free at my parents to save money for grad school.

Any thoughts are appreciated , thank you!

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I don't know about the winter driving, but my first job had a somewhat lengthy commute on a major busy freeway. It wasn't till I started commuting I realized I was commuting on off hours. It was an easy drive.

What shift will you be working?

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15 minutes ago, brownbook said:

I don't know about the winter driving, but my first job had a somewhat lengthy commute on a major busy freeway. It wasn't till I started community I realized I was commuting on off hours. It was an easy drive.

What shift will you be working?

I will be working rotating shifts. So it will 4 weeks on nights and 4 weeks on days.

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Specializes in PICU.

I realize rent free is a sweet deal, but you may want to reconsider and find a small apartment closer to work, especially for those winter days when there is a potential for bad weather. Also, check out hotels that are close to the hospital that could serve as an overnight option. Always have an overnight bag with at least two days worth of clothes and toiletries, just in case.

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4 WD makes a big difference. Worth every penny, except for the morons who think you can still drive like it's a sunny summer day.

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Specializes in PICU.
2 minutes ago, Oldmahubbard said:

4 WD makes a big difference. Worth every penny, except for the morons who think you can still drive like it's a sunny summer day.

Oooh yes, this too. 4WD or something like a Subaru. Love my Subaru, gets through almost anything.

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

The commute doesn't sound too bad except the weather part of it. Since you are living with your parents then I would (agree with others) to use some of that money for overnights in a hotel, or rented room etc. It would make it a little easier. Congrats on the new job!

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Specializes in retired LTC.

I've never minded a commute up to about an hour each way. AND I mostly worked odd shifts.

Even in bad weather I usually made it in - yes there were several times I got grounded because of SERIOUS snowfall. Just in case, I knew where the motels were and I did have a bag packed.

But with a good vehicle and some extra common sense, you should be OK.

There's also the possibility of a mandated stay, so I also had some food things packed. Dry stuff to just add water, like mac & cheese, oatmeal, coffee/tea, crackers,etc.

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I live in Upstate NY, and the roads have been closed 3 times in 25 years.

Just to keep perspective.

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Specializes in Hospice.

One more consideration is the addition of 2 hours to your day. If typically nurses get out in reasonable time after their scheduled shift, it might not be too bad even when you are scheduled with shifts on consecutive days.

Also, how are you with flipping shifts. I know for me an hour drive home after I'd worked a night shift made me a little extra cautious (especially when I had recently worked days).

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10 minutes ago, vampiregirl said:

One more consideration is the addition of 2 hours to your day. If typically nurses get out in reasonable time after their scheduled shift, it might not be too bad even when you are scheduled with shifts on consecutive days.

Also, how are you with flipping shifts. I know for me an hour drive home after I'd worked a night shift made me a little extra cautious (especially when I had recently worked days).

I never had to do rotating shifts before, however the good news is that my manager said I could switch to nights permanently if I can not handle it. I am currently a night nurse, which I am tolerating it just find, so I told myself to just feel out the rotating shifts for the meantime and then plan from there.

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How do you feel about sleep?

Back to back 12s with an hour commute- in good weather- means always less than 8 hours sleep.

That's fine for some people, not so much for others.

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