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!

Specializes in Mental Health.

Long drives don’t bother me but I used to drive a truck over the road so I might not be the best to comment ?

4 Votes

Whatever your vehicle is, the make doesn't matter so much as putting adequate winter tires on it. I put studs on both my car and truck (they're allowed in my state). Extra money, but I feel it is very well spent. And keep supplies in your vehicle.

I've seen my own road closed three times in a week during winter.

2 Votes
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Hmm...an additional 2 hours of commute time per shift adds up quick. I travel daily now but its factored into my work day.

12 hours plus 2 hours = 14 hours = not much sleep time. Add in rotating shifts (which would be the killer for me) nope, not gonna do it.

Either get a small apartment, use a long term hotel for the night shift weeks, get a room mate or something - at least for the night shift.

4 Votes
4 minutes ago, traumaRUs said:

12 hours plus 2 hours = 14 hours = not much sleep time. Add in rotating shifts (which would be the killer for me) nope, not gonna do it. 

Not only that but how many shifts actually end on time? At the very least the shift is actually 12.5 hours and you need to be there before 7. Add into that traffic. Once you near the city limits what happens? My 16 mile commute on major freeways in a large city varies from 20 minutes to over an hour depending on what’s happening with the traffic. One minor fender bender in just the right place can drive that up to 2.

I’ve done a long commute, granted it was an hour and 45 minutes so worse than yours but also major highway start to finish, it was horrible. In the winter I often had to leave 2-3 hours ahead of time. I lasted 18 months and gave up a coveted flight position because of the commute.

2 Votes
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I live in DFW, where absolutely nothing is less than 30-45 minutes away no matter where you live, due to traffic. I kind of love my commutes. I use it to listen to audiobooks, music, talk to my mother on the phone sometimes. Commutes don't have to be horrible and if you live in the North, unlike here, there are likely lots and lots of methods for coping with weather related road issues. Just make sure you have snow tires on in the winter.

2 Votes
Specializes in NICU.
16 hours ago, Kat12340 said:

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

Wow I did not know anyone did that anymore.

1 Votes
1 hour ago, Wuzzie said:

Not only that but how many shifts actually end on time? At the very least the shift is actually 12.5 hours and you need to be there before 7. Add into that traffic. Once you near the city limits what happens? My 16 mile commute on major freeways in a large city varies from 20 minutes to over an hour depending on what’s happening with the traffic. One minor fender bender in just the right place can drive that up to 2.

I’ve done a long commute, granted it was an hour and 45 minutes so worse than yours but also major highway start to finish, it was horrible. In the winter I often had to leave 2-3 hours ahead of time. I lasted 18 months and gave up a coveted flight position because of the commute.

This is the scary part of what I’ve been thinking, what if their is a car accident or new road construction and that lengthens commute? That is also something to consider. Thanks.

1 hour ago, traumaRUs said:

Hmm...an additional 2 hours of commute time per shift adds up quick. I travel daily now but its factored into my work day.

12 hours plus 2 hours = 14 hours = not much sleep time. Add in rotating shifts (which would be the killer for me) nope, not gonna do it.

Either get a small apartment, use a long term hotel for the night shift weeks, get a room mate or something - at least for the night shift.

I know I may be naive now to the commute as my current job is only a 10 minute commute ( which I love) but I think I will see if I can tolerate it or not then a small apartment closer to the city will be the answer. Thanks!

1 Votes
Specializes in PACU, Stepdown, Trauma.

One option to save money is to consider renting a room several nights a week if you could find a roommate you were comfortable with -- maybe someone else who works at the hospital?

Make sure you get snow tires and drive slow when it's slippery out. I have a Subaru and the winter tires make just as much of a difference as snow tires. Remember, AWD/4WD helps you get going, but it doesn't really help with the turning or stopping.

1 Votes
Specializes in Community health.

I’ve always felt that I can handle anything if there’s a time limit. I went to a one-year ABSN program that involved a long commute. I HATE commuting, but because I knew I only had to make it to December, it just wasn’t that bad. If you can tell yourself “Come XYZ of 2020, I’ll be looking for a new apartment,” you can survive the drives.

1 Votes

I'm from Texas so I don't have much experience with the wintry conditions, but my commute to my first bedside job was 45 min-1 hour on weeknights and 15 minutes on weekends (less traffic). I ended up leaving after a year, and the commute time was a major factor. All of the traffic and horrible drivers put me in such a bad mood before I could even pull into the hospital's parking garage.

I guess it's up to you what your tolerance for potential traffic and bad driving is.

1 Votes
Specializes in Maternal-Child, Women's Health.

Just be aware that the hospital will expect you to work during inclement weather, so you may need to drive in a day earlier or just several hours earlier to cover your scheduled shift. Watch the weather reports carefully, they usually predict pretty accurately when the snow/ice etc...will arrive. Planning and being responsible will make this easy for you and your coworkers and your patients.

2 Votes
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