I know, I know..another "which job should I chose" post - I really am stuck and would like other nurses/healthcare opinions since this group really understands...I've "overthought" these offers until I have reached the point of stalemate...
Option 1 is hospital based, med/surg/pulm unit 6:45 a.m. -7:15 p.m., 2 or 3 days/week, drive is an hour to an hour and 10 min one way from where I live (45 miles, some highway travel). No benefits as this is a PRN position which does allow some flexibility in scheduling except the mandatory once a month weekend, mandatory 2 holidays, specific scrub color, PRN's are never called off - they are used or floated to other areas, $35.00 - no diffs because it's PRN, patient load 5-6 though they try to keep it at 5. Unit stays busy, full, lots of admits/discharges, usual stresses that come w/working in a hospital.
Option 2 is a clinic located 20 min from my house, 9-5, 3 days a week, no weekends, no holidays,no call, no staying over, scrubs can be what is ever professional and suitable for adult care, not much stress, $28.00/hr, can go full time (5 days/wk) after the first of the year if wanted & future opportunities are in the works for 2017 if I would be interested, at this point I think they would be flexible on the days I work or I'm sure I could say I will work Tu/Wed/Thur or whatever. This is a clinic for low income to no income people w/health issues - physical/mental/some addiction. Low stress.
The hospital offers more variety & more money, but I am not sure the drive time/distance and stress is worth it just to work 2 really long days per week versus 3 short ones. But then I think maybe I am not seeing the whole picture....?
Just my opinion but that commute for the hospital job sounds brutal, especially if you live in an area where winter driving can be problematic. That being said, if you prefer a hospital setting to a clinic setting maybe the long commute isn't an issue for you. Also since you post this as an either/or decision and not both you must be planning on working pretty limited hours so $7.00/hr more could be pretty motivating. But, going back to just my opinion, if it were me [which it's not] I'd take the clinic job. Adding a couple of unpaid hours to the day for a commute doesn't seem worth the extra money.
This is a personal decision. The pay difference of $7/hr. seems minimal after taxes and commute time.
"This is a clinic for low income to no income people w/health issues - physical/mental/some addiction. Low stress." I don't think so, a different stress level altogether.
This is a personal decision. The pay difference of $7/hr. seems minimal after taxes and commute time.
"This is a clinic for low income to no income people w/health issues - physical/mental/some addiction. Low stress." I don't think so, a different stress level altogether.
Why is scrub color even an issue?
I didn't catch the part about scrub color, but oddly enough that can be an issue when an employer requires a specific color and either doesn't supply scrubs at all or only supplies one or two sets of super cheap and uncomfortable scrubs. Those dang things are expensive! After a few years of wearing nothing but ceil blue [dang, I'm sick of that color!] we can finally wear whatever we want again. I've been slowly buying different scrubs. Slowly because decent ones are at least $40.00 top and bottom and can be quite a bit more. The set I got this week set me back $57.00
"This is a clinic for low income to no income people w/health issues - physical/mental/some addiction. Low stress." I don't think so, a different stress level altogether.
Lol, yeah, OP get back to us and with an update on how "low stress" the low to no income folks with somatic, mental and addictions issues are to care for. :)
I didn't catch the part about scrub color, but oddly enough that can be an issue when an employer requires a specific color and either doesn't supply scrubs at all or only supplies one or two sets of super cheap and uncomfortable scrubs. Those dang things are expensive! After a few years of wearing nothing but ceil blue [dang, I'm sick of that color!] we can finally wear whatever we want again. I've been slowly buying different scrubs. Slowly because decent ones are at least $40.00 top and bottom and can be quite a bit more. The set I got this week set me back $57.00
Still don't see where scrub color is an issue when choosing a job. $57 is a little pricey, I got mine for $1 at the resale shop.
The commuting issue aside (which is a big issue), it is really up to you. What do you see yourself doing in 5 years? Just fyi, med/surg positions are a dime a dozen and you will ALWAYS be able to find employment in that area. I would advocate for the clinic job. Here's why: quality of life. I have done 7 years in the hospital and this fall I mentally resigned from ever doing that type of work again. The hospital is just not that great of a work environment. Sure some hospitals are great. But if your passion isn't the hospital (giving meds, wiping butts, doing procedures, running all day), then working inpatient has so little rewards. But ultimately ask yourself what your career plan is and that will give you the greatest life happiness.
Not sure if you've ever had to drive an hour one way to work before, but I have and it gets old VERY quickly. I just left my job at a 32 bed, level one trauma center ER (an hour drive from my house), to work at an 8 bed, rural ER 15 minutes away from my home. I took a marginal pay cut (75 cents less) just to be close to home and have lower stress.
kbrn2002, ADN, RN
3,969 Posts
Just my opinion but that commute for the hospital job sounds brutal, especially if you live in an area where winter driving can be problematic. That being said, if you prefer a hospital setting to a clinic setting maybe the long commute isn't an issue for you. Also since you post this as an either/or decision and not both you must be planning on working pretty limited hours so $7.00/hr more could be pretty motivating. But, going back to just my opinion, if it were me [which it's not] I'd take the clinic job. Adding a couple of unpaid hours to the day for a commute doesn't seem worth the extra money.