Should I settle for a job I'm not happy with?

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I know the economy is tough and it would be a blessing if you're hired or have a job. I'm currently in my 4th quarter of my program and have been working my way up since I was in high school. I started off as a volunteer at a hospital and later became a nursing assistant. I worked in many many group homes and assisted living places. Lately, I've been looking for a job that would help with my newly acquired nursing skills. I've been really wanting to work at a hospital now because you being in that environment, you learn so much. I've been applying since the beginning of this year but... you know how that goes.

I got job offers from 2 of my old bosses - one at a group home with disabled patients and one for an assisted living company. I met w. both of them. At the group home, I'm great with my old boss (and I got the job on the spot) but I wasn't "excited" about it. I couldn't sleep that night...and on top of that, they were trying to pressure me into working not only weekdays but weekends. That's so draining on all levels and only reminded me why I quit after a few months. I went to the assisted living place today with a group interview. I spoke with the nurse (who also interviewed us, one on one) and her demeanor and attitude changed compared to when she was speaking to us as a group. It only reminded me how much they use their "impressive interior decorating" as marketing to grab more caregivers. It's very hard work. I know in my heart, I won't be learning anything new - I'm not saying I know everything (because I don't) but it's just a waste of my time and energy to "go back". I just don't feel comfortable "going back", especially to the same position from 3 years ago. (If it was a different position, it would be different). I just feel like going back to these jobs is like going back to a mediocre relationship with an old boyfriend - it ran it course, there's nothing to learn or gain from it anymore because you've grown from it. I sound stupid but I just don't feel right about it.... should I still go for it? (the paycheck wouldn't mean much... i'd be miserable). I'm actually feeling desperate now and am thinking of going back to the first job... just for the money but... I don't know... and I feel like the only people who wonder understand this dilemma are people who have worked in healthcare - it's very EASY for others to say "oh just do it" but little do they know how draining it can be... should i just say "no" to both and find a temp job for now while applying to hospitals? I don't think I'll plan to work during this coming fall quarter (it'll be a FULL load)...

I know that no job is perfect but being back at the same position as a CNA... I feel like I won't learn anything new or that will help me... I think I'm just craving a hospital job. I see my colleagues who work in that environment and they learn SO much just from observing. At these jobs, it'll be the same thing, over and over...

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Ok- first of all, no matter where you work as a new nurse, you will work weekends. :)

Any experience is valuable, even if it means doing the same thing so often you can do it in your sleep--- that makes you better- not just competent...big difference.

If you don't need the money, do whatever you'd rather do= if you need the money, do what will advance you the fastest. You will not like every part of any job. You know that. Just go with the ones that have more pros than cons....:)

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych, Rehab.

I agree that there are better jobs out there than working in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, but you may have to take one of these jobs first. A lot of hospital jobs require you to have experience as an RN. I experienced this right out of nursing school - I applied to over 50 jobs in hospitals and didn't hear back from any of them (and had experience working in a hospital as a CNA and nursing student intern) and applied to one job at a nursing home and immediately got the job. You will learn SO much working in a nursing home: time management, how to deal with people, medications, and charting skills. I ended up leaving the nursing home for something better, but I had to put my time in so I got the experience for my resume.

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I have not worked in 5 years, I left the LTC facility to be a SAHM and start working on my degree. The past two years or so Ive had the itch to go back to work, Im starting my clinicals next week and I REALLY want to work at a hospital. I totally get it lol. I applied to 2 hospitals, the local hospital that is close, who my sister, mom, and MIL all work at lol, and the one that is 40 minutes away that I will be doing my clinicals at. I waited weeks and didnt hear anything, so I reluctantly applied to a couple of LTC facilities, even though I do not want to go back to that. You're right, there is only so much you can learn there, although I do attribute my time managment and organizational skills to working in the setting.

I never heard anything back from the local hospital and decided to email HR at the other one and ask them what was up with my apps. The lady who responded said all 4 of my apps were not considered for employment. I was very upset by this, that they had at least 12 positions open and were not even going to interview me. I fumed for about a week and decided, Im going to apply again anyway, there was one for poisiton left to apply to on the shift I wanted. So I tweaked my resume slightly and added a cover letter and I applied again. . . and they called me the next day, and pretty much gave me a phone interview, for one of the previous positions that I applied to, which I was told previously that I was not considered for.

I think you should hold out if you can, if finances permit, and keep trying to get into the hospital if that is what you really want. It seems persistance pays off. My interview is today and Im so excited (and nervous! lol) for this prospective position in the ICU. I know there is so much for me to soak in there and if I get this job I already have a foot in the door for when I graduate, and that is really important to me.

You should do what your gut is telling you and not settle. Good luck! :)

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Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

I am one who could not work somewhere and be miserable. But I did not have to be jumping with joy either, though it was preferred.

I had a position once that paid so well, I mean like double what avg RN pay was at the time but I hated it. It was so boring and mundane, I finally just had to go to manager and ask to transfer. I could not even wait for the 6 mos in position rule. They let me transfer as they said if I was that unhappy they would not make me stay. I took a psotion for less pay but it was challenging and much better for me.

Now if you need to eat or keep roof over your head.. you should pick one place and work and keep looking forward to better times. But if you do not need the above, wait and see what happens.

I truly believe everything happens for a reason and things have a way of working themselves out.

I hope all your dreams come true and wish you the best of luck!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I'm a little confused. Since you're not yet done with your nursing program, what type of position are you holding out hope for? I realize that you've learned alot and have acquired more nursing skills, but I can't think of any type of position in healthcare that will hire you as anything other than a CNA until you have graduated and/or passed the NCLEX.

Plus, there's that matter of not planning to work the fall quarter. Be careful how many bridges you burn by taking a position, being oriented, then leaving soon afterward.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

If you are haveing that much delmma with those jobs, don't do it. Find something that will meet your satisfaction.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

If you are adamant about not going back into those environments in which you would be settling,you could Temp at an agency that way you get to experience "other settings" and may even find your permanent position that way! I started in LTC,temped and did back to school immunizations at a Peds Clinic and learned 12lead EKG all while Temping.If your gut tells you not to settle then by allmeans don't. Congrats and the best of luck yo u!

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Specializes in Orthopaedics / Medical Oncology.

My advise is: stick with it until you get your hospital job because you just may not find it during this economic crunch. Having continuous experience in a relevant field can give you an edge over employers (and provide enough coin to sustain you). Also, don't forget additional units to bolster your credentials. Not because you're stuck with that job means that you can't look for other opportunities. Having the ability to adjust to draining situations is a huge plus for you not only in terms of your career.

One more thing, you can say you hate your job but if you learn how to treat your unit as a family despite having a disbelief for your superiors, you'll enjoy it enough to have what it takes to hold out.

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Im assuming this is for a CNA position?

My goal for working in LTC as a CNA during school was to learn skills, yes, but also to have e longevity on my resume - and everything that came with it. That ment maintaining relationships with staff and residents, training in new employees, etc. I helped all over the building in different parts of the team, so I got a taste for management, business, kitchen stuff.. In the end, I could put on my resume that I worked full time for the same company for 2 years while being a full time student.

Yes, that included weekends. Majority of health care includes weekends. Especially as a CNA.

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Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, PACU,SICU.

I would not settle for a job I really disliked. Can you keep looking? It all depends how much you need to work right now. I worked as a PCT at a local hospital while in school, and that did help me with my current RN job, which btw, has NO weekends, so that is possible:D

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Where do you live? Are RN jobs really that hard to find? I see a lot of people posting about how hard it is to find a job, but at my local University Hospital there is at least 25 staff RN positions open. And they have been open for awhile. The same goes for the two smaller hospitals in my area, about 5-10 spots each.

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