Should I stay or Should I go?

[cloucel]

Dear Nurses,

I recently graduated in September 2014 from a top nursing program with an MS in Nursing. I did my residency at a prestigious pediatric hospital and was offered a position there in June. I initially turned it down to do a primary care fellowship for 3 months in another state, which I really enjoyed. They hired someone who left after 4 months because she couldn't handle the job. They offered me the position again and I had gotten into a post-master's PNP program at my same university. I couldn't do both so I had to make a choice. I chose the job (without considering other jobs) and have been here since September 2014. My co-workers are very nice and supportive, I couldn't ask for a better group of co-workers. I commute 90 minutes for this position via train/drive/shuttle. The position is benefitted but 32 hours a week with 1 day alternating off a week. The pay and benefits are great. However, I am so unsatified. I don't work directly with patients except during clinic 1 morning/week where I check about 15 of them out from their appointments for 2-3 minutes. 85% of my job is on EPIC triaging, chart reviews, care coordination, referrals, guiding the schedulers on scheduling, etc. I've always had a heart for working with the underserved and while a good third of our patients are underserved, I don't get to spend much time with them. I have an offer at a county pediatric clinic working per diem 26 hours/ week evenings and weekends, which will turn into a benefited half-time position in July. I want to return back to school for my FNP and this schedule would fit that. It's also a position that is only 20 miles from where I live instead of 35 like my current job. I'm worried about moving from a "good" job into a worse situation. Financially, we would survive, but I would also lose my benefits and a 20% paycut and work fewer hours during optimal time to be with friends/husband. I'm also concerned about my manager who is a very tough person and would be extremely upset as one of our admin assistants left and she did not talk to him for the last 3 weeks! The job I have now is doable and pleasant, but I want to use more of my clinical skills versus my computer skills. My husband is tired of my indecisiveness and wants me to just stay at one place so I'm also taking his needs into account. I'm wondering if I should take this per diem job in hopes that that I'll enjoy it more despite the pay cut and that I will be able to return to school to which I am currently applying to an FNP program. Any opinions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[caliotter3]

I am so sorry that this job is unsatisfying to you as right now it would be perfect for me. Have to admit that I am a little jealous. The problem with moving to the new situation is that in time, it too, could become unsatisfying. All of this indecisiveness and angst is one of the disadvantages of not staying with one employer for an entire career as was the norm 60 or 70 years ago. I can not advise you one way or the other with this. I do not know how much dissatisfaction you want to tolerate. I hope you make the right decision for the long term.

[BirkieGirl]

it has always been my belief that life is short, and that we should follow our hearts, as long as it is practical! I say put your 'feelers' out and see where it leads. I too am in a "non-traditional bedside" type role and in a FNP program. I wish you the very best. Change can be a good thing. Good luck!

[cloucel]

Update: I applied for an adult staff nurse position at a community clinic that is 17 miles from my home or a 30 minute commute by car on Friday. By Wednesday I got an interview, Thursday afternoon I got an offer for 32-40 hours/week. It is a 25% pay cut but within a FQHC. The population is mixed so I won't get to use my language skills as much. But it will be hands on. I won't get to see children or as much women's health but I will get to see chronic disease. This job will allow for me to start an FNP weekend program and a weekday clinical. It's a 8-5 pm job like the one I have now. The team is great but so is the one I have now. I don't love the content of my current job but I could see myself enjoying doing a lot of wound care, diabetes education, and INR/PTT. I've always wanted to be a diabetes educator and wound care specialist. This is my opportunity. The only problem is that I've only been at my current job 7 months and was asked to stay 2 years. I'm so desperately afraid of telling my boss as we are already short handed. The last time someone quit she didn't speak to them the rest of their 3 weeks there. Any advice on how to best tell her? And if this would be a good job to take if I want to be FNP?

[cloucel]

I just wanted to update everyone that I ended up leaving my job at the well-paid university well-funded hospital after working for 10 months there as an employee and 6 months as a graduate student nurse. I left and went to a different non-profilt FQHC clinic as a Clinic Nurse Manager for a Spanish-speaking population. I still ended up with the big paycut, but I have to say that I am personally much happier and my acne cleared up, I have a 4 mile/15-minute drive to work, I get to use my Spanish all day long, I truly enjoy what I do, the patients are appreciative, I see all age ranges, the mission is very closely aligned to my personal beliefs about healthcare, and I landed in a place where I can learn and grow. Financially, I've cut back on alot of entertainment, going out to eat, buying clothes and stuff like that but it's ok, I have enough of what I need. It's worth getting to spend an extra hour in bed because I don't have a 3-hour commute each day (both ways).