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Discussion

Summer help..

Hello fellow students and current nurses,

I have a dilemma. I was recently accepted to a VA VALOR externship in Seattle, a six hour drive from where I live now. If I follow through with the externship I would have to move my family to Seattle for the ten weeks. Which we would love! it pays 21 dollars an hour so we should be able to live on that during this time. We have to find temporary housing which takes a lot of money up front which we do not have... This is a worry of ours. I also have to agree to working at least one day a month throughout my final two semesters. Which I am ok with. But I am guaranteed a job with the Va medical center after graduation, a possible 10k scholarship and I will start 1-2 steps higher than a new grad nurse. So lots of amazing benefits. I would have to sign a one year contract after graduation... And, my in-laws have agreed to pay 2 months of our rent in our current home so we can take this opportunity, but they do not know about the year contract :/

Option two.. We are from Dallas Texas (1900 miles from where we now live.) and my wife's parents are older, she is worried about them and there health. We moved here for school only and have planned to move back after I graduate. We will have student loan debt, we have two young kids and could use their support (housing) after we move back...I work at the local hospital as a CNA and they want to cross train me to be a PCT in the ICU/PCU... We could have a lazy last summer and explore and maybe take a trip or two and not have to worry about studying.. Just work and fun. It would be easy, and is equally appealing to us.

I want to do both! We want to live in Seattle! we love the city but we want to go home and buy a house! (Dallas) We are so indecisive, we want to travel.

We also are semi-professional photographers and would love either options in that sense.

Advice is what I want. What would you do? I do not have a family support system to ask, only the internet.

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    • Featured Replies

    • Author

    No thoughts?

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    • Experts

    There are times that it takes a little bit for members to answer questions. I moved your thread to the general nursing student for the best response.

    The VA is an amazing opportunity. I would consider this a huge opportunity with amazing long term future benefits in your favor. What is it you want long term. If it is to stay in Seattle then stay in Seattle. There is not a nursing shortage right now and jobs after graduation can be difficulty to find....in some areas of the country they average job search post graduation is 14 to 18 months. Which is something to consider.

    I would take the VA opportunity. I personally would go to Seattle myself and rent a cheap room. Leave my family settled for the summer. I would study hard so I could have that job after graduation that offers amazing long term benefits and retirement. Take that one year commitment and $10,000.00 off my student debt so I would be in a better position after graduation to move my family for that year. I would ask my parents for monetary assistance, if necessary, so I could take advantage of this amazing opportunity for the long term benefit and security for my family.

    I would forgo the leisurely travel now and work hard for the long term future and security of my family. I would save the leisurely summer travel and fun for when I have a secure job in the future.

    But that is just me.

    Good Luck!

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    As an upcoming grad, take it! So many graduate nurses are having a hard time finding jobs months or even a year plus out from graduation. I cannot tell you what to do about the house or family, but for the first year out having a job offer on the table when graduating is something most of us dream of.

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    The nursing market is pretty saturated here in Dallas. I think a guaranteed job with the VA sounds amazing. And...you can move after a year and not have to change your state license. The VA system lets you move around the country without getting a new state RN each time. The VA system is huge in Dallas.

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    • Experts

    I'm going to be cliché, but "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." I'd go for the VA job. Not only do you have guaranteed future employment, but you can go almost anywhere in the country with the VA. Plus, you can cut down your student loan debt, which you'll be thankful for later.

    Vacations & leisure time can wait for when you're employed and can afford to pay for it yourself, not because you're living with family. This is a way for you & your family to become self-sufficient.

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    • Author

    I appreciate the replies. My parents are put of the picture and cannot help us. And her parents are willing to pay our rent for two months at our current house so we don't loose it if I take the externship. I know it's an amazing opportunity that will set us up for independence and the scholarship would be very nice! (The only have 3-4 to give and 10 participants). This is the issue with taking it:

    These last two semesters have really strained our marrige. I'm always at school (18 credits a semester...) or at work (24-40 hrs a week). Not to mention I hardly ever see my kids. So I want to spend quality time with them this summer. If we move to Seattle and can only afford a tiny box they will be stuck. We could do things on the weekends but the program requires an extensive research project... So the benefits to the program is amazing but I miss my wife and kids... So I really do not know what to do.

    I am a disabled veteran and have always had the intentions of working at the va for this reason, and the benefits are amazing and I don't have to go through a lengthy interview process when I graduate...

    Idont know what to do:/

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    • Author

    And, leaving them here is out of the picture, we are a one car family :/

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    As wonderful as the VA opportunity sounds, it seems family is definitely your priority and the way you've painted it in just a few paragraphs, the strain on the family might be strong enough to warrant walking away from the VA (for now).

    We like to take our kids on an annual week-long road-trip with our tent trailer. This past summer, we skipped that because I elected to take a weekend CNA course. It was 13 weekends - full days - and spanned the entire summer. I worked my 40 hr/week day job Mon-Fri and attended the course all day Sat and Sun. Every other week, I took Thurs and Fri off to be my "weekend". During one of those "weekends", I had wisdom teeth pulled so I didn't enjoy those 2 days. Through this, I learned a very valuable lesson. I NEED time with my family as well as time for me. Whether I'm crafting or reading or vegging out in front of the TV, time to decompress is therapeutic and necessary.

    My initial thought was to work full time and go to school full time so we could avoid racking up school loans. I now realize, school loans can be repaid. My sanity and the happiness of my family is worth paying an extra bill after graduation. I will likely work part time but I know we will be okay if I quit work altogether to focus on school and family.

    You sound like a very driven individual and no one can tell you what to do, but after learning my lesson last summer, I would personally stay home, work the CNA job, and enjoy the down time with your family. Network like he** in your CNA job so perhaps other doors will open up for you during the next year of school. Get your PCT certs to allow for even more networking.

    Look around your area for inexpensive things to do with the family. One of my kids' favorites things to do is go to our local frozen yogurt place. We'll each get a serving and then go hang out at the local park/playground. For that afternoon, frozen yogurt is our dinner. I, too, love photography and my kids are my favorite subjects so I have camera in-hand for many outings, especially these. We also live near beaches so we'll pack a picnic and head out for a day or we'll go on a local hike. In our area, museums are free one day a month (they rotate, a handful free each Tuesday). I'll check out which are free and we'll attend those that day. Pitch a tent in your own backyard or sleep under the stars. Your kids want your time, not your money. During school, time is tough to come by. This summer could potentially be therapeutic for the whole family and allow you to strengthen the bond again to get you through next year.

    What ever you decide.....best of luck to you!!!

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