Taking a break after 3 years?

[PedsRN03]

I've been an RN working in acute care pediatrics for almost 3 years now. I love the kids, but sometimes feel like the hospital is not where I want to spend the rest of my career. After 3 years, I still get queasy about dressing changes, cathing, suctioning trachs, etc. I prefer patients who are more stable and like patient and family education. Also I feel like the schedule is getting to me. While it does have some advantages, I feel like it is starting to affect me. I work nights and every other weekend and there is no hope in my job of going to days anytime soon and days are way too stressful there anyway. I feel like I am always awake all night on my time off and spend a lot of time alone. It is very hard to spend time with friends, date anybody, spend time outdoors, or feel like I have any kind of life. It was ok for awhile, but doing this schedule for a long time is starting to affect me and I definately can't do it long term. Also working in the hospital lately, sometimes I feel like I am just a number in the staffing rather than a respected professional.

I just got accepted to a really good Masters in Public Health program. The program sounds like it fits my interests perfectly. The program lasts about a year to a year and a half. I do like some things about nursing in acute care and am not sure I want to give it up entirely. It sounds like the MPH program is intense and I'm not sure there will be time to work while in school. I'm thinking in the future I could work in a hospital once a week or pick up shifts to make extra money or use acute care as something to fall back on if I am having trouble obtaining a different type of job. If I take time away from the hospital to do the MPH program would it be difficult for me to ever again get an acute care job? I think the ideal soloution would be to do the MPH program and maybe work one shift a week at a hospital while in school, but I'm not sure if that will work out. Also I am in my second job as an RN. I left the first job because I wanted to relocate...leaving had little to do with my abilities or satisfaction with the job. If I leave my second job for the MPH program will it look like I can't hold down a job when I go to get a job in the future? (I will have spent about 1 1/2 years at each job).

[Katnip, RN]

I doubt very much you'll have trouble getting a new job after you're done with school. Depending on where you are you may have to take a refresher course, but that's not a big problem.

I say go for it.

[pshs_2000]

:yeahthat: :yeahthat:

Go for it! You've got a great opportunity waiting for you.

ps- i'd be concerned if you had 6 or 7 different jobs in the past 3 years. also you have valid/respectable reasons for changing jobs (ie. relocation, education)

[llg, PhD, RN]

I took 2 educational breaks in my career -- the first one to get my MSN after 2 years as a staff nurse -- the secong to get my PhD after being a CNS for 10 years. In neither case did I have trouble "getting back" into the hospital.

Just be sure that your employer understands your need for an appropriate orientation program to help you transition back into the hospital environment.

llg

[jillyk*rn]

Hi,

Being a Peds nurse in a hospital, I understand how you feel. I also work nights. There is nothing wrong with needing a change. That is one of the great things about nursing. If you don't need benefits, how about staff relief (I work 2 nights a week, and choose those). I LOVE being PRN.

Does the hospital have an peds outpatient unit (a couple of our nurses went there and love it). Maybe a doctors office. We have a radiology peds nurse (works days and monitors the kids down there with moderate sedation). Just a few suggestions.

Good Luck with your decision!!

[nunurs05]

good for you PedsRN03:mad: ...where did you get accepted to school and what made you decide on an MPH? I'm also interested in public health and want to go back to school in the next few years.

[burn out]

WOW acute care peds, my heart goes out to you. I can't do kids , I tried 2 years in a trauma hospital that took care of peds pts. and burned out in two years. It is one thing to take care of older people who have lived their lives and quite another to take care of little children that may never get a chance to have a normal life or worse yet the ones that becomes organ donors. You need a well deserved break and the skill you have gained will alway be there if and when you ever decide to go back- in some ways it's like riding a bike. All of us in acute care settings need a break every now and then.

[weirdRN, RN]

My hat is off to you. Don't be worried about getting back in, just concern yourself with refilling your tank. Do what you need to do to make yourself happy.