The drive.....how do you like it

[TNnursejane, BSN, RN]

I am interviewing with a well known company that sells "electric wheelchairs". I currently work 12 hour shifts in a CCU. I like my job but I've been a nurse for 27 yrs and am just not into critical care like I was when I was younger. I was just wondering how you liked the "windshield time" you have doing your job. I will have to drive 45 minutes to the warehouse, pick up my van and my deliveries or patient visits then go to my appointments. I could have from 3-5 appointments per day. I would be only one of two nurses who cover a 100 mile radius. I have a third interview which is a face to face with the operations manager of this area coming up this week. I will be responsible for my schedule and making appointments with my clients. I'm just not sure about the driving time. This is an hourly paid job working approx 10 hours/day with overtime most weeks. It's weekends off for the most part and holidays off. I'm just not sure whether this is the direction I want my career to go. I just don't want to get into this and get tired of the driving and quit in 2 months.

Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks

[caliotter3]

I enjoy driving but not the driving I do for my home health job unless I am driving to a night shift. Even for someone like me, who likes to drive, it gets old. You should have those things in the van that will help you pass the time, audio books, XM-Sirius radio, or anything else that provides comfort and/or keeps you alert behind the wheel. Maybe take an online course and listen to audio tapes in the van. Kind of hard to think of things, but if you think about it, you will see that the constant driving will get old and boring.

[TNnursejane, BSN, RN]

That's my biggest concern of getting tired and bored of all the driving that I'd be facing if I take this job (it hasn't been offered to me yet though). Thanks for the ideas to help the driving from getting boring!

[anticoagulationurse]

I love it! I just listen to my Rush Limbaugh and other favorites to keep me company. Given, I do live in a rural area and the scenery is beautiful to look at. I find it an adventure to learn new roads and places in an area I am already familiar with. I would probably HATE it if I was sitting in traffic or crawling along at a snail's pace.

[kids]

I hate driving period, to the point I save grocery shopping and errands for days when my husband is also off so I can get him to drive. We usually go out for lunch too so he thinks I do it for 'together' time.

I hate driving so much that I wouldn't do the job if I wasn't being paid travel time (at minimum wage) plus 55¢ a mile. I have some weeks where my drive time is more than my visit times. I'm the only nurse for the county I live in and it's mostly rural.

It's a handy 2nd job with a lot of little perks that most HH positions don't have.