thinking about switching from OB to dialysis...

[ChristineO]

hi! I need some advice/opinions. I am a labor and delivery nurse (at our FBC we are told to refer to ourselves as "specialist"...we do post-partum when there are no laboring patients, and also work in the nursery. We just opened our new unit about 2 years ago and combined the three areas. It hasn't been easy and most of our most experienced nurses have left. To give you an example of our high turnover...none of the nurses that I oriented with are still working there...ok..one is left. We are staffed with mostly new nurses, right out of nursing school....don't get me wrong...I like new nurses. But, I've been a labor nurse for two years...and they consider me to be one of the "experienced" nurses...scary. I do have cardiac background but I absolutely love labor and delivery. I'm at the point now where I do feel comfortable and that allows me to enjoy my job even more. Here is my problem...our management is horrible. We were all forced to do 12-hour shifts (or quit) and we do 6 a pay period (6 12's in two weeks). This happened last month. On one of our days off we have to be on call for a 12 hour shift. I work nights....so it's wearing me down. I asked to be moved to day shift and the director told me that she needed me to train the new nurses coming to our shift and wouldn't let me go. Instead, I found out yesterday, that she is keeping one of the new grads on days until one of our nursery specialists feels comfortable enought to labor patients. Mind you this nursery specialist is the best baby nurse on the planet, HATES laboring patients...so I can imagine it's going to take a while. I'm 37, have a 10 -year-old, and it's not easy switching days/nights all the time...i've worked night shift for five years now...(2 years at this unit) and I don't know how much longer I'm willing to sacrifice my health. There are no other hospitals in our area with L and D job openings..live in a small southern city. I have an interview to work for a dialysis company (Gambro) Thursday.....I don't want to leave a job I love...but I'm just plain sick of being treated like absolute crap by this managemnt team. Does anyone out there have any advice for me.

Travel nursing is not an option at this time in my life...Christine

[ChristineO]

Thanks for the warm wishes! I do love LandD...and it sounds like you do too! I would LOVE to work with someone with your experience!!! That would make life so much easier! Your new nurses are so lucky to have you! Do you plan on going to days anytime in the future or does the night shift just work out better for you?

[Mermaid4]

You are welcome! Sounds like I would love to work with you as well. Come play with us here on Cape Cod! Seriously, if you have an opportunity that sounds good why not go for it? If it doesn't pan out, your experience will make them chomp at the bit to take you back! I say go for it. That is a courageous move....I applaud you!

[SmilingBluEyes]

Good Luck!!!