Funny how six months can change your whole life. When I graduated in May this past year (2011), I thought all my dreams had came true. A 21 year old (now 22) single mother getting my BSN was just unbelieveable to me and also the fact that I had job offers lined up left and right.
I chose a large magnet hospital despite the fact that it was the only one to require a contract (18 months). Now six months later I'm tired of the hour long commute and understand now that 12 hours shifts can turn into 13 and 14 hour shifs in a heartbeat.
I work on one of the busiest floors in the hospital, our slogan is "if you can work here, you can work anywhere" which is very true. Unfortunately for me, although a very good experience, the commute and the 12 hours are not working out family wise.
I've tried everything, switched to day shift from night shift. Unfortunately that's when I started not leaving until 830 or 9pm at night because of all the extra things on dayshift (doing our own discharges, doctors continously writing orders, no time to chart) and not getting home til 10 to 11pm at night. I am truly a single mother, no help from my son's father AT ALL.
My mother helps me out a lot but I thought when I got my degree and became a nurse, I wouldn't have to depend on her as much.
Boy was I wrong!!!! Because I have to wake up so early my son spends the night at my mothers house because my daycare doesn't open until 6 and I leave at 520am to get to work on time. I'm really trying to fufill my contract which will be up in January 2013 and I also want to work out my full year at my current job as well (June 2012). But its easier said than done, I'm spending $400 to $500 in gas each month, driving a total of 120 miles each day I drive to work (360 a week).
I've put in applications and I actually have an interview with a hospital in Augusta which is a friendlier place to live but unfortunately if I quit my job and I would be forced to pay out the contract and Augusta is another hour long commute. I've thought about applying to a hospital which is 25 miles away that had offered me a position before I graduated.
If I could get a job here, dayshift then I wouldn't have to depend on my mother as much especially during the week because I could leave my house at 6 and still make it to the job at 6:45 and home in enough time to pick up my son. My only problem is getting the money together to pay the hospital I am currently in back ($2,000). They have hired a lot of new grads and overtime is scarce. I've picked up some extra days but keep getting canceled due to low census or enough staff. That's another reason I would like to leave that hospital.
Hey there, I was in a very similar situation....graduated May 2010, was ecstatic, got a job at a large hospital an hour from my house in their 6 month residency program, no contract but a verbal "I am committed" kind of a thing. And, the truth is I was committed at that time. I finished the residency, and started working nights on my home unit. One month later I was looking for another job. The 12 hr. shifts were 15 hr. w/the drive and the 30 min. before and after for report. I was exhausted, a walking zombie, and dreaded going to work. I have two girls at home and I literally would go days w/o spending time w/them. I decided enough of this crap and spent 3 week submitting apps, I got one call-back and did one interview and I luckily got that job. It was 25 min. from my house doing home health/hospice. I'm still there and really like it. I say absolutely find something else if this situation isn't working. But, don't take a diff. job an hour away, go for the hosp. close to home, an hour is too far and too much money in gas. I know it's a very hard decision, I wish you the best of luck :)
Ok, you're in an awkward position. Trying to juggle a demanding job and a little one is always a struggle. Adding a long commute to the mix is clearly putting one heck of a strain on you.
Ruby suggested moving a little closer to your place of work. That's about the best solution, but I'd also suggest, seeing your work hours are so long, speaking to your Mom about letting your little boy live with her until your contract is finished and you can look for work in your home town. What you save on commuting costs you can pay her for looking after him.
I know it's far from being an ideal situation, and the first, best one is to have your son with you. If the hospital has day care facilities (and why the heck don't more of them have NIGHT care facilities?) then you can get yourself a place to stay close to your work and spend more time with your child. However, if they DON'T have such facilities, it's more important to ensure that he is in a familiar, secure environment.
Thank you for the replies I have gone back and forth about this decision for awhile. I guess my biggest problem with my job is that it doesn't allow me the freedom I thought I would have after getting my degree like not depending on my mother as much. I guess I rushed in head first without really thinking things through as to how much time really was going into the job and how much would be spent from my son. Well I guess you live and you learn, I've signed up for the work on weekends only program at the job, it requires a 12 month commitment but the ending date coincides with the end of the 18 month contract. I can work Friday and Sunday nights and one weekday to make my 36 hours a week, with the extra compensation on the weekend days ($10 more an hour with all the differentials) I can work my 6 days and it'll be like having done an overtime day. This difference should help in gas, I've decided to limit the amount of overtime I get for now and to just do agency at a closer hospital when my year experience has Been achieved so I can save up for school and pay off some of my current student loans. Hopefully with four days off a week, I can get more mommy and son time with my son. Unless the stress of the job starts effecting my health then I think I can stick it out til January. I'm happy I'm not the only one to have experienced this, I've never quit a job before and don't want to start now.
Seems to me like you are at a fairly supportive hospital with all the switching around of your shifts you have been able to do! Especially with barely a year of seniority.
I understand how you feel. I also am a new grad have been working at a large magnet hospital that is 45 minutes away from my home. It is also the hardest floor to work on, cardiac step down unit. Other nurses also say, "if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere." I also signed a contract, however, after consulting with other nurses I've decided to fulfill my contract. I've been there 6 months and am really starting to love it. I know some days still really stink, i've gone home crying and dread my return, some days that is but it's getting better. I also don't see my family much as I work 5- 8 hr. evening shifts. I have kids too, thank God I have a good husband that helps me out a lot!! I'm wondering how come you spend so much time at the end of your shift "catching" up. Nobody has mentioned that on here. Do you need help with organizational skills? I too am slammed all evening, with new orders, meds, dressing changes, assessments, etc. I managed to get it all done. I'm wondering how come nobody is offering you any help. How many other nurses do you work with, what is your patient to nurse ratio? I think it would look better on your resume if you stuck it out for the entire contract, it sounds like they like you. Sounds like they work with you on your schedule, you are fortunate to have that, trust me. I also plan on going back to school, however, I need experience first, it will serve me well. Good luck in all your endeavors no matter what you chose, remember you are the one that has to live with your decisions. Nursing is a great career, it is far different than being in school, I feel they don't really prepare you for the "real" world of nursing. Good luck :)
People who have worked Dayshift 20 odd years leave at 830 to after 9 sometimes Dayshift is a nightmare at this hospital and the amount of charting is horrendous. All it takes is one long discharge or an admission late in the day to mess you up. Some days ur discharging 3 and getting 3 back. Unfortunately no one has time to help anyone. I've actually gotten a lot better with my time management and now that I'm back on nights its a breeze I'm usually done charting at 10 and the rest of the shift is spent doing chart checks, passing out meds, and actually getting a chance to look up diagnoses and put two and two together. I still work one Dayshift per week to keep up on my discharging skills and time management
If you've managed to work out a compromise with a different shift or other situation, that's great. But if that doesn't work out, there's not need to beat yourself up over it.
Sometimes a job is just not a good fit, and that can be for any number of reasons. Your health (mental health included) and safety should be your foremost concerns, as should your home life. You would be surprised how many nurses working 12 hour shifts and having lengthy commutes wind up dead, or maimed, or hurting someone else when they go to sleep at the wheel. Your child won't be small forever. The time you miss with him now can not be replaced.
There is no shame in deciding that a job or situation is just not for you. There is no shame in making payments to repay a signing bonus. There is no shame in deciding that your decision to take the magnet job with the long commute may not be working out like you hoped. Sometimes we can be quite optimistic about how things will work out and we can be quite excited about something new. We can weigh the pros and cons and still not be fully prepared for how things actually pan out. That's just part of the human experience. You live and you learn.
There is no reason to continue struggling in a difficult situation when you have other options. Although martyrdom seems quite popular among nurses, let me assure you of this: SUFFERING IS NOT A VIRTUE. Suffering for a job or suffering over a job is not in anyone's best interest. Those who embrace the idea of suffering for a job or suffering over a job are often quite bitter and unpleasant. We choose to become better or bitter as we make our way through life.
BS, don't listen to these other posters. Your time with your family is irreplaceable, if you feel you need to break your contract to spend more time with your little one... Do it! All these folks saying you should fulfill your contract have probably never had children. I'm sorry, but no job will ever come before family.
I suggest you break the contract and just start paying the money back as best you can. It may damage your credit a little but your peace of mind and happiness is much more important. One think that is interesting is that 12 hour shifts have actually decreased the quality of life of most nurses whether they admit it or not. It was originally designed to make more nurses available and decrease the number of days nurses work. Many nurses try to use the extra days off to increase their income because they have gone over their budgets. This just puts patients at risk and all nurses quality of lives lower. An eight hours shift is the optimum time to work and provide quality care to your patients and maintain your health and happiness. So good luck with your new life and your new job
You have one life. Your kids are only young once. Don't let ANYONE tell you that fulfilling a contract is more important than your health or your family. At the end of it all, what is the most important thing in your life? If you told me it was your job, I'd think you were crazy.
I work on one of these units myself and I am also commuting. My husband and I juggle childcare and it is working so far with the opposite schedules (yes, I work night shift and HATE it). I'm hoping to last a year. Not sure that I will. Not sure that it's worth it either. No, I don't have a contract because I didn't get this right out of school, hence no residency- just straight up orientation. But ask yourself if that $2000 isn't worth it for your life back (not to mention the gasoline expense that makes this job worth far less in pay anyway....add that to the costs plus driving time and then factor up your wage.)
I left a higher paying job close to home for this one and I'm having some regrets. I wanted the "acute care experience." What a burn-out job!!! I'm now wondering why anyone would want to be a nurse!? I have so little time with 6 patients that I often have to look at my brain sheet to remember their names AT REPORT TIME when I've been taking care of them all night. If I had to do it again.....
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one feeling this way. Although young I think its the fact I have a child that makes the 12 hours unbearable if not for childcare issues I'd move in a minute. As it is the VA which is 25 mins from my apt has an opening on their mental health floor, its an 830 to 430 position Mon-Fri. I know a new nurse who just got hired there and I have received a notice of results via email which basically states I'm eligible for the job. Getting into the VA is a long process but with prayer and luck maybe I'll get hired. If it takes til June then great I'll have gained my year experience and I'll have less to pay back on the contract. I did get information on the hospital I was called for an interview for and its not worth the switch, the pt to nurse ratio is higher plus no weekend incentive program or self scheduling. I'll stay where I'm at, only good thing about the whole situation is having a job, I understand that in this economy its a blessing to have one and although my feelings May not be so great towards my hoaputal, I give 100% to my pts while I'm there and its only knowing I'm helping those in need of care that makes it worth being from my son although he will always take precedence over any job.
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intermediateRN
16 Posts
Hey there, I was in a very similar situation....graduated May 2010, was ecstatic, got a job at a large hospital an hour from my house in their 6 month residency program, no contract but a verbal "I am committed" kind of a thing. And, the truth is I was committed at that time. I finished the residency, and started working nights on my home unit. One month later I was looking for another job. The 12 hr. shifts were 15 hr. w/the drive and the 30 min. before and after for report. I was exhausted, a walking zombie, and dreaded going to work. I have two girls at home and I literally would go days w/o spending time w/them. I decided enough of this crap and spent 3 week submitting apps, I got one call-back and did one interview and I luckily got that job. It was 25 min. from my house doing home health/hospice. I'm still there and really like it. I say absolutely find something else if this situation isn't working. But, don't take a diff. job an hour away, go for the hosp. close to home, an hour is too far and too much money in gas. I know it's a very hard decision, I wish you the best of luck :)