To leave or not to leave?

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Here's my story... Graduated in May 2013 with a BSN, RN. Wanted to start in med surg because that's what I was told to do. Couldn't find a job in the big city I live in, so I applied everywhere and landed a job 250 miles away in a small town. I've been unhappy here... Small town life is not for me and neither is hospital nursing. I was just offered a home health position in my hometown and don't know if I should take it or not. The thing is I've only been at my job 8 months and don't quite have the "one year" of acute care experience. I think ill like this home health job, but I'm afraid that maybe I will end up not liking it and wanting to switch areas of nursing again? In which case I won't have a year of hospital experience and it seems like every job out there wants you to have it. I want to leave that town so bad, but am not sure if it's the right career move.

Advice much needed and appreciated!

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I'd stay for the next 4 months, even if it meant getting a calendar and crossing off the days, just to get that magic 1 year of experience. It will look better to a future employer. There will still be home health jobs out there.

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Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice.

I would stay put for the full year. Then I would remain on per diem status just in case home health isn't your cup of tea.

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I would wait the full year as well. I've been in the same situation, I didn't wait and in hindsight wish I had...because the market in my area is really rough! But, at the same time, unlike you, I didn't have another job lined up.

Based on another post in my interview thread, I'm guessing you did not wait?

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Specializes in ER.

Contact some of your former classmates and find out how the job market is back in the home.

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I agree with above, you've put up for this long might as well not lose the experience value you've been putting time into.

I did home health for a few months after my hospital closed, and I HATED it. I realized that it wasn't for me and I wanted to be in acute care.

What I hear about home health is that you either love it or hate it, which honestly applies to all nursing.

I wanted to be in cardiac ICU every since nursing school, now that I'm in it, I still have all the same complaints. You won't know what you like/dislike until you've tried it.

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Well, I didn't take the home health job but I was lucky enough to land a job on a telemetry unit back home :) I figure I'll stick with hospital nursing for a few years before deciding a specialty.

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That's great, congrats!

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