To those that have a long commute

Nurses General Nursing

Published

How long is your commute? How bad is it? I am a new grad and I am currently in a job I despise and really dread. I have an interview for a totally different type of RN job in a better setting that I think I will really enjoy. It is an hour and 20 minutes away, but off hours so not during rush hour or high traffic time. I think I will really enjoy the job, and my lease is up in 6 months so eventually I can move closer.

There are many factors to take into consideration - reliable vehicle, vehicle wear and tear, price of gas, age of children/family/daycare commitments, etc. but it most certainly is doable. It seems this generation enjoy peace and quiet and consider lower costs of living a priority so look towards bedroom communities to settle in outside of the large cities they work in. If the infrastructure is good (safe highways, plowed/salted, detours etc) then the majority of people just get used to the longer work days in exchange for better living. You do what you got to do to survive. Personally, I love the city... for visiting and working but could never leave the vast expanse of wide open spaces that comes with country living and where the deer and antelope play...

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My commute is usually 35-40 minutes, sometimes less. It used to be an hour or so, but opposite the heavy traffic. I went to that job from a place that was a 15-20-minute commute.

The more important consideration should be (or at least include) is the whether or not job is what one really wants to do. When I traveled an hour each way, I was not liking the place as much as I thought I would. While most was OK, I realized it was not the sort of place where I wanted to remain until retirement. The cost of travel was much higher, and there is more than just gas to consider... figure in the actual cost of travel. Whether you drive a Prius or an Escalade, the cost per mile can still be pretty high.

I changed to my current employer, cut my weekly travel by more than half, and the money was similar. More important, I really like where I work... cool and qualified people abound. :D

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

I have just changed jobs and my commute is an hour each way, mostly because of traffic. In the morning I am OK. But at the end of the day, especially when the traffic is not moving, I find myself falling asleep at the wheel. I listen to music and am planning on trying to learn some French. I actually don't mind the drive itself. Just the traffic back up.

And one of my co-workers told me to make sure I carry water, a pillow and a blanket in case I get caught somewhere in bad weather. A few weeks ago it snowed and some people could not get home. I also have a job that will require a lot of driving once I get off orientation because I will be out in the field. I will be driving everywhere. So I have to take precautions. And make sure your car is in good working order with good tires.

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If it's just for 6 months until you can move closer, I'd do it.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

Mine is 80 miles/1 hr 20 minutes. It sucks, but it beats living in a crime infested city. I enjoy living rurally.

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Specializes in ED.

take the job that you enjoy!. i commuted 45 minutes to work and did that for 6 months. i now i only do a 20 minute commute which is right next to the water

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
My commute is an hour to hour and half each way. I live in the Washington DC area.

Yeah and work is only 10 miles from your house, right? Lol. DC is the worst. I also commute 90 minutes to work each way. I do 12s so its not too bad although the price of gas is really adding up.

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