I've been with my current agency a little under 6 months--long tenure with this place for an RN, in fact I've got the most nursing seniority in the agency at the moment. I recently did the math and figured out that neither the Director nor the Clinical Manager has any recent home health care experience (like in the last 20 years). I've been intermittently the only full-time RN for this agency, managing the entire case load. They hired two new nurses just before Christmas, one turned in her notice yesterday and I expect the other is not far behind her. It is truly a crappy place to work. Just horrible.
I've been steadily seeking a better outfit and was extended a job offer two days ago. More money, office closer to home, territory closer to home, better working conditions, the whole shebang. But I'm scared. It sounds too good to be true. When I was in the office for the interview, no one looked like they were ready to keel over from exhaustion, like they wanted to strangle someone (or be strangled themselves), there was no heavy-black-cloud vibe going on. It seems like a great place to work. They've got people who've been there for years, they're growing.
I am so terrified to leave my current agency--the demon that you know is better than the demon that you don't, right? But I'm also terrified to stay. I have mini panic attacks every day driving into the office. I never know how my schedule is going to be jacked around and how they're going to hang me out to dry today. The Director is a complete idiot, has no idea what she's talking about. The Clinical Manager is a really nice gal, was a great marketer, but has no attention to detail, does not want to back up the field staff, refuses to assist in any way with case management, and always claims that it's not her job. (Apparently I'm supposed to have a fax machine in my car and be able to write verbal orders while I'm driving and talking on a cell phone!)
Dang, this is like leaving an abusive relationship and hoping that the new guy beats you up less than the first one. Someone tell me it's gonna be okay, please?
