Torn Between Two Careers

[Shortcake_BSn]

So here is the gist of my predicament. I am currently working nights at a small hospital on a med surg unit. I was unhappy with the work conditions and the fact that I realize that I hate all things med surg related. I gave my notice. I was offered a position in a physician's office. The main thing that attracted me to the position was that I'm a wife and mom and the hours were Mon-Fri 8-5, no weekends. I accepted the position because I figured the work wasn't too hard and I would have ample time to spend with my family. I even took a pay cut and am paying more for benefits (twice what I am paying at the hospital). I have been simultaneously working both jobs (don't ask me how!)

Since I have began working at the physicians office. I have come to like it. It is a really laid back atmosphere. The hours are ideal. When I get off, I'm not too tired to spend time with my husband and kids. And best of all, I don't dread going into work like I do with my hospital gig. The cons is that the work is so mundane, I feel as though I'm not utilizing this degree and this title that I have worked so hard to obtain. Before me and a couple of other nurses began working there, the office was mainly staffed by medical assistants whom ALL call themselves nurses, which kind of irritates me. The office manager put me into the computer system as an LPN and when I asked her if it could be fixed in the system, she told me that it wasn't a big deal.

The hospital that I work at is so rough. The patient load is rough. The patient's themselves are rough. Wounds from head to toe, and just really heavy. The census never calls for night staff to have a tech so I am doing everything on my own, which isnt always a big deal because I was a CNA/Tech before I graduated but on nights when I have five to six patients it can be overwhelming. I get seriously depressed just thinking about going in to work. The nurses that I work with are miserable and mean. one in particular always complains about how much she hates her job and her many "physical ailments" that prevents her from helping out the other nurses. But the pay is great. Its really great on top of my shift diff, but I had convinced myself that it wasn't worth the stress that I was experiencing.

The other night when I got into work, I had a note stating that I had received a raise. It was almost a dollar raise. Now I'm second guessing if I made the right decision. Yeah, the hospital is rough but the pay and benefits are great. Plus its my first nursing job and I heard that the first job is never great. And I am still honing my skills. On the other hand, the office job is a dream job and I feel like I would be doing myself and my family a huge disservice if I let it go. I keep asking my husband for input but he keeps saying that he will support whatever decision I make, which really isn't helping. Suggestions?

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

From what I read of your other posts you've been at the hospital 7 months? It takes 6 months to feel safe and about a year to feel comfortable at your first nursing job. I'd honestly drop the office job because it's boring and youre really new in your career. Stick out the med surg job 5 more months, and then see if you can transfer to another unit you might be interested in. Med surg is its own animal, every department is now. It doesn't sound like you hate your job, just that you might need more growth, and time. Good luck!

[nutella, MSN, RN]

I think nurses can have different priorities based on their personal life and what is going on. When I became a nurse, most nurses were on the younger side with no kids or family to take into consideration. In my class there were three non traditional students , everybody else was between 18 and 25 ish. Of course when you do not have any other priorities, it can be easier to adjust and perform a certain job.

It is true that it takes time to settle in, about 6 months to not feel totally crazy and incompetent, about one year to feel better and not cry all the time out of overwhelm and probably around 2 years to feel comfortable. Having said that - not everybody wants or needs to work in acute care. I started as a nurse without kids but was married. After I had children, I changed my work schedule and my priorities changed. I changed jobs to accommodate my family especially when one of my children got sick and started to develop chronic health problems.

I never worked in a doctor's office but considered it at some time. I have worked in the community in home care, in dialysis (acute and chronic) and in non hospital settings as well as hospital acute care med/surg and critical care. I had no problem to go back into the hospital after I had worked in the community and acute dialysis for a couple of years though I am not a traditional bedside nurse anymore.

I needed the money and benefits that the hospitals were paying.

Perhaps make a grid with both jobs and compare everything like work hours, pay , benefits, responsibilities and such. IN addition, compare how you feel about those jobs. Also, your kids will get older and at some point you will be able to focus more on your career again. If your priority is to keep all careers open at this point, the hospital job will probably give you overall more possibilities if you can make it to at least 1 or better 2 years. You could also look into other departments in the hospital like critical care/clinics/ other and move that way. But hospital nursing is what it is and that usually includes more stress due to pressure and all kind of other problems, shifts, weekends.

If you focus on a career path in the community, there are also many options. Depending on your area, offices now also have case managers for complex cases, wellness nurses, offices that perform procedures also have nurses to help with that aspect, and so on. If you like it overall in the community, there are also possibilities to become a family nurse practitioner and continue on that path.

My experience with medical assistants is that they can be somewhat dismissive and passive-aggressive when nurses get added to the staffing mix as they feel they are "running" the office and do not necessarily want a nurse. Offices vary - if you like office nursing perhaps look for another office that does more interesting stuff and values nurses more.

Even if you do not use all your skills for a while - you can learn new things years later as long as you are generally a good learner and adapt. I had years of working with not putting in foleys, access VADs and what not but had no problem re-learning or re-starting my skills when I took a job that required that.

[Shortcake_BSn]

Thank you NickiLaughs, BSN. I do think that I have come to the realization that I don't hate my job, just my unit. It's just a really negative atmosphere on top of he heavy patient load and short staff.

[Shortcake_BSn]

Thank you so much for your fair and balanced input nutella. You definitely gave me a lot to think about. I really appreciate the advice.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Do you NEED that pay and benefits... or just WANT it? If you can be home with your family on holidays, weekends, and evenings THAT is priceless.

There is no need to beat yourself up on a brutal med surg floor to keep up "skills". Real nursing skills are assessment and communication, not Foley's and Iv's. You could go PRN and work few days/month to keep your foot in the hospital door.

Best wishes , whatever you decide.

[Shortcake_BSn]

Thank you so much Been there, done that! I really value your input.

Thats my predicament. I was so broke as a nursing student. I have put my husband and children through a lot due to my inability to work while in school (evictions and repossessions to name a few). I swore to them that I would give them a better life. The money from the hospital allows that. There is a two dollar and change difference between the hospital job and the office job. Plus the benefits are cheaper and the hospital has tuition reimbursement which is going to come in handy when I go back like I plan to. But I am seriously missing my family. My days off, all I do is sleep because I'm so exhausted from being short staffed and overworked. My patience has worn thin. I overheard my six year old told my ten year old that mommy has gotten mean since ages started working nights. That honestly broke my heart. I don't want to lose out on quality time with them in order to make money, but at the same time I never want us to ever have to struggle again.

I wanted to stay on PRN but my supervisor told me that I couldn't go PRN because they want you to have a years worth of experience before going PRN so it's either stay full time or leave.

[quote name=Been there,done

that]Do you NEED that pay and benefits... or just WANT it? If you can be home with your family on holidays, weekends, and evenings THAT is priceless.

You could go PRN and work few days/month to keep your foot in the hospital door.

Best wishes , whatever you decide.

Again. Thank you so much.

[SororAKS, ADN, RN]

Its not worth the exhaustion and costs to your/your family's well being to stick with that exhausting hospital job. No job is worth that. I get that your family sacrificed when you were in school, but I'd bet that they would rather have you well rested and emotionally available for them if asked. It's not about money. It's about those you love and that love you.

NOTHING that a brutal hospital job (that is unwilling to be flexible) might offer is worth more than you, your health and well being, and the life that you can create with your family. Nothing replaces that.

[HeySis, BSN, RN]

Thats my predicament. I was so broke as a nursing student. I have put my husband and children through a lot due to my inability to work while in school (evictions and repossessions to name a few). I swore to them that I would give them a better life.

This breaks my heart, I don't know your circumstances that makes you the make it or break it provider for your family, but I always worry when it seems like one person in a marriage is taking the blame for all of the families financial problems. I hope things are well with you and your family.

Remember, while a better life does include stability in home environment (not getting evicted), there has to be balance. I would forgo lots of "things" in order to be available and at my best for my kids. It's hard when we've gone through a period of having nothing... we want to make it up to our kids by giving them everything (I speak this from personal experience).

Maybe make a list of what good life means and see where the money falls into that and if an office can meet those needs.

The only other thing that made me cringe was your office manager didn't think it was a big deal to have you listed as an LPN. I'd get that cleared up right away. Your office may require the RN to oversee certain aspects in order to stay in compliance with insurance. That is one good reason for them to get it straight. For you, there is the pay expectations.... if they continue to think of you as an LPN or that there is no difference the compensation may always reflect that. If it becomes a sticking point and you love the hours of the office... there is other offices to work for.

[Mhsrnbsn]

If you like the mon-fri no weekend bit there's always dialysis nursing :)

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

What does your spouse think about the choice?

[morgieb]

Excellent perspective!