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?

[Shortcake_BSn]

My husband just says that it's my decision and that he supports whatever choice I make. He was however, the one to point out the drastic difference in pay, but he's a realist that way.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

Difference in pay is 2 dollars and change. Let's say it's $2.50. That is a difference of $100 a week, if you work 40 hours. After taxes, maybe it's like $70 a week. Think about what $70 a week means. For me, $70 is about what I spend when I go out for dinner and drinks with just my husband or what I spend when I take the whole family out to dinner with no drinks. $70 is a new outfit with shoes if I get a good deal.

List the things you would spend $70 on. Take one away per week. Is it worth that to do the office job? If yes, go for the office job. You can always go back to the hospital if you get bored, or when your family needs you less.

[Libby1987]

I've been a working mom for the last 10 years and I get guilt. But before I'd consider the short term effects on my family (well maybe not so short term considering the accumulative effect of school but at least short term going forward) I would consider where and what I wanted to do for the rest of my career. If that includes something that will need acute care experience and office nursing won't meet the criteria, then don't lose out on opportunities. It sounds like you may still have decades left to work, don't pigeon hole yourself. That's a long time not to have options.

You can always work in an office, but there are other fields out there that are going to want acute care experience, and you may not want to have to go back and get it.

[Cat365]

If you need a year to go prn you are already close to that year. Only you can decide if it is worth it, but perhaps you should consider lasting that year. In the meantime try to aggressively save some of the "extra" money you are making at the hospital. This will give you a financial cushion when the year is up and you reexamine your options.

[NotYourMamasRN]

I know how you feel. I have worked in various hospital and community settings, and have yet to find something that makes me happy. I am trying to tough it out to finish my MSN and have the acute care experience behind me, but some days I want to throw in the towel. The pay in acute care is making it possible for my family to move 1,500 miles to be with our family and get out of debt completely. But some days I would rather just declare bankruptcy and start weaving baskets on the roadside in Key West.

[OCNRN63, RN]

The title of this thread immediately made me think of this, uhm gem.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I always say "You can't buy your life back." You're going to have to decide: does your family have better quality of life from the extra money, or from having you rested and relaxed? Maybe you can tough out your hospital position until you have that year under your belt, but it will be easier with a deadline and an exit strategy.

I don't agree that your skills will atrophy in an office job. Ambulatory care is its own thing; you will develop skills there as well. I also think it is VERY helpful of your husband to say he'll support you either way. Having his unconditional support should lighten the load a little bit.

The whole thing about MAs calling themselves nurses: it's illegal. But there are already several threads on that topic. I'm wishing all the best for you and your family.

[Axgrinder]

Working a job you hate is like having a constant toothache. Miserable. Do something to make yourself happy. Life is only so long anyway. Love yourself first.

[Rachal222]

I think you should follow your heart and perhaps give the hospital a chance by moving departments if you are bored in a pcp's office. With that said, I think its important to not judge other people whom have not chosen to become a Registered Nurse. We may have more of an education but that does not give us the right to degrade any other profession. The company you are working for should not be claiming to have a nursing staff nor should they label you as an LPN. Its important to remember that working in a physicians office you will not be using all of your skills that you learned in nursing school. You will be doing the same job that those ladies are qualified to do. I have chosen to work in an Urgent Care (12's) with less pay but I love my job and I respect the LPN's and the Medical Assistants I work with. The time I get with my family is far more valuable than money.

[scthomas93]

tough decision. pray !!

[Elinor]

What you should choose depends on what you want to do with your career. You say you want to go back to school -- for what? For almost all paths in nursing, med surg is a plus. Office RN is only good for future outpatient or administrative work.

Definitely get the situation with your license being falsely listed as LPN corrected ASAP. You can present it as a problem with you being misrepresented in the medical records with a license that you do not possess. I would, frankly, be concerned about this office manager from now on. Yes, office managers often do not "get" the finer points of nurse licensure, but the fact that she doesn't think even this enormous problem matters -- falsely documenting the nurse's licensure in all the office's medical records -- is a major red flag. Would she list a DO's license as "MD"?

When you get a chance, you should also look for an opportunity to address the problem of the MA's falsely representing themselves (presumably also to patients) as nurses. Perhaps the office manager is not the best person to have this conversation with... do you have a clinical (RN) manager? How much do the physicians seek RN input? Again, frame the issue not as a personal complaint, but as one of liability and also patient trust. Nurse has a legal definition.

Its important to remember that working in a physicians office you will not be using all of your skills that you learned in nursing school. You will be doing the same job that those ladies are qualified to do.

Erm, no. This is insulting. One of my jobs is at a peds PCP office. The RNs do NOT do what the MAs do. We do assessment, triage, phone advice, phone treatment, we take call, and we do a whole lot more. MAs do the routine tasks -- they put patients in rooms, give immunizations, and draw blood. They do not assess, they do not give advice, they do not discuss medications, they do not discuss labs, they do not triage, and they know their scope of practice. And they are excellent at what they do.

Secondly, do you use "all of your skills" that you learned in nursing school? From psych, L&D, peds, LTC, and every rotation and every class unit that you had? No, because RNs specialize. Primary care is a specialty. Respect.

[sorry for the salt! I just get sick of hearing it.]

[mumarada, BSN, RN]

I'm curious about this. Dialysis nursing in a center, not hospital, right? How do you get training? Thanks