Totally Freaking Frustrated, Annoyed and Worried

[Serenyd]

Okay, I had these big plans to start off my nursing career with a bang, but now it's starting to feel more like a fizzle. I had planned to get this job working 2 hours away that was a weekend job, working fri, sat, sun 1 week and sat, sun the next. Get paid for 40 hours, full-time benefits. I got the job, but the hospital reneged on it's promise that I would have a place to sleep while working there, so I had to turn the job down. I interviewed at another hospital about 80 minutes away. Good pay ect., and I was promised a place to stay and that I would only work 3 days a week. I really wanted a job that worked only a few days a week because I want to take 6 hours in a FNP program this fall. Okay, so I am thinking 6 days per 2 week period - I'll still have time for school, right? Then I get up on the med-surg floor and I am doing my schedule with the charge nurse and she is telling me I will be working 7 days/2 wks and sometimes 8 if needed. The charge nurse tells me the unit has been understaffed for 2 years.

I am thinking - how am I going to do this and school? Plus I have a two year old at home I desparately need to spend time with, he is my everything and all that really matters to me. I am floundering big time and I don't have a clue what to do.

Should I tell the charge nurse I can't work that many days? Should I try to work part-time instead? I am freaking out because this is a lot of driving back and forth, I don't know if I will have a set schedule, my child is going to have psychological damage because he won't have any kind of routine, I won't have any time to spend with him, and my dreams of being an FNP are slowly being crushed before my eyes. What should I do? I have no idea how to handle this - I want the job, but I also want to be able to go back to school and still have some time for my family (dh and son) - is this a pipe dream? Am I hoping for too much? I need guidance - Please Help!

[Nesher, BSN, RN]

Balance.

Goals and need to be with son and guilt over goals.

[lady_jezebel]

Yes, tell the charge nurse that due to your circumstances & the agreement upon your hire, you can only work 6 days per 2 weeks. Like you have stated, your family comes first -- 8 days is too much. If the charge nurse cannot agree to 6 days, then find another job within the same hospital.

[Serenyd]

Yes, tell the charge nurse that due to your circumstances & the agreement upon your hire, you can only work 6 days per 2 weeks. Like you have stated, your family comes first -- 8 days is too much. If the charge nurse cannot agree to 6 days, then find another job within the same hospital.

THANK YOU

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Serena - I agree: you have to have balance in your life. Since you have already planned out that six days in a two week period is what you can work - tell them.