unhappy and don't know what to do next

[ChocoholicRN]

I have been a med-surg nurse for about 1.5 years and I am extremely unhappy. I need some unbiased opinions, so please just take a few minutes to read my thoughts and provide some feedback. I work at a top hospital in a large city, it's my first nursing job although I worked as a tech for a few years before getting into nursing. I knew I wouldn't be doing med-surg forever, I just thought I would feel burned out already. The aides are of very little help and I (and the other nurses) often have to fight with them to do their job and we're lucky if they even do what we ask half the time. The floor I work on is so busy that I feel like one of the nurses that is just a "pill passer" because I barely have time for much else! I am at the point where I dread going to work each day. I know that at some point in the near future I would like to do critical care nursing. There are 2 options that I am considering and I need to make a decision soon.

The first option I am strongly considering is working as a per diem float nurse at the hospital where I am now. I have spoken to many per diem nurses who are all thrilled with working per diem. It offers flexibility, the chance to work on many different floors, higher pay, and no required holidays or weekends. There are no benefits, so here's the twist: I am getting married in the fall and would have to wait (or it would be smart to wait) until I am married and can go under my husbands benefits. It would be too costly to pay for health insurance on my own. I just don't know if I can last another 6 months in my current position.

The second option is to possibly work in a critical care floor. I have an interview in about a week, but the position is for the night shift and I really don't want to do that again. I may not even get the job, but I need to think through this as if I am going to get an offer. I will be back on the totem pole as far as vacations and scheduling, but I will be off the med-surg floor I am on now. I am done with the wedding plans so no stress with that. And I already have the time off for my wedding and honeymoon so no worries about that, if I stay on the med-surg floor. Should I suck it up and stay in my current position till after I'm married, switch sooner and pay my own benefits for a few months, or possibly take a critical care position even though its on the night shift? I appreciate any and all feedback, positive and negative. Thank you in advance!!!

[moseshopper]

Well my advice is probably not what you are going to want to hear. But I think it sounds like you are really ready for a change. However that old ins. thing is a huge thing these days. What if something happened and the medical bills are outragous even for something not serious, then you'd have that fiancial burden to take along into a new relationship. And the nightshift thing its pretty cool with the extra pay but it really wears you out I did it for 15 yrs, but it started to take me two days to bounce back not to mention you hardly get to see that brand new husband cause you sort of pass in the morning before you sleep if he works days. Really advice from me would be stick it out where you are until after the wedding, get thru it by reminding yourself that after the honeymoon you are going to be looking for better things, That will take care of the insurance problem, not having to nite shift and setting your eyes on your next goal. Good Luck!

[Mulan]

I agree, stay where you are and then after you get married go per diem.

[chgoreid]

With that extra $$ you will be making working per diem, could you purchase your own major medical plan? Maybe that is an option until you get married. That's something you could look into before making the switch. Good luck!

[ChocoholicRN]

With that extra $$ you will be making working per diem, could you purchase your own major medical plan? Maybe that is an option until you get married. That's something you could look into before making the switch. Good luck!

I actually have thought about that option as well. I haven't actually looked into how much it would cost, but I did it when I was in between nursing school and a full time job so I know what it may cost. It is definitely an option, I don't have any health problems that require frequent doctors visits, I am getting all my regular check ups done now (dentist, gyno, vision) so I will be okay for at least 6 months. Any recommendations for individual health insurance? I have used COBRA, and my current plan is with Empire Blue Cross, not sure if they offer non-employer health insurance. Thanks for all the feedback, keep it comin'!

[Mulan]

If you go per diem now, is there any guarantee that you will get the hours to make the money you will need to pay for your own health insurance?

Most places per diem or prn get canceled first.

[winter13]

I'd check into what cobra will cost for an individual...it might not be as bad as you may think, since you're single and only covering yourself. If it was doable I'd go PD and see what you like.

[Chaya, ASN, RN]

I'd try to find out how often day positions come up in CC at your hospital. If you switch now, sounds like you'll be happier in your job plus you'll be all settled in before the next big change in your life (marriage!). And you will have put in 6 mo or so on the seniority ladder!

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

I could have written the first paragraph of your post, except I am in cardiac. While I think it's been a good place to get my feet wet, I don't think it's where I want to ultimately be. I've already committed myself to staying for another six months, and after that, well...we'll see.

I went into nursing because I wanted to love my job. I wanted to do something I am passionate about. Sometimes, I do feel that way. I took care of a guy for the last two days that had his first MI, and I know I really helped him through it. I know I made a difference, and I really enjoyed being a part of that. But most of the time, I feel like I'm on a treadmill for eight hours, doing the same old thing day after day; namely trying to keep my head above water.

I have to keep my health insurance because I have two daughters and an SO who are all on my plan. If it were just me, I'd be willing to forego health insurance for a while, because I am in good health and have no chronic health issues. The only thing I would need health insurance for is catastrophic coverage, like if I got into a car wreck or something. Even so, if it were just me, I don't think I'd need it.

[marmsgirl]

Give nights a try before saying no..Several nurses where i work have practially fought to not go to night shift then after a night or two they dont want to go back to days..personalities of staff and teamwork being main reasons. I would have quit my job a long time ago if i had stayed on days. Same hospital, same unit but so much difference between days and nights

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

I've considered nights, too. Less family, fewer meds, and a substantial shift differential.

[marmsgirl]

I've considered nights, too. Less family, fewer meds, and a substantial shift differential.

Yep those are perks of nights too! Less people (no RT, pharmacy,etc cause a small hospital) means its just fellow nurses meaning teamwork and less of "thats not my patient". It help I work with great bunch of nurses too!