want some input on which job to choose!

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Hello!!!

I have found myself in a dilemma and im looking for some advice. I have been an lpn for almost 2 years and my first job was on a medsurg/stroke/tele unit. I hate the floor im on and medsurg is not where i ultimately want to be. Im not sure yet where i'd love to end up quite yet but I know this isn't it lol. however it is very good learning experience and im doing excelsior to get my rn and im getting close to the end of being done. Well back in february I decided to go prn on my floor, and started also working prn at a pediatric home health. I love the peds job but lately i have been feeling like i just want to go back to fulltime on the floor and do 3 12s. the peds job has very unreliable hours and I have absolutely no benefits/insurance for either job since they are both prn positions. i live in new orleans and last week we had the hurricane.. well all of my ped patients evacuated and here i am left with no hours or paid vacation time. this week i've had no shifts with them because they aren't all back in town. another thing is the peds job is mainly m-f.. and im not really the person that likes to get up and go to work 5 days a week and im finding i am just sooo bored with the job itself. as much as i used to complain working fulltime on the floor i sure loved 3 12hr shifts. so my question is, should i go back to being fulltime on the medsurg floor, get benefits back and potentially work there when i get my rn to get my feet wet until i find a floor where i want to be? or stay doing doing the peds job thats unreliable. I am just torn bc i have really formed a bond with all the kids/parents and I just feel guilty.

i know no one can make the decision for me, but i love to hear some opinions about it. i am just totally lost right now!!

Thanks:specs:

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Wow that truly is a dilemma! Is there a reason why you can't go back to your old job and continue PRN at the other one? Especially since you can pick up whenever you wanted/able to.

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I think i should definately be able to stay prn with the peds. but i feel bad because I was always begging for more hours and consistent hours. so i feel like a bad person if i just randomly am like ok.. i am only gonna work here sometimes because i am going fulltime back at my other job.

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Specializes in Psych.
I think i should definately be able to stay prn with the peds. but i feel bad because I was always begging for more hours and consistent hours. so i feel like a bad person if i just randomly am like ok.. i am only gonna work here sometimes because i am going fulltime back at my other job.

I don't know. It seems like you asked for what you needed and didn't get it from the peds job, so you proceeded to solve the problem in a way that works for you. This makes sense to me and I think it would make sense to most managers. Sometimes they can't give employees what they need.

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Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

As stupid as it is, make a pro/cons list as it sounds like there are pros/cons to both jobs. From your post, it sounds like you are leaning toward the hospital floor position, but when's the last time you've worked full time on the floor?

Sounds like you're PRN on the floor now? That could be why you have a more "rose-filled" picture of it. We tend to like our jobs better when we don't have to be there as often lol, especially in acute nursing. I say that jokingly, but there is some truth to it. I have always worked full time (well the whole 2 years I've been doing this lol), but I've heard nurses say they enjoy their jobs more when they can work part-time.

If you're single, and absolutely need the money, then I'm not sure how the peds home health position can provide you with reliable income. Best of luck to you!

Maybe...you finish your RN, and then apply for peds floor positions or PICU at your hospital :). That sounds like the perfect blend for you if you truly love peds, but would like to work 3 12's :).

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Yessss.. i think I'd really love to end up on peds/picu or even nicu. I do feel that I've been leaning more towards the hospital fulltime bc i only go about 1 shift a week or so so it doesnt sound that bad to me bc I'm not there alot. But when i was there it was miserable!

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