What job to take? Help

[Unique rn]

I’m trying to debating on what job to take or stay. One is a group home of developmental disability. Total patient is 24 with only two nurses . If we lucky we have three nurses then ratio is 1:8 but three nurses doesn’t happen often as this place is always short staffed. It is always busy because of the constant every two hours feeding, meds, etc. and even busier if something goes wrong. And I have been working this for a short while and want to put in my notice. So Most days I go into work having anxiety as if there is only one other nurses including myself then what if something goes wrong or I don’t know how to do a new procedure then the other nurse couldn’t help me because of how the building is separated. So one nurse has to always stay in the building with the highly acuity level and if I’m alone on the other building and don’t know how to do a new procedure or what to do if patient goes downhill. As the other nurse couldn’t go to me because the building is separated and it is mandatory to have one nurse always stay on that side. The nurses are helpful but if something happen like a patient catheter falls out. The other nurse can explain to me but can’t show me as she has to stay in the building with the patients of highly acuity level.

I have a new job offer that is private duty. Private duty pays the same rate as my current job now in group home. It is lower stress but I am tempted at if it is a dangerous area, difficult or dangerous family members, or big scary dogs. I have been doing private duty a while and depend on cases it can be either good or bad. And I was lucky to have good cases in the past with a different agency.

So im a fairly new nurse and am confident in some skills but not a new grad. Should I stick with the group home to get some more experience or call it quit, or should I go into the new job offer of private duty. Private duty will be the same pay. I like a job that is low stress knowing that when the time approach to go work I am eager to rather than having anxiety as working in the group home. I know that being a floor nurse is not for me but should I stick with the group home facility to gain experience or quit? I am confident in my skills doing private duty as I have done it before as most kids are teach and gtube. And with this new private duty job, the parents are at home if something happen they could help me. Which job should I take? Please give me your best answer and be nice

[Unique rn]

Anyone?

[River&MountainRN, ADN, RN]

Stay out of private duty if you're already anxious, especially without another nurse to help out. The parents may or MAY NOT, and most likely it will be NOT, be able to help fill in with knowledge gaps in procedures or treatments. They will be anxious about their own situation and will be counting on you to help alleviate their anxiety and know what to do for their loved one and how to teach them. Even if they do know how to do everything on their own, you're there so that they can go to work, sleep, go out for respite, and so they might not be around to help you. You also can't always count on a thorough orientation to cases or to new equipment when something new is ordered in the home, nor will you be able to alway have the support of your case manager if they are busy/it is an off shift and you have to wait for them to call back. It would be a growing experience for you, for sure, and you'll either sink or swim anxiety-wise (coming from another anxious nurse). Granted, there's always 911 if the patient is going downhill fast and you can't reach the MD for new orders and can't manage the patient's change in condition within the parameters of the the orders you already have, but then you have a whole other can of worms when you have to deal with a family who didn't want you to call 911 and just wanted you to do things their "way"...which, of course, you can't do because you don't have orders to do so that way. Plus, case load wise, it's feast or famine. It may pay the same rate as your group home, but are you guaranteed the same amount of hours? $30/hr x 40 hours is much different than $30/hr x 12 hours in a week because that's all that's available that matches with your knowledge, skills, abilities, commute/neighborhood preferences, etc.

[River&MountainRN, ADN, RN]

Please don't misunderstand me, I love private duty nursing. I am grateful for the opportunities I've had to expand my mind more than it has EVER been. But coming from someone who also has anxiety, this has been a very anxiety-provoking specialty for me. There are very few fail-safes, a lot of different social dynamics at play with very little office support, very high acuity moments (at times) with very little clinical support, and income isn't always guaranteed.