When to Stay and When to Go and Where to Go To

[jpeters84]

I moved out of state to get a job as a new grad in a specialty that I love. For the most part, I really like the hospital that I currently work at and I am so grateful for the experience and all the training. I am coming up on my two year mark and I'm starting to get itchy to make a change. First, I'm single living in a smaller city with mostly married young families. Secondly, we don't have the consistent acquity that I know that I need to be able to learn and grow within my career. Thirdly, there has been a lot of changes on my floor recently and the moral is low and the relationship between NP's and RN's is not the best.

On the positive side my current position is a day position which is so important to me. I just do not function on nights. I really like the other RN's that I work with. And the thought of packing all my stuff and going through another move just does not sound good. I started to apply for positions in my home state but my dream hospital there won't even look at me until I have at least two years of experience and endoresement in that state (CA board of nursing said that takes 13+weeks). I have an offer for a job in Colorado which is one place I've always wanted to live but I find myself so indecisive, so unsure of what to do. On the one hand the job offer in is at a hospital with high acquity. There are lots of young professionals. But it's a night position (as any new job would be). I would have to make an expensive, tedious long distance move. And I would be moving away from my family again. Part of me thinks I should just stay where I am, put in more time, and make the move back to my home state in due time. Part of me thinks that this offer in Colorado is an excellent opportunity and I'd be crazy not to take it. Advice?

[Nurse ABC]

I say stay where you are. You've almost got two years under your belt and 3 more months you could have your endorsement and apply at your dream hospital. Maybe in that three months you could take some advanced classes of some sort to help yourself get hired there. From the sound of your post you don't want to go through the trouble of moving. Someone once told me if you are having trouble deciding what to do it's best to stay put where you are. Good luck!

[Good Morning, Gil]

It is nice to come on here and get others' opinions, but only you'll know what to do. I agree...moving to Colorado would be pretty cool (I've never been there, but it's on the list). But, you said you can't do nights. And, that position is night shift, so seems like an easy answer. Stay where you are until you're sure of what you want.