Which job to take?

Nurses General Nursing

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Which job to take?

I have been a nurse since 2018, mostly in lower level ERs. I also traveled for a couple years in the ER, spent the last year PRN at a small ER about an hour from home and recently decided to get a permanent position.

I have two opportunities. Option #1 is float RN at a level 1 Trauma center. It would be floating between ER, ICU, and other floors in this major hospital. It is also day shift, full time. The pay is about $10/hr more than my most recent position I held as PRN at a hospital an hour from home and it includes a sign on bonus.

They would train me for about 6 weeks so I could learn ICU and could float there in addition to any other unit in the hospital. I am SUPER nervous about that job because I know in the past this place was super toxic. But I think it could be OK because I'd be in a different unit each shift.

I'm also concerned that my skills may not be up to par, as I've never worked in a Trauma hospital. Additionally, I'm unsure if six weeks of ICU training would be adequate for me to be competent and confident. BUT with the pay, bonus and only working 3 days a week, it appeals to me. It is about a 40 min. drive from home.

Option #2 is Care Coordinator for a cancer center. Monday - Friday 8a-4:30p. No weekends, No holidays. I am not sure about the pay yet. I would assume standard base pay for an RN with my experience. No sign on bonus. Mostly talking with cancer patients and helping them navigate their treatment and keep them out of the hospital by triaging any issues they may be having.

It would mostly be by phone, but I'd work in the office all 5 days. It is a 20 minute drive from home. I love a lot about this job, but 5 days a week really limits how much of my own time I would have.  

Option 1 - Comes with a high level of stress, great pay, bonus double the drive, 3 day work week, and would be a very active job. 

Option 2 - Comes with a low level of stress (comparatively), fair pay, no bonus, quick, easy drive, 5 day work week, no holidays or weekends and would be a more sedentary job. 

I have to work. Debt needs to be paid off. I have struggled in the past with working full-time. I get physically burnt out fast due to autoimmune issues. But I really don't have a choice at this time. Both jobs will be hard of me for different reasons. 

Please give me your wisdom. 

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" I'd be in a different unit each shift." Trust me, that is not a good thing. I have done it and it took all that I had, with 30 years of experience. In addition, you would  have to be trained to ICU. Six weeks is not long enough. Care coordinator will open a whole new avenue for for you.

 Best wishes with your decision.

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Been there,done that said:

" I'd be in a different unit each shift." Trust me, that is not a good thing. I have done it and it took all that I had, with 30 years of experience. In addition, you would  have to be trained to ICU. Six weeks is not long enough. Care coordinator will open a whole new avenue for for you.

 Best wishes with your decision.

30 years and it was still intense for you? Yeah, I am not even a super confident nurse. What you wrote is my biggest fear. I appreciate your response so much. 

 

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Specializes in Dialysis.

To me, it depends on your age and ability to pick up things knowlege wise. Myself, at my age at 30 years experience and my now multiple health issues, would choose the navigator position. The younger healthier me would take the float job. You can pay bills off, etc, be there 3 days a week and be done. It's what I did at 1 time in the acute setting, and loved it

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I am older. I became an RN in my mid 40s and I have been a nurse for 5 years. I am fit, but I do have some autoimmune issues which can cause me some problems. I don't feel like I have had any solid experiences as a nurse even though I have been in the ER for most of my years. It is mainly because I only worked full-time for shorter spurts and always worked in lower level ERs. So... it makes me feel incompetent. I have never had any serious issues with my patient care, but there have been times I have had to look up how to do something or very occasionally ask for help. I am just not a super confident nurse. I thought maybe the 6 weeks training would be enough but I am honestly scared to death it won't be. It would be 2 weeks each in 3 different types of ICUs (MICU, SICU, CCU). 

I want the 3 (12s), I want the higher pay... I just don't know. 

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Specializes in Dialysis.

You may want the money, but your health, both mental and physical, may suffer. That navigator job may be gone by the time you figure that out. Go with the navigator, I see longevity for you there 

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

The six weeks to train for ICU sounds ridiculous to me. Even with ED experience, you need more than that to be proficient. And if you're coming in as a float, they're not going to expect you to need any support, they're going to expect you to be independent. If you know it's a toxic environment already, this sounds like adding stress to toxicity. 

As others have mentioned, the care coordinator position appears to have some very good aspects, it sounds like a more stable, and mentally healthy, opportunity. Good luck!

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So I had a second interview at the Care Coordinator position. The groups seems like a nice bunch of ladies but a few things really stuck out to me. 1.) They mentioned they sit all day. 2.) They stated there is candy everywhere 3.) They mentioned someone brings in donuts every week and patients bring in food constantly 4.) They called the area they work in "the dungeon". 5.) They got excited because they have Thanksgiving off AND Black Friday. 

For me, I need to do things that promote my health not make it harder. Now the first job is for sure not easy on the health, but sitting all day and being tempted by candy and junk food sounds horrible for my health. Also, I just can't get past working ALL day Monday-Friday. I feel like Saturday will be catch up on EVERYTHING day (groceries, household projects, laundry, cleaning) and Sundays will be rest days. So no just FUN days. ?   Also, I know me and working out after sitting all day won't happen. I will be too pooped by the time I get home. I need to workout in the mornings. 

That is why I am highly tempted to take the first job and see what happens. At least it is 3 days a week. If it really is too much, I could talk to the manager or even find another position.

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Specializes in ICU, Quality.

With a shorter commute and only 8 hour work days, you'll be able to run errands/do laundry/hang out with friends after work with the nurse navigator role. You likely won't need a day of rest because the job itself will be less stressful. Re: the float position, 6 weeks of ICU training is not enough to be competent or comfortable in that environment IMHO. I'd avoid such a role unless you already had ICU experience.

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Going2bRN said:

So I had a second interview at the Care Coordinator position. The groups seems like a nice bunch of ladies but a few things really stuck out to me. 1.) They mentioned they sit all day. 2.) They stated there is candy everywhere 3.) They mentioned someone brings in donuts every week and patients bring in food constantly 4.) They called the area they work in "the dungeon". 5.) They got excited because they have Thanksgiving off AND Black Friday. 

For me, I need to do things that promote my health not make it harder. Now the first job is for sure not easy on the health, but sitting all day and being tempted by candy and junk food sounds horrible for my health. Also, I just can't get past working ALL day Monday-Friday. I feel like Saturday will be catch up on EVERYTHING day (groceries, household projects, laundry, cleaning) and Sundays will be rest days. So no just FUN days. ?   Also, I know me and working out after sitting all day won't happen. I will be too pooped by the time I get home. I need to workout in the mornings. 

That is why I am highly tempted to take the first job and see what happens. At least it is 3 days a week. If it really is too much, I could talk to the manager or even find another position.

Sounds like you are really trying to talk yourself out of the navigator position. Having  a sit down job is better than running around like a chicken with you head cut off for 12 hours. Being tempted by candy and donuts, is better than no time to eat for 12 hours. Why shouldn't be happy about a four day Thanksgiving weekend? All holidays off is a much better schedule than a 12 hour schedule could provide.  

But heh, you do you.

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Been there,done that said:

Sounds like you are really trying to talk yourself out of the navigator position. Having  a sit down job is better than running around like a chicken with you head cut off for 12 hours. Being tempted by candy and donuts, is better than no time to eat for 12 hours. Why shouldn't be happy about a four day Thanksgiving weekend? All holidays off is a much better schedule than a 12 hour schedule could provide.  

But heh, you do you.

I am just being realistic to how I feel about it. But honestly, even though I had the second interview, I haven't heard back from the easier job. So it might not even be a possibility anyhow. I have put in over 40 applications the last couple months and of the few jobs that have set up phone interviews, they were usually trying to sell me on a job I didn't apply for. "Oh, thanks for applying, but that job isn't available anymore. But we thought you might like this job. It is night shift, instead of days but we wanted to offer it to you anyhow". This has happened numerous times. 

AS it stand right now, I only HAVE one job offer. I have another interview tomorrow for a similar job as the offer I have now, but I think it may only be ER which I am trained in. We will see. 

Oh and I have been sick for 4 weeks straight, and I struggle with constant health issues these days. I don't know why but I need to do all I can to be healthy. I am not sure that even exists. I am doing the best I can with my life right now. God is good. I just need something that I can handle both in the workplace and also with allowing me to still have my life. 

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