Would you commute an hour to a job you wanted?

[nursebythesea]

Currently doing 12 hour overnights in a job I'm not very fond of, mostly clock watching. But this job is 15 minutes away. I have been offered a position I'd really enjoy, on the day shift, but requires a one hour commute each way. Live in an area where the winters can be dreadful. Any thoughts?

[7237dallas]

I drive over an hour each way and have for many years. I live in a small town and you make more money in the city so I do the drive. Both nursing programs I applied to are between 45 mins to an hour away too. I don't know what I'd do if I only had a 20 minute drive! lol

[KimO peds]

I commuted an hour each way for about a year to a job I loved. I didn't mind the actual drive but it killed me knowing how much I was spending on gas. I also live in a town where the road was not pretty in winter (sometimes I would stay at a friends if it was really awful) I recently moved to the town I work in (shocking!) and now my commute is about 5 mins! How glorious!

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I've done it in the past. I hated it, but if it was for a job I enjoyed I would consider it. Times are tough so I wouldn't be too picky.

[Caribbean Character]

Get digital audio books and load them onto your MP3 player to listen to during your commute.

[MommyandRN]

If it was a NICU or Baby Nursery job...yes!

Me too.

[Student Mom to Three]

Nope!! Used to do it....won't anymore. I worked 5 days per week so figured I was spending an extra 8 hours on the road that I could spend with my kidlets....or sleeping....or whatever! 8 hours per week! Extend that out over a year and it is a huge number!

I was lucky and found a job I like...that pays better and is only 20 minutes from home. It is much, much better!!

[Wrench Party]

Nope, nope, and another tall glass of nope! I live 15 minutes by bike, and 40 minutes by walking, from my place of work,

and I would never give that up. The benefits far outweigh the negatives: exercise on the way in, no parking fees, no waiting for

the shuttle, no long commute in traffic, no wear and tear on my truck, no gas, no worrying about the truck getting broken into in the parking garage. I'll keep the extra money, thanks!

FWIW, I used to commute an hour each way to another job on the busiest of roads in my region, and it ruined my health, relationship and wasn't worth it financially.

[BellaRose4281, RN]

I live in Los Angeles. A 1 hour commute is pretty normal here considering how terrible the traffic is.

[Pamiesue22]

I drive 50 minutes to work, I love my job and the people I work with. It's well worth the drive 3 days a week. Plus the ride home gives me time to unwind from a 12.5 hour shift! :) being able to work at a community hospital with private rooms vs. a closer hospital that has semi private rooms and bad pt to nurse ratios is so worth it.

[eeffoc_emmig]

I drive 50 minutes to work I love my job and the people I work with. It's well worth the drive 3 days a week. Plus the ride home gives me time to unwind from a 12.5 hour shift! :) being able to work at a community hospital with private rooms vs. a closer hospital that has semi private rooms and bad pt to nurse ratios is so worth it.[/quote']

I drive an hour. That's my quiet time...or sometimes listen to really loud music time. Both of which I can only do on my drive to and from work since I always have kids with me any other time.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

Been there done that to include the weather were it would take and extra 30-45 minutes to get to work. You have to weight if the job is something that you really want or not.

[WoundedBird]

I commuted from Baltimore to DC (it was a miracle if i could make it in less than an hour, even at 3am) for a non-nursing job in college that opened up so many doors, contacts, and experiences for me, so it was definitely worth it.