Would you drive 100 miles for a great job?

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Sep 12, 2004

Nope---burnout from commute.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2004

That's 3-4 hours a day of your life you're going to loose. I couldn't do it. I was getting burned out on a 30 minute drive a while back (now it takes me 7 minutes). I would do it only if there was a chance I was going to move closer in the very near future.

Good luck with your surgery. :)

weetziebat · Sep 12, 2004

I used to drive 30 miles each way and found I simply could NOT stay awake on the drive home. And this was after an 8 hour shift. Had the car windows open, air conditioner blasting away in February, music blaring, and slapping myself the entire way and still nodded off. There is no way I could do it, and being honest I believe you'd find it too much after a very short time. Just my opinion :)

Any possibility of moving closer??

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Sep 12, 2004

Not I. I am already driving 35 miles one way to get to the train station, where I have to continue the remainder of the 55-mile commute to my present job. I hate it, but there's no jobs close to where I live that even remotely match my present salary. One of our trainers does drive 100 miles one way to work...and she told me that she does it because she was laid off from her last position in Continuing Ed at a local hospital, and because she loves to teach.

Loving your job is one thing, but driving your car into the ground, sitting in traffic jams and burning up gallons of gas at $2.00 a pop is something I just could not afford...emotionally, physically or financially.

renerian, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2004

65 miles is the longest commute I ever have had in my nursing career. Did it for one year. It added 14 to 20 hours on my work week depending on the weather/winter/traffic and such. When I moved here I did a 55 mile one for 2.5 years. I did not mind that as I did not have to go in on icy or bad snow days. The other thing is you wil totally wear out your car, have high repair bills, tires every other year. Very expensive. I usually buy a new car every 3 years/have to in home health.

renerian

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Sep 12, 2004

If the job's that good, and it must be for you to even consider such a long commute, either move or get a tiny place to hang your hat close to the job and commute back home for your days off.

Good luck with the job and the shoulder!

directcare4me · Sep 12, 2004

I live about 100 miles from my work. Used to be about 15 miles, but had to move and wanted to keep the job. I do OK with it; have been doing it for about 2 years. I do not drive back and forth on the nights in between my shifts. I stay with a friend or relative, and then drive back after. Audio books have become my best friends; they make the time go by much better than music, and I'm a major music lover. But focusing my mind on following the story helps the time to pass and helps me to stay awake.

But, and there's always a "but", you will put a lot of miles on your car, and all the associated stuff with that. Have to pay for gas. It's not deductible because it's your choice to live so far away. So, like with everything in life, there are good and bad things. I do it because I've worked at my job for 30 years and didn't want to start over somewhere else.

If you decide to do this, I recommend you check out some audio books. Good Luck.

allnurses Guide · Sep 12, 2004

I'm less than a mile from work. No way.

Plus I want to spend as much time with my kids as possible.

If it was that great a job, I'd consider moving there. Except we'd have to leave my fantastic in-laws who do such a great job taking care of my son the two days a week I work.

So, I'd probably opt out of the great job.

steph

Trauma Columnist · Sep 12, 2004

Right now I commute about 30-45 minutes one-way. I live in your general area - 3 hours north of St. Louis. If you really think you'll love this job - then I would start it and see how it goes. Good luck.

Blackcat99 · Sep 12, 2004

:) I hate to drive period. The longest commute I ever did was 40 minutes each way. Never again. I am now 10 minutes each way and I absolutely love it! 100 miles each way-no way!!! No job is that great!!!

Nurse Ratched, RN · Sep 12, 2004

No job is that great!!!

Second that.