Would you drive 100 miles for a great job?

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Sep 12, 2004

Take it from someone who has never lived close to where they have worked, commuting gets old fast. I would consider renting a small sleeping room that allowed me a hot plate. Go home on days off. It will still add stress to your life because you will wonder what is going on at home and there will be times when you feel you must be at home but the job requires you to be there. If I could not find a way to reduce the commute, I would pass on the job. Good luck on what ever you decide.

rollingstone · Sep 12, 2004

Used to drive 72 miles each way. Did it for 2.5 years. Pretty tough trying to stay awake for the ride home after 12 hr nights. Since I lived in the country and worked in the city you can imagine the nightmare of traffic I drove into and then tried to escape on the ride home. And if there was an accident or inclement weather the commute became exponentially excruciating. Personally, I wouldn't do it again.

SmilingBluEyes · Sep 12, 2004

You have received wonderful advice. Perhaps you can try it out, finding a place to stay nearer this job either overnight or temporarily. Then if it's that great, you can consider relocating closer to this job. As for me? I can't ever say "never"....but I can I have NO desire to spend one more minute away from my husband and kids than I have to, so a long commute is NOT desireable in the least. But to say "never" ----well if things were that bad where I was that they caused trouble for me physically or mentally, I might have to re-evaluate my options, as you are now. Good luck. Never say never, but be aware, it's gonna eat up a lot of your time (read: LIFE) doing this.

eb_rn · Sep 12, 2004

It depends on you really. I drive ~2.5 hours...~165 miles to work. But, I love my job and I only work weekends. I tried to work closer, but found that I liked the drive more than I liked the other jobs....not that I really liked the drive, it was just the lesser of 2 evils.

abundantjoy07, RN · Sep 12, 2004

Only if you were able to move closer. I think the travel time would cause too much unnecessary stress.

Karen_tn_37211 · Sep 12, 2004

My mom always said, "if in doubt the answer is no." That has never let me down in my decision making. The very fact that you have posted a question about it on here indicates that you wonder whether to do it or not. To me, that means stay put or get a job that you just know you need to take, no doubt, no question.

LadyMadonna · Sep 12, 2004

I don't know if you have kids or family, but as for me, I spend about 4 hrs. in the car each day going to two different schools (trying to get my pre-requisites out of the way before nursing school starts in a few months) and taking the kids to school. I have put almost 10,000 miles on my car in the last three months :crying2: .

I used to love to go places, now I am getting to where I HATE to drive, it has turned into such a chore. It frustrates me at all the time wasted in the car that I could be doing something else. The only way I can stand it now is knowing it is not going to be for the rest of my life (I hope not, anyway).

When I get out of school I am going to do my best to find a job as cose to home as I can. It doesn't help that husband *has* to live in the boondocks, but if all goes as planned I won't be driving more than 20-30 minutes to work. I can't imagine 100 miles :stone

tsgarman, RN · Sep 13, 2004

Well I am in the minority here. I drive 1 1/2 one way to work three times a week. I know you probably think I am crazy , but I live in a area where there is no major hospital only a small rural hospital. For the experience in critical care i am wanting a small rural hospital will not give me that. The closest major hospital is an 1 1/2 away the rest are 2 - 3 hours away. I do agree with the burnout on commute. I am starting to feel that after doing this for almost 2 years. To be honest I will probably find something else to do in 3-4 years or move closer. That is if I can convince my husband to move. Most of the people I work with drive an hour away.

movealong · Sep 13, 2004

I don't think I would drive that far. Just depends on the job: Is it really that great? Will you gain some really wonderful skills in an area of nursing that may lead you to the smae type job one day closer to home? Then maybe.

It's alot of time out of one's life.

This may be kind of unpopular here, but I don't think it's great to drive so far for other reasons. It's not the cost of gas, but the fact that I would be using so much of it, would it be morally responsible ( for me)?

smk1, LPN · Sep 13, 2004

with the traffic around here? a big fat NO! but you have to thyink about what it's like in your area. Factor in family time, what will you do if there is an accident, if your car breaks down, more cell phone minutes may be needed, miles on the car used, etc... I can't stand sitting in a car for that long so i would go nuts, but i have friends who find it relaxing. go figure!

LuvMyFireman · Sep 13, 2004

Nope, I'd be too afraid of falling asleep on the way home! :stone

Ms.Hobbes · Sep 13, 2004

I commute two days a week, 52 miles from home. I love my job! I have always had to commute to work as a nurse and as there are not a lot of options up where I live....a hospital that the only shift offered starts or ends in the middle of the night So when I had an opportunity to work in a busy outpatient surgery center...weekends and holidays off with excellent pay it was a pretty easy choice. Now if I had to do this five days a week it would probably be a lot tougher. I am not sure I could commute 120 miles one way though. Good luck in your decision.