Would You do This Commute?

[westieluv]

I am an RN currently work from home but, while I appreciate the convenience of it, it is starting to get lonely and boring, not to mention that it is very stressful and the company that I work for is a bit of a disorganized mess.

I recently received an offer for an interview for a job that I think that I would really love that meets my criteria: three twelve hour shifts a week, day shift, and in my specialty. However, it is about 40 miles from my home and according to Google Maps and Mapquest (I haven't tried driving it yet) it would be an hour's commute each way. Right now, obviously, I have zero commute, so to go from this to driving an hour each way, although only three times a week, concerns me. It's easy in the middle of summer and feeling dissatisfied with my current job to think that it would be no big deal, but I live in an area where we do get some snow and ice in the winter and I wonder if I'm looking at this through rose colored glasses and would end up dreading the commute.

So would you consider doing this commute three times a week? It is roughly 50/50 state highway and interstate highway and I have to pass through one small (30,000 people) city on surface streets about halfway through and the job itself is in a suburb of a large city so that would be surface street driving too. I would do it in a heartbeat if it was all interstate highway, because then it would only be maybe 30-40 minutes, but unfortunately, that's not the case.

Thanks!

[quazar]

My current commute is 27 miles one way, but 45-55 minutes in rush hour traffic. I deal with the commute because the job and my coworkers are definitely worth it. I use the Waze app on my phone every time I drive in to work so that I am alerted to any accidents or traffic backups. The app automatically calculates the fastest route depending on traffic (while I'm still sitting in my driveway at home) and routes me that way. I do the same when going home after work. I made myself some nice playlists that I listen to on my phone, but if music isn't your thing, there are some great podcasts out there to listen to.

Point being that if the job is great, the commute can worth it and made totally bearable with a few small adjustments. Traffic isn't fun, and driving isn't either, but for the right job with the right people, it is a small sacrifice IMO.

[CeciBean, ASN, RN]

Consider it? Ive DONE it! I commuted 3 times a week, 50 minutes each way (more if traffic was bad) so I could work in a decent hospital. If it's day shift, I would definitely do it. Night shift would be worse.. When I moved here, I tried to find a job and people were aghast that I was willing to commute the same amount of time.....

[UTHSC_Bound, BSN]

2.5 hr commute + 12hr shift + 1.5hr to wake feed dress pack lunch +2-3hrs at home to wind down and visit with loved ones = really not much sleep.

[Marisette, BSN, RN]

safety is the issue for me. Snow, driving in the dark, construction and changes in driving directions all deter me from commuting. I left my last job after 27 years because my employer increased the number of home visits. I find that emotionally I want to choose a commute for a better job, but realistically I become a bundle of nerves in highways, and unsafe driving areas.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

I drive about 50 minutes to an hour each way. It's a country drive. I pass my cow friends, my sheep friends, my miniature horse friends, and my big horse friends. It's lovely to a city girl like me.

On the way in, I listen to This American Life podcasts, or comedy stations on pandora or I keep my mind empty.

On the way back I process my day, what I've learned, the feelings I want to keep and the ones I want to burn. I plan my approaches to my next work day. By the time I get home, I am ready for whatever.

I would not feel this way about it if I were commuting in heavy city traffic which I abhor, and there is plenty of that where I live.