Anyone work in the medical field?

ohio01

This is post is probably going to be part venting, part asking for advice.

 I work in the lab of a fairly large hospital.  I work different hours (1st and 2nd shifts) throughout the week and have been here for the past 5 years (accepted the job right out of college).  I don't mind working FT at the moment (I just returned from leave so the family is still adjusting, but things are going well) and DS seems to enjoy daycare and I feel very comfortable with him being there.

At times I hate it here.  I'm sick of doctors and nurses constantly yelling at me for things I didn't do wrong.  The past year the hospital has faced budget issues so they have cut back people's hours, eliminated some jobs, then proceed to build a large addition to the hospital and recently announced plans to build another hospital on the other side of town.  I also have to work my share of weekends and holidays (my first night back to work was on Christmas!).  I've thought about finding a new job, outside the medical field, but feel I'm not qualified for anything else but working in a lab (my bachelors degree is in medical technology).  I've thought about watching a few kids in my home but I don't think I'm cut out for that.  I don't particularly want to go back to school as I'm still paying on my loans for this degree and I'm not even sure what grabs my interest and I'm pretty sure I won't find a job that pays what I am making now (though we would make a cut in pay work if I found something I really liked). 

 There are a few nice things though...my co-workers are fun and provide me with a chance to have adult interaction and I like feeling like I am contributing to my family by working.  And even though I work FT my varying hours allow for DS to be in day care for only 25 hours a week and I'm blessed to be able to spend a decent amount of time with him throughout the week, either in the mornings or afternoons depending on my hours for that day. 

So my next thing is there is a chance that I could move to FT on 1st shift which has its pros and cons (DS will be in daycare more, but I would be home every night).  No more spending Saturday nights at work!  Is it worth it to see if I could work either 4 10-hour days or possibly 3 10-hour days and 1 8-hour day?  Right now I work 72 hours/2 weeks (this is the minimun hours to be considered FT and I work 5 days/nights one week and 4 the next week.)  I have to work the 72 hours/2 weeks and the minimun I could do is 8 hours/day because we do shift work.  A few of us tried to put together a 3 12-hour schedule prior to my leave but the proposal was denied.  I would still have to work some weekends and holidays, but they would all be on 1st shift so I would be off around 2:30pm and still have the rest of the day to do as I please.    

Sorry this got so long...any thoughts would be great as I sit here tonight at work and ponder what I should do.

 

 

KidsRN

I'm a nurse and work random shifts like you.

I personally would choose to work the schedule that allows me to be home as much as possible with DD and not have her in daycare.

I also prefer to have a day or two off during the week....it makes it easier to fit in appointments and do my grocery shopping.

excitedforlittleone

I'm a nurse at a peds hospital and I work night shift.  It's really tough but I like that I have more day off than the normal 9-5er.  It does suck working most holidays but I guess that is teh trade off..  sure I'm exhausted but I do feel like I get to see DS more often because of my odd schedule.