Hampur Career Advice Thread

So, I removed myself from consideration. They were very gracious about my withdrawing, stated my clinical reputation was very highly regarded (which was nice to hear).


The clincher for me in making my decision was my patient I had the day before; autistic adult accompanied by mom, had him as a patient previously. Mom stated that she was so glad I was his RN and that she was hoping I was there that day. Went home and told my wife, and we agreed that was the whole reason I became a RN; because we always hope there was someone like me in the ER for when we had to bring one of our kids in, someone who 'got it.'

Thank you, fuckers!!! I really appreciated all the, erm, input you had to offer, it really helped to put things in perspective.


I fear(?) this may turn out to be me as well. I love working bedside, but as I'm sure you know it takes its toll physically. I still feel good, but it's a losing proposition as we age. I'll probably look to teach going forward (love doing that), but first I have to get more letters at the end of my name.

So, as most (all?) of you know, I am a RN in the ER, and was previously a CO. I love what I do, even though I have been increasingly frustrated lately due to the lack of staff and the vaccine mandates. I am responsible for saving lives on a daily basis, sometimes being the sole reason why someone has a positive outcome. I am also responsible for precepting new RNs on how to be good ER RNs, which I also enjoy to a great deal. 

Now, I've been given an opportunity. I am under consideration to be the Trauma Director for the entire hospital, a Level 1 Trauma center (albeit a small community hospital). To have started in the hospital only 10 years ago as a nursing assistant and now be in this position is in itself a major accomplishment, I realize that. I am also not necessarily "qualified" on paper for this (letters after my name, AKA schooling credentials), so it's doubly flattering (impressive?) that I am being considered. And it's additionally exciting as I would be stepping into this role as we get ready to open a brand new, state of the art, Emergency Department and OR suite. There is also the potential that we may be taken over during that time by a large hospital system. That could be a plus or a minus for this position as I could see even more opportunities, or I could potentially be replaced. 

The position comes with a bump in pay (somewhere in the neighborhood of $30k more), a staff of about 10 people, and weekends and holidays off. Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Well, obviously by me making this post, it isn't for me. I've grown accustomed to having days off during the week, and not having weekends or holidays does stink, but I manage. However, that does take away more opportunities to ride, as well as to get projects at home done. The job is very data/report/administratively driven, and would pretty much completely take me out of the clinical part of nursing (I'd still respond to traumas when available). It is also a salaried position, so no OT, no union protection, and 1 week less of vacation.

So at its core, I'm looking at an increase in pay, a potentially better career path, and a more traditional lifestyle, with less(?) stress, versus the status quo of solid pay, union protection, more vacation and time off, and doing the clinical stuff I love. 

What says teh Hampur™?

Which was my original strategy. While the reason I gave above is the biggest reason I turned it down, there is another. The hospital is up for re-certification within a year, and that would fall under the Trauma Director's purview. So while I'm confident in my ability to get shit done, I'm less confident in my ability to make sure other people get shit done, while learning the job at the same time, with very high stakes. If I failed (even if it wasn't my fault), I would be the fall guy, and the likelihood of me being offered a job in the hospital again, even as a RN, would be in jeopardy I felt.

Which was my original strategy. While the reason I gave above is the biggest reason I turned it down, there is another. The hospital is up for re-certification within a year, and that would fall under the Trauma Director's purview. So while I'm confident in my ability to get shit done, I'm less confident in my ability to make sure other people get shit done, while learning the job at the same time, with very high stakes. If I failed (even if it wasn't my fault), I would be the fall guy, and the likelihood of me being offered a job in the hospital again, even as a RN, would be in jeopardy I felt.