NursingLink

 I am torn right now. I so much enjoy patient care. Being out in the field seeing patients in home.  You get a real chance for education and getting to know the patient as a whole.  I have been offered a DON position.  I would have to be in the office every day, all day.  Probably not a lot of patient contact.  I would be able to teach still just to the nurses not the patients.  A lot of paper work, politics on and on.  I am really torn here.  Is there anyone out there who has been in this position that can give me some advice? The benefits of making my own schedule is huge with all my kids. If I need to pick up one of my kids early, I can be there, lunch with one of my kids, I can be there, I would loose that freedom, it would be challenging though, I just don't know, help!

You have to weigh all the pros and cons.Like cdnurse said, take your time with this one. You said this job would allow you some flexibility with scheduling, but you may find you are so busy, you can't take the time off for the things you want. You may become overwhelmed with all your new duties. Sometimes, you jump out of the frying pan into the fire. I have more than once. When a job seems too good to be true , it usually isn't what it seems. Be careful!

   Isn't that how they welcomed Darth Vader to the dark side--by making him a DON?

The freedom of a flexible schedule is appealing, but the idea of being married to your place of work is not.  My Director seems to think I'm destined to continue up the leadership chain.  I had to disagree...as the educator, I have the best of all worlds; flexible schedule, no WE's, no holidays, I can work out in the department when I want...but the best part, I do my 40 and I go home.  You have a tough choice to make.  Answer these two questions: 1. Are you ready to give up clinical nursing?  2. Are you willing to belong to your occupation 24/7?

 I want to thank all of you fellow nurses for your responses, I am a new kid on the block here at Nurselink and really did no think I would get ANY responses back. I was offered almost 90K I don't know if that should make me take it or not?? Still confused please keep responses coming!

If you live in CA, NV, or NY it is not enough.

I know it is cliche but make a pros and cons list.  My aunt is a DON and I have not seen her in three years and only saw her then because my father died.  Where as before when she did bedside nursing I saw her at least one a year.  I am going to go out there to see her.  She likes her job but says that it is stressful.  And sure enough she almost always gets a phone call from work.  She works at a top 10 hospital and she said that is is worse.  She was one before but at  smaller hospital.  She said the money is REALLLL GOOD and like you said she is still able to educate but with RN's and LPN's.  

Kudos to you.  I know that wasn't easy.  Sounds like you have a bit of all worlds, eh?