Job Choice: Hospital vs. Methadone Clinic

Hi everybody,

I just passed my NCLEX and am very excited to begin my nursing career! A little bit about myself. I am 37, a divorced dad of two boys, 7 and 4, remarried and a refugee from corporate America, where I worked as a journalist and PR person for 11 years. I graduated from a diploma program overseen by a very reputable hospital, however a local university is absorbing the program and turning it into a four-year degree operation in the next two years. The parent hospital is giving me a second interview Monday on the geriatric psych floor. I want to work with the mentally ill and/or chemically addicted. In my teenage years, I was a very self-destructive alcoholic and wound up spending three years of my adolescence in institutions. Those times are behind me, as I have now been clean and sober for over 20 years. It's important for me to give back.

That said, I have a problem. A good one -- just a dilemma. In addition to the hospital job, I have a very good chance of being hired as a staff nurse at a local outpatient rehab/methadone clinic where I interned last summer. So here's the rundown of the two jobs.

STAFF NURSE AT METHADONE CLINIC
-- Full-time with benefits
-- Days only, but very early (probably about 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
-- 20-minute commute
-- Little responsibility beyond dispensing methadone -- as far as I can tell
-- Potential of being able to shift into more of a psychiatric nurse role in the future (groups, etc.)
-- Predictable schedule
-- Probably pays better than the hospital
-- Ability to work per diem if I reject full-time

GERIATRIC PSYCH NURSE
-- Part-time (24 hours) with benefits (they say it's fairly easy to pick up extra shifts -- don't know whether that's true)
-- Evenings and nights with working every other weekend
-- Unpredictable schedule (every week is different)
-- Less than 10 minute commute
-- Varied responsibilities
-- Potential to float onto general psych floor (I'm more interested in this, but there are no openings)
-- Part of very reputable university health system
-- Relatively low pay for area and profession
-- No ability to work per diem if I reject job

A few more details. As my kids are getting older, I am trying to negotiate 50/50 custody with their mother. My older son suffers from clinical anxiety and I feel like I am his safest haven. Not to put down his mother, but she has very little capacity for empathy at times. I see them four to six days a week right now, but only have four overnights out of 14 and pay a disproportionate amount of child support vs. the amount of time I spend with them (but the court doesn't care -- they just rubber-stamp the mom). I've gotten the mother to agree to mediation this summer, but I don't know if I'll convince her to go for 50/50. A consistent schedule is certainly a factor and if I'm working at the hospital -- I won't have that. On the other hand, I'll be around a lot during the day for the kids (when they're not in school) and I KNOW that their mom will at least let me have them overnight for one night a week and every other weekend. Is that enough? Depends on daytime availability (the mom works full-time days).

I left corporate America because I couldn't stand the morals, ethics and lack of empathy. I love my kids very much, but I know that if I'm unhappy in my career, it will lessen my abilities as a parent. (I just don't hide depression very well!) So assuming I have a job offer at either place, I will have to decide. Like I said, I can probably work per diem at the methadone clinic if I reject full-time work there. But alternating days there with evenings and overnights may be brutal.

An LPN at the methadone clinic where I work now (as a medical assistant) told me to take the hospital job. He said the experience is better, I can always work per diem at the clinic and that the clinic politics are b.s. On the other hand, I did most of my clinicals at the hospital in question -- and I know for a fact things can be very weird there at times.

I still have to get my priorities in order. I just don't know. Obviously, I can't have it all, nor do I feel entitled as a new grad. Just trying to make a good decision. My career is important, but my boys won't be young forever.

Thoughts?
Oh, just a heads-up for further background. I have a bachelor's in another field. Both places offer tuition reimbursement (although I'm unsure of the levels). I intend to start my MSN next year.
I say the clinic. It sounds like it would be more doable for your life.
Family first, the clinic sounds better. However the hospital job sounds better for nursing skills, career. You said you will just be dispensing methadone, I personally would need more than that.But family first.
" I want to work with the mentally ill and/or chemically addicted"Looks like you have an opportunity to do what you want.
In regard to your personal life, I'd say Methadone clinic. In regards to professional development, I'd say gero-psych. You know, you can always ask questions, even ask to meet with the manager again, see the units, if you still aren't sure which is best for you.