Is it worth commuting for permanent job

Just accepted a nursing post in private hospital in Dublin. Currently temporary in hospital in Midlands, but contract will terminate in August next. Apparently, due to cost cutting they are not interviewing for permanent posts in my local hospital until early 2009. The embargo is definitely begihning to bite. When I have suggested taking the job in Dublin, everyone here thinks I'm mad. But I have two young chilren, am on own with them, and don't want to be at the mercy of temporary contracts when I can easily dismissed at the end of them. My hours of work in job in Dublin would be 12.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. 12 days a month. 4 of these days would be weekends when the children would be with their dad. Does anyone think these kind of hours are possible in terms of commuting. Also the hospital in Dublin has offered to pay my fees for further training (which is very expensive) if I give a two year post-qualification commitment to staying with them. Any comments appreciated. Thanks. E.

Do a test drive, visit the hospital and factor in all the extra motoring costs. Also from my own experience there is a lot to be said for living locally when children are small. Will you earn any more money or is it the permanent job that is the deciding factor? You have a job until next Aug. and more that likely they will renew your contract next year. Money in govt. depts for temp and perm. jobs usually come from different budgets so even if they're not making people permanent they often renew contracts. The main thing is do you like where you are and would you love a permanent job there? If that is the case and you're going because of the impermanency of it , you might be better to hold on. If you leave now your chances of getting back permanent will probably not be as good.
Also you must factor in the cost of a decent car if you are doing long haul commutes particularly when you're female. You'll be on that road late in the winter evenings and won't want to break down. Forget about what they're offering you, private hospitals are screaming out for nurses and if they're offering this it's because they need you more than you need them. Irish and British trained nurses with english as their first language are a scarce resource and a lack of same is causing immense problems. Think carefully and the best of luck .

Hi! Brandy, thanks for your reply. You make very good points. I love my joeb here and the people I work with are great. I suppose my fear is that the HSE will keep the embargo going for a very long time - as they did in the 80s. Already we have a consultant who took leave, was due back in October, but now won't be taken back until March becaue of cutbacks. Next year I will need to take out a mortgage on a rental property I have to fund my course and do some repairs. I am just worried about being able to get the mortgage if I am only on a month to month contract, which looks like it might be the scenario after August, but I really would prefer to stay local for my children's sake and my own and because I really to love the job I'm currently in. Thanks again.

My 2 cents worth....

1. Write down the pros and cons of each option to try adn get it clear in your head.

2. Think about the longer term. (Kids will be older, you will have better qualifications, (better prospects?)

3. The goalposts are shifting in the HSE as I see it. The Centres of Excellence will probably suck up any new posts. And smaller hospitals will not be a priority.

there is alot to be said for a permanent job

as u say the HSE won't have permanent contracts in your local hosp till 2009

asanother poster said put in the pros and cons

My sister was doing temp nursing contracts and hated the uncertainty .
she then did the agency work but as she was based in dublin it would be easier for her than u to chose the jobs as she was in the city centre.

she now has taken up a permanent job in the rotunda .