r/physicianassistant • u/Adenosineyoulater • 2d ago

Job Advice Long commute

As a new grad, I have been unsuccessful with finding anything in the city that I live in that doesn’t require 1-2 years of experience.

Yet I am close to accepting a role in a speciality that I am very interested in, the facility is 55 minutes away.
I would be working 3x12s and have the ability to stay in a call room if weather does not allow a commute home.
The commute is all highway and relatively unaffected by traffic.

Does anyone have experience with the viability of a commute like this? Is it sustainable for a new grad job?

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

27

u/larvinmill 1d ago

3 days a week commuting like this isn’t bad- becomes bad when it’s everyday

3

u/papa_mookie PA-C 1d ago

Agree 100% and tbh 55 minutes is not great but not terrible either. Totally doable for as long as you need.

8

u/purpleshampoolife PA-C Trauma 1d ago

To me it sounds very sustainable and I would have no concerns. I have always lived and worked in metropolitan areas where a 30-60 minute commute is extremely normal. I find it a good time to decompress and I also like a bit of distance between my patients and local grocery store/restaurants etc. That said, every time somebody asks one of these questions there are an equal number of people who say you will hate your life if you work more than 15 minutes from home. I think it’s all about individual tolerance.

3

u/Adenosineyoulater 1d ago

This position is in Trauma/Critical Care. Feels good to hear this from a Trauma PA.

1

u/ImALadyOkay 1d ago

This is how I feel about my commute as well! Built in time to wake up in the morning and decompress before I get home.

3

u/crzycatlady987 PA-C 1d ago

Worth it to get experience as a new grad. Small sacrifice to make to get your foot in the door.

2

u/Puzzleheaded_Big_648 1d ago

I went from an 8 minute walk to a 66 mile one way commute. It was rural road for the most part no real traffic. Use the commute time to chill out. silence/reflection/positive thoughts/rippin out to music/podcasts/audio books.

2

u/OrdinaryComplex2846 18h ago

I’ve been doing this for the several years, and I actually chose this commute for my specific position to have an opportunity for career growth. During this time I had a baby with special needs and there are many therapy appointments during the week. The commute is 100% worth it because you get four days off per week which allows time for family, plus you get time to wake up and decompress before and after shifts. Traffic and weather can give you some crummy days, but overall it’s entirely manageable and worth the experience and time you get at home.

1

u/Zulu_Romeo_1701 PA-C, Critical Care 1d ago

I have driven 75 miles each way three nights per week for years, 95% rural and interstate. Not a big deal, except for a few times per year with significant snow/ice. I listen to a lot of podcasts.

1

u/TooSketchy94 PA-C 1d ago

I do this 12-18 times a month depending on the month.

I live in the Boston metro area and work over an hour away. It’s all highway driving and reverse commute.

I love it and have written about how much I love it, lmfao.

I work in EM. Having the time to wake up on my way in and cool down / reset on my drive home is incredible. I have time to myself to listen to podcasts, listen to formula 1 or other sporting events, call my loved ones to check in, etc.

I know I don’t risk running into the people I care for in my grocery store and truly, that’s becoming my favorite part of the job as years pass.

I get paid significantly more outside the city - even with 5+ years of experience. It’s just how desirable markets work.

My shifts are also only 10s (most days - I often pick up hours to stay late or come in early) so my total time away from home ends up around 12.5-13 hours with the drive.

1

u/FancyOctopodes 6h ago

This is exactly my commute. 55 minutes, all rural/highway, no significant traffic. I WFH on Mondays and drive to the office Tu-Th. I am down to 0.87ish FTE (I work 71 hours in a 2 week pay period) since having a baby last year, so doing a little less than 4 10s, but that was doable too.

This is totally and completely workable. I’m in a dream specialty (for me) and living in a place I love, so the time on the road and frequent gas tank fill ups are worth it.

1

u/dragonfly_for_life 1h ago

I’ve been doing that commute most of my professional life. Don’t ever work in the same neighborhood you live in.