New grad - should I take this ER job?

Specialties Emergency

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I'm trying to rationalize a decision about work and weighing the pros and cons of receiving a good rate of pay vs. gaining experience. I've started working at hospital #1 PRN in the acute care unit. It's a great hospital in that it is the largest in the area and growing and I'll have a stable job. Yesterday I interviewed at hospital #2. It's the same distance from my home as hospital #1. They are a much smaller hospital that has been trying to come back from a financial crisis. They offered me a full-time position in either the CCU or ER - my choice. No doubt this is because their rate of pay is $5 less/hour than hospital #1 and they are much smaller.

It would be foolish not to work at hospital #1. I would never *not* work there. I'm hired to work PRN, however, full-time openings come up often and I hear it's easy to get full-time hours with PRN status anyway. My dilemma is whether or not to work at hospital #2 as well. I would choose the ER as I think I would be safer there from being called off from low census. The job wouldn't start until after I've finished orientation at hospital #1 so that would work out.

What makes more sense? Work only at hospital #1 in the acute care unit for as many hours as I can at a much higher rate of pay....or work there PRN and go full time at hospital #2's ER for $5 less/hour. I have no problem with working acute care...in fact I'm really proud and excited about the job, I just think that ER would look really good on a resume. And even though they are a smaller hospital, the manager thinks I would still get great critical thinking experience. That's the only reason I'm considering it...because I really don't like the pay. I just feel like having that experience might open up a lot more opportunities in the future. Can someone help me think this through and make a decision? I have until Monday to accept or decline the ER position.

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You're a new grad, I think you should think about what you want to do long term. Don't think about the money.

Most times, when money motivates you, it ends up biting you in the butt in the long term.

Be motivated by the type of nursing you are interested in, not so much the wage at this point.

Getting experience and having longevity on your résumé looks better than a bunch of different employers for a short amount of time.

Good luck with whatever you choose and congrats on your new career!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

If one is PRN and you want CCU or ER I would take the training then apply when a position opens at your facility because now you have experience.

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I agree that going for the money can bite you in the butt in the long term. I know nurses who went for money but when they wanted to move from their specialty they don't have enough experience for other things. Get the experience.

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As a new grad myself I would suggest

1) compare orientation programs. Who has a more organized and thorough orientation program? Where are you going to have the resources available to learn the most?

2) what unit do you want to work in as your "dream job?" Sometimes the bigger hospitals are not all they are made up to be. So I would focus more on the specialty and go for the one you see yourself in long term.

3) next I would look at benefits. Insurance, retirement, etc.

4) last I would compare pay.

Good luck on your decision!

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Is the pay at hospital #2 so much lower because you're accustomed to the PRN pay at hospital #1? Or are you comparing FT pay at both hospitals?

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Specializes in ICU.

I would personally go with the ER job. I just wouldn't be comfortable with a PRN job right out of school. You might get a ton of hours and you might not. Regular, set hours every single week will get you the practice and experience you need. You're rolling the dice with the PRN job and that's just not a risk I'd take.

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Specializes in Trauma/ED.

If you want ED then you should take the opportunity. It is very hard for a lot of nurses to get their foot in the door but once you have some experience in the ED you are labeled as an "ED Nurse" and could go to a lot of different hospitals. I agree that at this point in your career $5/hr should not be your motivator. I am a hiring manager in the ED and have not had to interview a non-ED trained RN for a long time...meaning those RN's that didn't jump at the opportunity you have in front of you wouldn't even get to sit at the table across from me to be considered for a job.

Good luck in your decision...it is yours not ours to make :-)

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

PRN pay is generally higher in pay because they do not offer benefits with it. So I would not compare the pay. One is full time with benefits, PTO, possibly shift diff while the other is just PRN. PRN is usually called off first if census is low..

In making my decision, I would ask what type of orientation would I receive, what is there retention rate, what kind of support is offered for new grads, what the culture is like, is the staff open to new grads etc..

Doing both may be more difficult that you think, different policies, plus the risk of burnout from working so much.. New grads need the down time to unwind and get ready to do it again.. It's not easy being new :)

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If one is PRN and you want CCU or ER I would take the training then apply when a position opens at your facility because now you have experience.

I wish I could condemn this ruthless approach but, sadly, this is the same mindset that nurses confront so I think I'd have to endorse Esme's cutthroat suggestion, distasteful though I find it.

You are playing musical chairs with a lot of other people and you need to do whatever you can to make sure you've always got a chair within quick striking distance of your rear end.

Experience is what counts, even from smaller hospitals.

Edit: Make sure you read Larry77's post as many times as it takes to sink in... thar's gold in them thar words.

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As second career nursing student (hoping to get a job after graduation) I can tell you from my first career that this thread has lots of good advice. its usually a combination of pay, experience, and fit that makes for a great job and happy employee. really consider what will make you happy - most times the pay will follow. Let us know what you decided and how it works out!

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Thank you, everyone. I really appreciate all of the great advice more than I can say. I formally accepted the ED job today and will start on August 12th. It works out great because I have another month to get more used to being a nurse while working in the acute care unit where I'm at presently before I start in the ED at the other hospital. I'll still remain PRN at my present hospital as well. I have to work 8 hours per month to maintain that status which should be easy to do. I don't plan on staying at the hospital I've just been hired at long-term, but the ED experience is just too valuable to pass up if it will get me into other EDs in the future. Thanks so much for helping me to see the value in that, even though the pay is nothing to get excited about - the experience will make up for that in the long run I'm sure.

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