New grad associate RN here who is fortunate enough to have two job offers. I have to choose before March, and I'm not sure what to do.
Choice #1: Telemetry at a veterans hospital (I did my preceptorship here, and it's very difficult to get into the VA system because people hardly ever leave).
Pros: Great pay (considerably more than choice #2), 12-week orientation, federal benefits, great retirement package (pension, 401k matching), possible student loan reimbursement, no layoffs, no call-offs, 26 days paid vacation, difficult to get fired, rare to have a female patient/no PEDS (never been comfortable with this population), difficult to sue the feds, I'll be working days.
Could lay a good foundation to get me into my unit of choice (ICU). I also LOVE this hospital, Love the mission statement, and enjoy serving our vets. Can't beat starting out with a cardiac background as I could go into the ER or ICU.
Cons: BUREAUCRACY, transferring to another unit may take 2 years.. if not more, needy long-term patients who don't really need to be an inpatient, I wanted to start in ER or ICU, I'll move up the payscale slower since I'm starting here as a new grad.
Choice #2: Emergency Department position at level 2 trauma center.
Pros: I get to start out in the ER which could change the trajectory of my career (at least I know I won't be stuck in tele for the rest of my life), 16 week orientation, good benefits (healthcare, pension, etc.), i'll be working with a lot of grads who went to my school, LOTS of learning experience (THE BEST), very supportive of new grads, and i'll be working in a specialty i've always wanted to work in. I feel like this is a better fit for me since I'm male.
Cons: Very low starting pay, 2 year contract, nights, what if I get tired in the ER but find myself stuck because ER is so different from everything else, this is an inner city hospital so the ER is always SLAMMED, oh and did I mention..low pay. I would finish out my 2 year contract and use the experience to get in a better paying hospital.
