New grad RN w/job offer, but 2nd interview for DREAM job coming up!

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Hey everyone! Just want to seek some opinions. I feel blessed to be offered a job, but now I have a dilemma:

I applied for 4 jobs. Two at hospital A (my dream hospital) and two at hospital B. Mind you, I've already had a phone interview for my dream position at Hospital A and have been waiting for a second interview. Cue dilemma... Earlier today I received an offer from hospital B for my 3rd choice position. I was caught off guard and asked for a week to think about the offer (it sounds worse as I say it). When asked if I had another interview I said I was waiting for one. When asked if it was at a different hospital, I brilliantly said, "Yes". The recruiter put me on hold and contacted the manager. I was then told I can only have 24hrs to give my response to the recruiter and that I could always reapply for the position if I rejected the offer.

A few hours after this call, I received a call for a second interview for my dream position in Labor and Delivery at Hospital A. YAY!!! At least I asked for an extension with hospital B. But, now I have multiple concerns:

1. If I accept the offer at hospital B I may be seen as being uninterested in the position because of my answers to the recruiter. I enjoyed the floor, the staff, and the manager so that's not true. The field is just not my first choice.

2. If I don't accept, I may burn bridges for my 2nd choice position I'm waiting to hear from at Hospital B.

3. Worst of all, I'm afraid I'll lose my chance for my dream position at Hospital A if I accept Hospital B's offer -OR- In the end, I may not receive an offer from the L&D position. I'd imagine there are many other applicants also interviewing for the position.

What would you do?? If I choose to reject the offer, any thoughts on how to do so without burning bridges with the hospital? Is it best to talk to the manager directly? All advice appreciated!!

Lev, MSN, RN, NP

4 Articles; 2,805 Posts

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I think you should take the offer that you have. You've met the manager, staff, and seen the unit. It all looks good to you, but it's not the first choice of specialty. Ok. Compare that with a potential offer from a phone interview.

Specializes in Psychiatry, Oncology.

I would accept the offer that you have, since it is the only one you currently have and you like it.

Now to address your concerns:

#1 - I think is a non-issue. Employers understand that candidates interview for multiple positions and with multiple agencies. If they were concerned about you being uninterested they would have pulled the offer.

#2 - Why are you even still considering this 2nd choice, on which there is no development yet. I would think considering an offer in hand and a great team/management your #3 would move up to a #2 spot and be only competing with the dream job, no?

#3 - not necessarily. Hospital A doesn't know you have accepted the position at hospital B. If your dream offer comes within a day or two after you accept Hospital B, you can still accept A and reject B. Is this ideal towards hospital B? No. But at the same time it will still be early in the game, they will also be doing background checks on you etc, on which your offer will be contingent. They wouldn't have started investing in your training yet and they would probably still have back-up candidates available - so not the end of the world. If you are doing this in the name of your one and only DREAM.

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