Hi all! I would gladly appreciate your input in helping me decide..I have been offered one job, and had an interview for another today, which went well. I will hear back by Monday. Although I don't know if I have the job, I wanted to pose this question ahead of time, as I probably won't have too much time to make a decision if I am offered both jobs.
I graduated with my ADN (RN) 2 years ago, and have since been working PT/per diem in psych, and going to school for my bachelor's (in psych) full time. I graduated this past week and have been looking for a full-time job.
Job 1: 32 hours, 24 hrs (evenings) as charge nurse on a 6-bed inpatient unit (working with one counselor, a psychiatrist, and social worker) 2 week days and one weekend day. 8 hours would be as admission nurse for the whole psych hospital; at this point I don't know which day (it wouldnt be a weekend day) or whether it is day or eves.
Pros: I hate getting up early for days, I like psych and love my psych patients, I am already comfortable with psych nursing, pay is better (at this point not sure exactly how much, but most likely 3$-6/hr more)
Cons: I'll be the only nurse on the unit which can sometimes feel isolating (although i am in the same position in one of my PD jobs now), I prefer days b/c Id be home in the evenings and have trouble falling asleep at 12am when I get home
Responsibility/Stress: From the interview I know Id have extensive training (I would start out on the main unit with other nurses), but I would eventually be on my own in the unit;Also, admission nurse for the psych hospital (3 units; about 60 beds) sounds like a big responsibility
Job 2: 36 hours (days) as the main nurse for a family practice doc
Pros: hours are good, no weekends, I would get medical experience without doing med/surg (which Is not my cup of tea), the doc seems like a good match personality-wise and says he values his nurses as "partners", it would open up doors to other job possibilities (besides psych..I am possibly interested in being an FNP), I would learn a lot
Cons: I would be working with kids and the elderly (I prefer working adolescents, young adults, and adult adults), the pay is lower, I will probably miss my psych patients, I would be the youngest person on staff by about 20 years (worried about the whole eating your young thing), I would be the only nurse for the doc so if I wasn't up to snuff/dont pick up think fast enough, or if we weren't getting along, that would be a big issue (vs being one of many staff nurses on the floor); there are a fair amt of administrative tasks (care coordination, doing PA's, urines/hemoccults/minor lab tests) and the doctor said up front that I might feel like I was underutilizing my education at times (his words, not mine)
Stress/Responsibility: There is a lot of tele triage, which I dont have experience in; i have been told many times that the practice is *busy*; I have no medical experience besides school and a brief stint as a CNA several years ago,
Option 3: wait to hear back from the other places I have applied to and/or continue applying to jobs
Cons: I have been looking for work since January and am exhausted/sick of it (I was previously looking for a research position, long story...)
As I havent even been offered the job, I know I have some time, and will ultimately make the decision myself, but I would LOVE *any* input from other nurses who have more experience or who have been through a similar dilemma.
Thanks!!
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