what would you do in my situation? Please read and assist!

[IHeartPeds87]

Hi everyone! So about a month ago, I started a new job. I actually didn't want to start the job until mid-may because I had an extended overseas volunteer gig planned. The interviewer said that they needed someone to start right away and that as I would be part time status anyway and they would make it work. I also told the interviewer that I would be continuing to look for jobs as I needed one with benefits and wanted a night-shift position. I told the interviewer that I would do my best to make both jobs work and she assured me that we could be in constant communication and would make it work.

This place is very short-staffed and has very high turn over. There is no real per-diem status/on-call status and everyone is considered a "part-time employee." They make an effort to give people the number of hours they want (In my case, they are giving me too many hours but I didn't want to be the most demanding employee in the world.) The pay is very low and there are no benefits. Still, my boss has been good to me in terms of being supportive of my goals and really just giving me so much time off being so new to the job.

I very recently interviewed for an awesome hospital job and was UNofficially offerred the position (as in, the nurse manager told me I got the job as long as my references check out and that HR would contact me upon my return from my trip.) I have been trying to get into the hospital for awhile and do NOT want to let this opportunity slip away. This job is the number of hours I want, is a night-shift position, has benefits, and pays more than the job I have now. This new job wants me to start as soon as I get back from my trip. The new job is right in line with my goals for the future, is at a hospital, is guaranteed hours, is night shift, and is on a floor with extremely low turn over. It sounds perfect.

Here is where the problem lies - my current job expects me to start work as soon as I get back from the trip as well. Now technically, it is more than two weeks ago so I could just quit. I don't actually like the job all that much - the hours are all over the place, the pay is low, etc. But the thing is, they have been good to me. The environment is supportive. My coworkers rock.

I thought about being able to do both jobs for awhile, atleast try it out for a month and see how stressed out it is. The problem is that orientation for my new job is on day shift and I go through orientation like a full time employee. My current job doesn't really do night shift only (they have 12 hr shifts or 24 hr shifts...so if you work a night you really work all day).

I could ask my bosses to keep me off the schedule for another month while I do orientation for the new job, but wow, don't I sound like the most demanding employee in the world!! And, what if I do that, work both jobs for a month and figure out that I just can't handle hte stress?

I'm also afraid of just straight up quitting because new job is contingent upon references going well, and I gave permission for them to contact my current bosses since they have been so supportive.

AHH!! What do I do? What would you do if you were me? Would you ask your current boss for yet another month off the schedule? Or just quit?

Please help! Your advice is appreciated!!

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

I would be upfront to your current employer. What can they say? Their pay is lower! Who would stay?

[PeepnBiscuitsRN]

I wouldn't quit anything until you're 100% sure you have that hospital job. I mean like you have the job offer letter in your hand specifically stating you have the job in writing. I've seen too many people on this forum freaking out because they thought they were offered the job- they got the grand tour, introuduced to all the staff "you'll be hearing from us by xxx" and the call never comes...but the caring and personable rejection e-mail does, and meanwhile they've put all their eggs in that basket.

So I would continue on with the status quo until you have it in writing.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Don't quit until you have an official offer. And don't let them check references on your current job. That is common practice.