HELP choosing between 3 job offers, New Grad.

[eelise11]

Hello fellow nurses!

I am a new LPN grad, recently licensed with no nursing experience other than my clinical rotations. I have been applying to jobs everywhere because they are so few and far between around here and I was hoping to land just one job. Well, I have officially landed 3. So I need some help because I can't decide which is best. As a new grad, I'm very limited on cash right now, my husband works full time daylight, and we have a 2 year old daughter.

Job 1) LTC Facility, very close to home. hours are 3-11p full time with benefits although the benefits are very expensive. This is a very small 40 bed facility with staff that stays forever so the chances of a different shift are minimal. The DON interviewed me and made it clear that raises "might" come once a year and they scrutinize every single thing you do. He actually kind of scared me from wanting to work there. But here, I can wear the many pairs of scrubs I have already purchased. That's really the only plus I see to this job. The pay is $14 an hour. No tuition reimbursement, etc.

Job 2) LTC Facility. Nearly 50 minutes away. 270 Bed Facility with a high turn over rate. The position is part time to start with potential for full-time, 11p-7a shift. I can pick up as many hours as I would like as they have been recently sold and are highly understaffed currently. They require a particular color scrub, so I'd have to figure out how to pay for all new scrubs. they offer benefits but when I've been asked, everyone is unsure of what the benefits are going to be as the contract with the new buyer is still being negotiated. They apparently offer tuition reimbursement but no one seems to know about that either. I have a friend that works there that loves it but she is at work literally 2 shifts a day, 7 days a week and runs around like a chicken with her head cut off. This pay with shift diferential for nights would be 16.68 per hour.

Job 3) LTC Facility. 20 minutes away. 301 bed facility with a high turn over rate. Part time position with full-time potential after 90 day probationary period. Rotating shifts. I can pick up hours as ell. They provide scrubs. They have benefits but they are very expensive so as a plus, they offer you an extra 165 dollars per pay period, just extra money, to offset the costs of the benefits, whether you choose to take the benefits they offer or not. They offer tuition reimbursement. A total of approximately 2500. I know 3 people that work here. Went to nursing school with all 3. One, I'd rather never see again in my life, and 2 I have no issues with but nursing school was the most horrible time of my life. The treatment of students by other students and staff was so bad that I ended up in a severe depression. It changed my entire personality for that time. So my real worry about this place is, will these people cause me an issue?

If you were me, which job would you lean toward. I really need help figuring this out. Please.

[loveblossom]

How is your Child Care situation? From the descriptions I would pick the second one...I would pick the 1st choice, but not if I would be stuck on the second shift forever,as your childs needs change you may want to work a different shift.

[cyde]

Hello fellow nurses!

I am a new LPN grad, recently licensed with no nursing experience other than my clinical rotations. I have been applying to jobs everywhere because they are so few and far between around here and I was hoping to land just one job. Well, I have officially landed 3.

wow!! congratulations on your interviews!! how did you go about applying? in person, online apps, fax? please share. thanks!

[SquishyRN, BSN, RN]

If I were you, I would go with the 3rd option. The benefits are the best, it's not too far, and although arranging childcare with a rotating schedule might be more difficult sometimes, opportunities to spend quality time with both your husband and daughter will be more frequent. With a 3-11, you would only see your husband in passing and while he's sleeping. 11-7 would actually work for having a family as well since you could still have dinner together, but the facility doesn't sound like it has its act together. Work life will already be difficult in the beginning as a new grad, and having no organization at the facility will make it h-e-l-l. I would consider the 2nd option as my second choice. As for the ex-classmates in your 3rd choice, it seems like a large enough facility where you would not be working with them too often if you were on a different unit, if at all. If you have a say at all in what unit you would be placed in, find out what units those classmates that make you miserable are in and avoid them.

[eelise11]

wow!! congratulations on your interviews!! how did you go about applying? in person, online apps, fax? please share. thanks!

I applied all in person. All the online apps I did, I didn't get any call backs, but the ones where I walked in I was interviewed either right away or got a call right away.

I also forgot to mention that the 3rd job is 16.50 an hour BASE pay with a 1.50 shift difference, so it's the highest paying for anything other than daylight.

[jamd11]

In my experience 3-11 is the worst shift in the world.... It's ok of you are working a mixture of hours but 3-11 straight you really feel it. I felt like all I was doing was sleeping and preparing to go to work. I couldn't get anything done .

[paulgreganaLVN]

If it were me, i'd choose the 1st choice. Its close to home, its a full time job. Pay is kinda low, but i still chose it because the 2nd choice is kinda far of a drive, and the 3rd choice is only part time (how much did the 3rd offer?), but after you get your first year experience, you can go for better options.

[skye614]

i would take the one that will give you the most experience, where you feel you can learn, where the coworkers seem nice... trust me, get your experience and then you can go where you want!

[Jeepgrl]

If it were me I would pick #3 it sounds like that facility might have their act together a little better then the other two. Good luck

[eelise11]

Thanks everyone. Update:

I chose Job number 3. It's semi close to home and after my final interview, here are the specs.

16.70 per hour (highest in our small area) with 1 dollar differential for 2nd shift and 1.50 for 3rd. It ended up being full time, rotating shifts. I asked for mainly nights and days and they agreed to do that. They offer 5000 total tuition reimbursement, give you money to offset the cost of medical insurance, and provide scrubs along with allowing you to wear your own.

It's scary cause its so big and they only give 2 weeks orientation... But I'm sure if I asked for more, they'd allow it if I don't feel okay.

I'm scared but very excited. Thank you all for all your help and kind words. :)

Edited to add: they also are skilled and have every sort of care, from trachs to tubes, etc. so I feel as though I'll get wonderful experience there. Lets just hope the nurses are willing to help me learn as I'm brand new.

[SquishyRN, BSN, RN]

Good luck at your new job!!!