New Grad with no experience got LOW OFFER (need advice)

U.S.A. New York

Published

Hi all. I need some advice. For the past 2 weeks, I have been sending out applications online, and have attended a job fair (but realized it was a waste of time). Anywho, I have not heard from the big hospitals around Manhattan, Queens, Bklyn, Bronx. I applied to this small outpatient surgery center in Queens and I got a call-back. I had an interview with the HR and got a second interview with the admin. I got an offer as a pre-op nurse, full time position (7-3 no weekends), they offered $25/hr since I don't have any experience and they are willing to train me. My friend who got a job offer last month at a certain hospital in the bronx earns 36/hr.

I am supposed to finish all the paperworks (medical, references, etc) this week as per HR and might start the job on Monday.

My question is: if you were in my shoes, would you accept/turn down the offer? I have been looking for a job for 2 weeks now (which is not long I realized). My friend told me to be patient and not settle for less - but I do not know what to do. I guess I need to hear more advice regarding this. Anyone been to a similar situation or has an advice in mind?

Thank you so much for your time reading.

JJ

Specializes in ER, Trauma, Med-Surg/Tele, LTC.

If I were in your shoes I would accept the offer, get trained, get experience, and move onto greener pastures after a year or two. As a new grad with no experience you don't have anything to bargain with. It's a really big gamble to hold out. Then again, you can always accept, still apply to other places, and quit if another opportunity comes up soon, but keep in mind you'll be burning bridges.

®Nurse2B

31 Posts

That seems extremely low. While I can't say what you should do I know I couldn't accept an offer that low especially considering the cost of living in NYC. Good luck in whatever direction you decide to go.

Ladysin21

11 Posts

I agree, that is very low for a NY new grad RN. If you have your BSN, then a call back is soon to be expected. If you have ADN, it could be more difficult. Try health care centers. Just look up the names of the health care center and contact HR or the nursing director. Sometimes the health centers don't even post the positions online. My job does not post online. It's all word of mouth. Nurses are always leaving. So, I say if you can, wait and keep applying.

tzrlzRN

7 Posts

Thank you all for your quick responses. I am a BSN graduate. I only have a clerical experience for a couple of years. Aside from that, no other experience or volunteer works. When the HR called me I was so excited, but before the our conversation ended she told me the offer, my heart literally just sank - crushed. My friend who is a surg tech earns 28/hr. This is just, I do not know, sad. Thing is, 2 weeks ago I applied to this hospital where I have connections (worked there for 2 years as a clerk) - gave my resume to the head nurse. But I have not heard from her for 2 weeks and I just became impatient. Plus that small outpatient clinic where I got hired - is affiliated to the hospital where I used to work. I may be burning bridges here, indeed.

Editorial Team / Admin

Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN

6 Articles; 11,658 Posts

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Well, there are some tradeoffs when going to outpatient settings- sure, you'll typically only work 8 hours per day Monday through Friday, but the other side is that you will definitely get paid much less than a nurse in other settings who work weekends and off shifts. In my area, office nurses make somewhere around $20 per hour as a new grad while hospital nurses start around $25. Is it worth it to you?

lpn2rn2

2 Posts

Wow I'm a LPN and I make $28/hr with a homecare case, so that seems pretty low for a RN. With that said, I would take it because pre op is great experience! And after a year or two you can move on to a higher paying job, like double that salary. A friend of mine just got a job at a hospital in the bronx, 88k salary, with night shift and BSN differential. If you decide not to take it, I would suggest checking out work force one's RN transition to practice program through Lehman college, where they train you for 6 months in class and working at a hosptal and usually once you're done you get hired on staff at one of their hospitals. That's how my friend got her job. The only issue I heard was that they take a loonnggg time to pay you your stipend. But other than that she enjoyed her time there. Good luck!

A&Ox6, MSN, RN

1 Article; 572 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics/Developmental Pediatrics/Research/psych.

While that sounds low compared to NYC hospitals, I think that is pretty standard gor outpatient. You will work days, no weekends and get great experience

AspiringNurseMW

1 Article; 942 Posts

I would take it. Breaking into hospitals in NYC as a new grad is difficult from what I've heard, even with a BSN. You might be spending quite a while waiting for that job to come by. You're better off spending it working and getting experience, with a great schedule to boot.

blondie1887

234 Posts

I think it depends how long you have been applying. If you just started applying 2 weeks ago, I'm not sure you need to settle for the first place you get. With that being said, hospitals in NYC are rly tough. I've been working in occupational health since I finished my BSN (for a year already), which pays as much as the NYC hospitals, but only gotten a few calls here and there for interviews recently. $25 is pretty low, especially for NYC. On the other hand, pre-op and post op is great experience.

Puppylove992

12 Posts

That is pretty low. I got $34 an hour my first job out of nursing school no experience and I had an associates at the time. You have a degree and a license don't short change yourself. My professor always said "you don't have to accept every job offer." Find something that you like and also that pays well. $25 an hour is really really cheap.

+ Add a Comment