2 job offers

[hartms01]

I already browsed and saw a lot of people in the same situation as me...I currently work as an "assistant" at 2 different hospitals. 1 is a pediatric hospital working with general ped's, infectious diseases, neuro. 2 is an adult hospital working with cardiac, med-surg pt's(and float a lot to ICU). I finish school in 9 weeks and both places have offered me a job as a GN, but I DON"T KNOW WHICH ONE JOB TO TAKE!!! I really enjoy working with ped's but an RN friend of mine suggests starting with adults and gettting more med-surg background as an RN. He thinks working with ped's may limit my potential for other job offers down the road when i decide to rotate to another position. My first gut instinct is to take the ped's job because i love working with the kids, but I hear of the high burn out rate from the RN's I work with there. On the other hand, I've worked at the adult hospital for almost 3 years and know how things work at the facility (3 + months at ped's hospital). Both jobs are equal as far as retirement plans, OT, weekends/holidays, time off(crappy @ both). THe ratio @ peds is up to 5:1, adults up to 7:1. I'd learn a ton at both places but they are kind of specialzed. Pay at the adult hospital is more (my husband says "go where the money is at" lol)

OK, so the question I have is do i take my friend's and husband's advice and work at the adult hospital where i am familiar with what is expected as an RN OR do i go with with my gut to work with ped's cuz i love kids (Is that enough to take a job??)

I think i got it all out (sorry so long, but long thought out!!) PLEASE HELP!!!

[Tait, MSN, RN]

Hmm...let's see.

Both sound like good offers. You are lucky to have a chance to be somewhere you are familiar with already...if that is what you want.

Adults vs Peds? Sounds like the floors might be similar, and lets face it kids are humans too, just with a different set of specifics than adults. So I don't think you will be limiting yourself quite as much as someone who selects a more specialized floor (like Cath Lab etc).

I think the one issue that stands out are the nurses that say they are burning out. This might be a warning sign to take into consideration, not one that might dissuade you, but be aware of the potential there. If you play your cards right you might be able to find a way to improve the floor, by being very cognizant of what will help you do your job better and being prepared to ask for what you need. (There was a saying in my Nursing School of "don't rock the boat for six months" in relationship to stating your views on things and instigating changes in a new job. I found it to be bullpucky and have never regretted standing up for what was needed.)

As far as the pay goes, if the difference between the pay is concerning your husband, but the love of the Peds floor is driving you, talk to your Peds boss about a compromise! Maybe they completely unaware (maybe on a general level they are, but not floor to floor) of the pay difference you are looking at. If you go in with an honest, candid, "hey these are my options, I love working here but I can't decide between A and B based on pay scale..." you might get a surprising "hmm maybe we can work on something".

You might get a resounding "stuff it newbie" too, but I bet if you have been doing a good job for them so far they might be pressed to try and retain you. A trained employee is worth 10 off the street.

So I think in the end, a little communication, a little careful management of bridges with whomever you don't choose, and the guts to see what you need and ask for it and I think you will find which job will be right for you.

Best of luck!

Tait

Seven months community hospital M/S, now moving on to large city hospital Cardiac Interventiary.

[Tait, MSN, RN]

>.

Oh phew...never mind lol.

[hartms01]

Thanks for the advice. I guess I'll know which way to go when it all comes down to it. I think I will counteroffer in re: to pay rate at the ped's hospital. Wish me luck next Tuesday!!

[santhony44, MSN, RN, NP]

Unless the peds floor has a fairly young cut-off age for admissions, you will have patients who are basically kids in adult bodies. You will get some "adult" experience there, though you may not see the full range of health issues you see in adults.