Need help with career moves!!! PLEASE

Nurses Career Support

Published

Hi everyone!

I was hoping I can get guidance from nurses out there (perhaps even nursing managers) about what they would do in my situation. A little background: I'm a staff nurse with two years med/surg experience who recently moved from Albany to north NJ to continue my career around there. I had originally moved back to start work at a hospital in NY but only stayed there two months because I realized early on that the unit nor the hospital was a good fit for me. So, both my manager and I mutually agreed that I needed to go. The experience initially broke me down but I think I'm ready to move on and really make my waves elsewhere, so I started focusing on more suburban hospitals in NJ.

I recently accepted a PT position at a reputable hospital and PD position at another one to hold me down since the first isn't full time. Hospital #1 is set to begin this Monday, Nov 4. At the time I applied, those were the only options I had to work with and therefore decided to accept the offers. I really didn't feel I had a right to be picky since I was out of work. I begged for FT at both hospitals but they did not have any opportunities like that.

Only after I accepted did I start getting more phone calls from other hospitals- offering me interviews for full time positions. The catch is that I am 25, currently on my parents insurance but it runs out in February when I turn 26. Full time would really benefit me.

I guess my question lies in whether I should look out for myself financially in terms of finding a job that offers benefits and stability or go through with working part time hoping that it would turn into FT. I don't want to step on anybody's toes but at this point, if I choose to switch hospitals simply for FT status if offers are granted, it would look unprofessional since I already accepted offers.

I know there is no RIGHT or WRONG choice, but I simply want to make sound judgments. Some people, like my parents, are telling me to go to the hospitals I accepted offers to and sort of "wave" the other FT options in their faces, but I don't think I should make demands before I even start. I had interviewed and received a job offer for a FT Float pool while this whole thing panned out but I rejected them because I didn't want to be part of a float pool and had my heart set on hospital #1.

You can say I'm fairly new to this thing. My first hospital was FT and I never had to worry about this. If anyone can offer me any advice as to how to continue, I would really appreciate it. Thanks for taking the time to read this!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

It is not unusual or "unprofessional" to go for a better offer after initially accepting a job. You are still very early in the hiring process. Since none of the facilities have actually invested anything in you besides the normal cost of the hiring process, IMO, it is not a breach of integrity to simply notify the first employer that you will be unable to take the job because you have received and accepted a better offer.

Be honest with them and let them have an opportunity to match their offer. This is not the same thing as "waving it in their face". They knew you preferred FT so it should be no surprised about your decision. Be sure to thank them for their consideration.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I started orientation for the part time position today, however. Wouldn't it look bad?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment