Rejecting a job counter-offer

emmy27 · Sep 11, 2015

I'm going to make this short....
I got an offer for a Children's Hospital temporary to permanent making $27/hr, but with no benefits for at least 6 months.
I also got an offer at the busiest ER in my state making less at $24.50/hr, but WITH benefits.
I initially accepted Children's because I didn't have any other interviews lined up. The ER called me a week after accepting Children's and offered me a better deal and experience. I sent an email to Children's HR saying I rescind my offer. And within 30 mins got an email from the floor manager stating that she really wants me and that they'll offer my Full time with benefits.
I still believe the ER will give me a more well rounded experience as a new grad. But I am unsure how to deny the position for a second time. I don't want to be black balled because I love working with the pediatric population.....
Has anyone had any experience with this? And how did you respond?

If you love peds and want to work in it in the long run, I would go for it- it's much harder to get in to peds than ER (there are just more ER jobs than peds jobs, period, and it's a specialty without a lot of turnover).

Also as an ER nurse who didn't start in the ER, I can't imagine the stress of starting in the ER as a new grad, or trying to transition to floor nursing (pediatric or otherwise) later as an experienced nurse who started in the ED. Not that it isn't an amazing job that gives you all kinds of experiences, because it is, but it's both very intense and a totally different workflow and culture than floor nursing of any specialty. So in addition to being a hard place to start as a newbie, while it exposes you to lots of different kind of patients, it doesn't really make you well-rounded in the ways that would transfer easily to other areas of inpatient nursing. After years of focused assessments and doing everything on the fly, transitioning to the pace and structure of inpatient nursing would be a big challenge, I think.

So if working peds at some point is your goal and you have the opportunity now, you might want to start there. I was interested in peds as a new grad and pediatric ER once I was more experienced, but there were no positions available when I graduated, and even with adult inpatient and ER experience, hiring managers in pediatric ERs tend to favor candidates with peds experience over adult ER experience.

People do start in the ER as new grads, but unless ER is your end goal, I wouldn't recommend it.

(Also consider- 2.50 an hour is a not insignificant pay difference, merit raises are generally a percentage of current salary rather than a flat amount, and your pay at future jobs will likely be partially based on the pay at your last position. Starting out at $27 rather than 24.50 is a not insignificant difference!).

Of course this is all just my .02. Go with your gut and the job you see leading more directly to whatever you're passionate about in the long run.

Ashleyhunleyrn · Sep 11, 2015

If you love peds and want to work in it in the long run, I would go for it- it's much harder to get in to peds than ER (there are just more ER jobs than peds jobs, period, and it's a specialty without a lot of turnover).
Also as an ER nurse who didn't start in the ER, I can't imagine the stress of starting in the ER as a new grad, or trying to transition to floor nursing (pediatric or otherwise) later as an experienced nurse who started in the ED. Not that it isn't an amazing job that gives you all kinds of experiences, because it is, but it's both very intense and a totally different workflow and culture than floor nursing of any specialty. So in addition to being a hard place to start as a newbie, while it exposes you to lots of different kind of patients, it doesn't really make you well-rounded in the ways that would transfer easily to other areas of inpatient nursing. After years of focused assessments and doing everything on the fly, transitioning to the pace and structure of inpatient nursing would be a big challenge, I think.
So if working peds at some point is your goal and you have the opportunity now, you might want to start there. I was interested in peds as a new grad and pediatric ER once I was more experienced, but there were no positions available when I graduated, and even with adult inpatient and ER experience, hiring managers in pediatric ERs tend to favor candidates with peds experience over adult ER experience.
People do start in the ER as new grads, but unless ER is your end goal, I wouldn't recommend it.
(Also consider- 2.50 an hour is a not insignificant pay difference, merit raises are generally a percentage of current salary rather than a flat amount, and your pay at future jobs will likely be partially based on the pay at your last position. Starting out at $27 rather than 24.50 is a not insignificant difference!).
Of course this is all just my .02. Go with your gut and the job you see leading more directly to whatever you're passionate about in the long run.

Thanks for the input. My ultimate goal is to be a NP or CRNA, which i'm assuming i would have clinical rotations at a pediatric facility. And in the mean time, I planned on being prn at a pediatric home healthcare facility. I also got an email from another unit within the hospital that says they will email my info to a department hiring for PRN pool nurses for Children's. It's just not definite. I know I really need experience in the ICU, and i figured the ER was a great place to start. And like you said, with peds, other positions didn't open up often.

Jules A, MSN · Sep 11, 2015

It sounds like you have made up your mind that the ED is where you want to be. What I have found is that if you refused their original offer and gave them the reason that someone else was willing to pay you more and they came back what you asked for they will be pissed if you decide not to accept the offer. I'm not saying we shouldn't shop around just that people can get funny if they feel like someone wasted their time. Good luck, either way it sounds like you have two nice offers.

StephPghRN · Sep 11, 2015

I agree. If you want to work in peds, you should take the offer. If your long term is to be a CRNP I would actually wonder if an ER is the best place for experience? Usually floor nursing will get you better experience with disease processes etc as opposed to an ER.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 11, 2015

If your long-term goal is Peds, then take the Peds job.

Yes, the ER will offer a wider range of experiences than the Peds job. But consider that: a., you'll see far more adults than children in the ER, and b. ER patients are typically there for 24 hours or less--so that wider range of experiences is also going to be limited at the same time, as you'll be focused more on stabilizing patients.

Best of luck whatever you decide!

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Sep 11, 2015

If you don't want their counteroffer, just say no thanks, you dont need to give a reason. If the value the applicants, they shouldn't be lowballing them.

Jolie, BSN · Sep 12, 2015

I can't speak for others, but as a hiring manager, I can't imagine a reputable HR person getting pissed or blackballing anyone for turning down a job offer. If you find something better suited to your long-term goals, by all means, take it!

What does ruin my day is someone who misleads me about his/her interests, takes a job and wastes tens of thousands of dollars in orientation, only to leave before working a single "productive" shift because XYZ hospital just called with a "dream job."

WildIvy · Jan 22, 2017

I can't speak for others, but as a hiring manager, I can't imagine a reputable HR person getting pissed or blackballing anyone for turning down a job offer. If you find something better suited to your long-term goals, by all means, take it!
What does ruin my day is someone who misleads me about his/her interests, takes a job and wastes tens of thousands of dollars in orientation, only to leave before working a single "productive" shift because XYZ hospital just called with a "dream job."

It happened to me. I turned down a job offer and applied for a

position that I was better qualified for. The HR director called

my home and told me, "never apply to [my] hospital again."

As a result I took a position in a different city and just about

to complete orientation. The nurse manager called me into her

office and told me I was argumentative, defensive, and I did not

follow direction. She told me she had to "protect the unit." I have

three written and signed weekly evaluations from three different

preceptors with positive statements and nothing negative.

Despite the positive evaluations I was fired. I have been a nurse

since 1991. I have never received a negative evaluation or been

fired from a job in my life. 2+2 = blackballed by the HR director at

a different hospital. I knew it when it was happening and if I could

prove it I would sue them.

Wolf at the Door, BSN · Jan 23, 2017

It happened to me. I turned down a job offer and applied for a
position that I was better qualified for. The HR director called
my home and told me, "never apply to [my] hospital again.".

What a jackbutt. Job offers are not required to be accepted. That is big of you to turn down the job offer, instead of wasting time.

I recently had an interview at a hospital I interviewed with back in July. I declined moving forward after the original interview because I was unsure on what I wanted to do with my life. I reapplied in December. January rolls around, I was dx with a foot problem. Well working in ER is not going to be an option any more. I called HR and the Manager personally and told the truth about my health and needing time to heel and less standing. They were both appreciative for me stopping now before the interview again also before getting hired. HR recommended me to look for phone triage jobs with them when available. I have to start my Job Search all over again. Remaining upright is far more important.