Advice on jobs?

[Mourtney]

Hello everyone!

I have been turning this issue over and over in my mind and am hoping that the allnurses community can help me decide on what to do. I have graduated and received my RN license on January 2015. I am currently working in a hospital (although not in any nursing capacity). In February, I got wind that there would be a new grad residency program at the hospital that I am currently working in and so I immediately applied for this position. About a month later, HR still has not called anyone for an interview. Since receiving my license back in January, I have been actively seeking a new grad RN position everywhere. You name it, I've applied there. While waiting, I have been contacted by another company that's a skilled nursing/rehab facility asking me to come in for an interview. Now here comes the rub: what should I do if the other company offers me a job? Being that I am a new grad RN and am in no position to be picky or to negotiate, I am really tempted to just take the rehab job in order to gain experience. However, I know that I would be really upset with myself if I accept the rehab position, leave my hospital then come to find out that the residency position became available. Any advice will be appreciated! Thank you in advance!

[klone, MSN, RN]

A bird in the hand, and all that.

If you took the rehab job, would that make you ineligible for the residency?

[~Shrek~]

You go to the manager and say "I really want to work in your unit as a part of the new grad program. However I also financially need an RN job in the near future. I am wondering where I stand with the new grad program and what my status is so that I don't rush into applying for other positions"

[Mourtney]

Thanks for responding. If I take the job full time, I would have to quit my current job, thus eliminating me from the residency pool because it's only for in-house candidates.

[Mourtney]

You go to the manager and say "I really want to work in your unit as a part of the new grad program. However I also financially need an RN job in the near future. I am wondering where I stand with the new grad program and what my status is so that I don't rush into applying for other positions"

Thanks for responding! I did exactly what you said, but unfortunately only one manager agreed to meet with me and he said that he does not think they have the budget to mentor and take on a new grad right now. From this reply, I started to question whether the new grad residency would ever actually take flight, hence why I started looking for jobs outside the hospital.

[Farawyn]

Go to the interview. If they hire you, then cross that bridge. Good luck!

[Mourtney]

Go to the interview. If they hire you, then cross that bridge. Good luck!

Thanks for responding! I agree with you. I think I will just go in there tomorrow and figure it out if I even get an offer :)

[~Shrek~]

Thanks for responding! I did exactly what you said, but unfortunately only one manager agreed to meet with me and he said that he does not think they have the budget to mentor and take on a new grad right now. From this reply, I started to question whether the new grad residency would ever actually take flight, hence why I started looking for jobs outside the hospital.

That stinks! At least now you can go into this interview without having that lingering doubt! Now you can gain experience elsewhere and do whatever you choose to do!

[SeattleJess]

Thanks for responding. If I take the job full time, I would have to quit my current job, thus eliminating me from the residency pool because it's only for in-house candidates.

Get the job offer first. Definitely interview because that's valuable experience. And let everyone who is in a position to help you get the residency know you are trying for it and ask each one's advice.

Good luck!

[SeattleJess]

Thanks for responding! I did exactly what you said, but unfortunately only one manager agreed to meet with me and he said that he does not think they have the budget to mentor and take on a new grad right now. From this reply, I started to question whether the new grad residency would ever actually take flight, hence why I started looking for jobs outside the hospital.

Oh no! Strike my advice, I posted before I read to the end of the thread. I'm sorry the residency didn't pan out but well done getting the facts and especially getting an interview for a real job possibility.

[Mourtney]

Oh no! Strike my advice, I posted before I read to the end of the thread. I'm sorry the residency didn't pan out but well done getting the facts and especially getting an interview for a real job possibility.

Thanks for responding! Well, the residency hasn't been cancelled, it just is taking a long time to even interview people, let alone starting the whole program. HR did say though that they were planning to interview people starting in mid-march and start the program by early april. The other reason I'm looking for another job in the meantime is just so that it doesn't look like I've been doing nothing from January to now. So my plan was to accept a part time job somewhere else while waiting to hopefully be interviewed and offered a spot in the residency

[Mourtney]

Thank you to everyone who's replied to my post. Update: I had the interview today and was offered the position. I have decided to take this position since I still have not heard anything from my hospital. Again, thank you to everyone who has replied and helped me out!