First job dilemma

Nurses Job Hunt

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Specializes in NICU/pediatrics/nursery.

My dilemma is that I received an offer from a medical floor but I've recently done an interview for a maternal-child floor and have one coming up for an OR, both areas I would love to work in.

While I don't really want to work on a medical floor, I also don't want to cause myself to not be able to find work because I didn't take the offer.

So I'm just really unsure on whether to take a sure thing or throw caution to the wind and hope that an area I would prefer to work in hires me.

Thoughts from experience?

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Specializes in OB.

I would talk to the manager of the unit that offered you a job and explain the situation - that you interviewed for multiple jobs and want to hear back from the others before you make your final decision. You don't have to say that the med-surg job is the one that you want the least, but trust me - most managers on floors like that are aware that new grads don't think of m/s as their "dream job." I know the market is tough right now, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for a job that will burn you out within a year, especially before you've heard back from your potential dream job.

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I am in a similar situtation. I don't want to pigeon hole myself, just plain be horribly unhappy, or be broke. I have been doing some soul searching and I came across a book I have started reading that has given me some perspective. I wish you luck with whatever you decide and either way your patients will be very lucky. I put the amazon link below for the book I am reading.

http://www.amazon.com/Nurses-Advancing-Nursing-Career-Salary/dp/0985755210/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343913786&sr=8-1&keywords=carmen+nursing

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Telling them you are in other interviews and want to wait to see if you get other offers before deciding will likely cause the offer to be rescinded given how many are lining up to find work. Its kind of like a guy saying "I think I want to marry you, but I have two other girls I am seeing and I want to sleep with them before I decide to settle on you". Nobody likes to think they are not your first choice.

Accept the position. Arrange a start date late enough that if you take another offer you can call and let them know prior to beginning orientation.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I would definitely NOT tell the hiring manager your situation. You need to present yourself to each job as if that is the one you want wholeheartedly. I totally agree with not.done.yet in this situation. Definitely take the position and go from there. You could wind up with no job offer, so consider yourself extremely lucky that you have one.

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Specializes in NICU/pediatrics/nursery.

Hi everyone, thank you for the advice. I actually heard back from the mat-child position and received an offer there; which I will be taking.

I appreciate the help though :)

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