New grad dilemma

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hello!

I am writing this post because I have a very big decision to make and figured this would be the best place to get some input. Here is my story:

Currently I have a job offer that I am still deciding if I should accept that is a position for a New Grad Rn in the Neuro ICU in a level one trauma center and it is a renowned facility nationally. My problem is that my passion is set on the neonatal intensive care unit. I originally interviewed for the neonatal intensive care unit at this facility but they did not offer me a position but asked if I would be interested in the neuro icu because there was an opening, this is how I got to have an offer in the neuro icu. I had never really thought of working in the neuro icu before this! My dilemma is that this hospital system also offers a fellowship program for new grads that pays $1500 a month and lasts 6 months. In this program, RNs are set up with a mentor and attend "clinical" for 24 hours a week and class time the rest of the week.This program appeals to me because I could start out in the neonatal icu, and most people who have done this program are hired by the facility they were on at the end of the 6 months.

I had an interview for the fellowship program this morning and the neuro icu is giving me until tomorrow to accept of decline the job offer. In my fellowship interview I let them know that I had another offer and needed to know pretty soon what the decision would be. They let me know that they wanted to get the point across that they really liked me and thought I was a great candidate for the program, but there would be another interview a month from now with directors and managers to make a final decision, so they could not give me an answer today.

So ultimately the decision I have to make is: take the neuro icu offer or wait to see if I get accepted to the fellowship program for the neonatal icu? I am just worried if I decline the neuro icu offer I am not 100% that I will get the fellowship and may end up with no program to get experience as a new grad. Does anyone have any thoughts?

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Honestly, I don't think you could refuse an offer as a new grad. It is a gamble, like you said, you could wind up with nothing and be back at square one.

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Jobs are very hard to come by for new grads. It took me 2 years to land my first RN job. I would take the guaranteed paid job. If you are being offered a job right away in ICU you are lucky. In my area new grads are lucky to get jobs in LTC starting out

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I think you have as much information as you are going to get. Now you just have to decide how much risk you can tolerate.

1. Can you financially afford to be unemployed for a while if the NICU doesn't work out?

2. How do you REALLY feel about the neuro ICU job? If you would hate it, don't do it. But if you feel you might like it and can't afford to gamble financially, you could do it for a year or two and transfer to NICU if you are still interested in that later. One/two years of your work-life is not that big of a deal and you would get valuable adult ICU training. That's not a bad thing -- unless you think you would hate it.

With either choice, you run the risk of regretting it later. If it were me, I would imagine myself making each choice and having it not work out. Which negative outcome could I not forgive myself for? Which negative outcome could I live with?

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Take what you can now and get your foot in the door. Especially if they like you. You can gain some experience and are likely to get hired 6months - 2 years from now with your dream job.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

A bird in the hand....

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Specializes in Behavioral health.

If the workplace is reputable, you are going to be trained. It doesn't matter if you are a new grad or experienced. They will train you. If you transfer from a different unit, they will train you. The stakes are too high in an ICU to do otherwise formal program or not.

Is the unit something you will thrive in? Are the colleagues supportive? Is the leadership competent? What good is working the specialty area you love if the workplace is toxic and you quit in 6 months.

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Take the job offer you have. It seems to be a great opportunity. Jobs for new grads are extremely hard to find.

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Specializes in medsurg, progressive care.

For the love of God, take the job already offered. I've seen so many posts on here of people in the same position who have decided to wait- and didn't end up getting the job! Being a new grad is the worst, but if you're lucky enough to land a job, PLEASE don't turn it down.

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Specializes in ICU.

If you are really dead-set on the fellowship being your dream job, which it sounds like you are, take the Neuro ICU job... but then call HR in a week or so and see if they will let you push back your start date on the Neuro ICU position until a couple of weeks after the second fellowship interview. Say you have family with health problems that need help (if true), that you need additional time to secure an apartment/house because you are having trouble finding a place to live and movers to move your things are booked for the month, etc. That way, you keep the neuro ICU job on the table, but you also have left the possibility of getting the fellowship open.

...I see now that this was a few days ago, so my advice is probably irrelevant at this point.

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I think you have as much information as you are going to get. Now you just have to decide how much risk you can tolerate.

1. Can you financially afford to be unemployed for a while if the NICU doesn't work out?

2. How do you REALLY feel about the neuro ICU job? If you would hate it, don't do it. But if you feel you might like it and can't afford to gamble financially, you could do it for a year or two and transfer to NICU if you are still interested in that later. One/two years of your work-life is not that big of a deal and you would get valuable adult ICU training. That's not a bad thing -- unless you think you would hate it.

With either choice, you run the risk of regretting it later. If it were me, I would imagine myself making each choice and having it not work out. Which negative outcome could I not forgive myself for? Which negative outcome could I live with?

that was some of the best advice I have read on this site. Very straightforward. To the OP: if you can tolerate the neuro unit, do it. The nicu will always be there and you'd have an in by that point.

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May I ask what hospital these programs are offered at? I am a new RN and I am desperately trying to get my foot in the door somewhere. I am willing to relocate.

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