very complicated situation... please advice on this

[tarotale]

I will keep it short. I have agreed with my local hospital to work as a GN at a med-surg/telemetry unit after graduation on May. Today, however, I got a reply from big hospital in another city for ER residency.

ER has been my first pick, and the local hospital I agreed to work for, we didn't sign contract or anything; pretty much talk to the unit manager, recruiter, and HR person about salary/benefits and agreed to work for them.

My question is, if I do land the big ER job in another city, what is my professional action in this situation? Do I need to inform the unit manager or HR person now that I have interview on the 26th at big hospital ER or should I tell them that after I get the position at this big hospital ER? Thank you for your time.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

What Meriwhen said.

I would call HR at the hospital where you believe you have been offered a job and politely ask when you can expect a letter/email/something in writing confirming that they are offering you x position in y dept. at z rate of pay. Without that ... I would not consider myself employed.

And as far as being offered a job on the spot at the conclusion of your interview for the other ER position ... not likely. And a facility so desperate as to be willing to offer a job on the spot, without at least a day or two to check credentials, references, etc. ... how good a working environment would you expect that to be?

My advice to you: slow down, and ask if you can renew the lease on your apartment on a monthly basis to give a month or two for things to shake out. DO NOT terminate your lease and find yourself without a job or a home.

[tarotale]

really? huh i received the insurance packet, start date for GNO, and the HR mam said she would send out hired GN emails to enroll for GNO. That's the same way all my friends (Nursing school) got hired and that's all there was to it, also being that I and my friends work there as a nurse tech. Sure's strange, but I am pretty sure I can say I am hired for good there...

[Secel]

First of all, congratulations.

Second of all, dont tell HR/ your manager until 1. you have the job offer for the ER residency. 2. you need to give your two weeks notice for leaving the job for the Residency.

Why you might ask? B/c #1 - you dont want to burn a bridge when there's a chance you might not actually have the residency. #2 Most places dont consider that you have the acutally position until you start the first day. They can call you the day before you're supposed to start - and it's no skin off their shoulders.

Secondly about the residency. If ER is what you want to do, a residency is how you want to do it. So if you get offered it... TAKE IT. I've done extensive collecting of research on residencies. It takes about 2 yrs for a novice nurse to be competent on an entire ER unit. The residency helps you through additional training and help to combat the stress of this fast paced environment so that you dont get burned out. Why is that important? Because you need to worry about your well being too

[tarotale]

whoa that was really helpful secel. 2 years to be well versed... jeez; sounds pretty tough, but i understand seeing from how rapid and crazy ER gets from clinicals, and students see only a fraction of real responsibilities and jobs the RNs do down there.