Accepting a job offer knowing I may quit that job shortly ?

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SORRY THIS IS LONG:

Hi everyone! I just wanted to ask for some opinions from everyone here. I am a recent new grad in the NYC area. I recently interviewed at two hospitals in NYC. I don't really want to specify where (I am kind of superstitious and don't want to jynx myself, haha) but Hospital #1 is a very prestigious, Magnet recognized institution in Manhattan, Hospital #2 is a pretty big health care system in one of the boroughs which isn't ranked as highly and is not Magnet but I believe its still a pretty good hospital and still top ranked within NY. I definitely am more excited about potentially working at Hospital #1 and I feel like thats where I would rather be! However, I don't think I'd hate working at Hospital #2 either.

Both interviews went very well and Hospital #2 is offering me the position and a start date next month. Hospital #1 basically has told me that they have a waiting list and as positions open up they will contact people on that list, that I may not even be able to start working until end of Nov. (that's if I get offered anything, and it could potentially take even longer than that). Some people are telling me to accept Hospital #2's job offer and leave once Hospital #1 comes around with their offer. I don't want to burn bridges by doing that but I also feel like I would be dumb to say no to an offer for something else thats not guaranteed yet. I am working per-diem somewhere else for now and live at home with my parents so I am not TOO stressed out about money for now. So I could wait it out. But I'm also wondering if I am just stuck on Hospital #1 bc of its name.

I was told by someone nursing is nursing no matter where you work and that if I take the position at #2 it would be easier to potentially explore other units further down the line since at #1 it clearly is a struggle to even get hired, they probably aren't able to accommodate a lot of moving around from unit to unit due to high demand(?). I guess this post isn't the greatest since I am not mentioning names lol But any feedback would be helpful.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Take the sure thing. It's a better bet than a "maybe" at hospital 1.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

This is a no-brainer. You take the job that is offered rather than wait around for an offer that may never happen.

When you are an experienced nurse you will have more doors open to you. Take the job.

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I have some sort of personal characteristic which dictates that the very last thing I would want to do is pine away over someone who can't be bothered to care about any of my needs or desires and is only willing to entertain a relationship with me after enough other possibilities fall through.

So that would dictate my actions in this scenario.

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology RN.

Unpopular opinion - Wait for the job that you want.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
2 hours ago, JKL33 said:

I have some sort of personal characteristic which dictates that the very last thing I would want to do is pine away over someone who can't be bothered to care about any of my needs or desires and is only willing to entertain a relationship with me after enough other possibilities fall through.

So that would dictate my actions in this scenario.

Ah, but the flaw in this logic is that the person you are pining away for is not going to be responsible for your livelihood. If they were, you probably would accept the offer in hand rather than gamble on a better offer - unless you are relatively financially secure to begin with.

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2 minutes ago, Nurse SMS said:

Ah, but the flaw in this logic is that the person you are pining away for is not going to be responsible for your livelihood. If they were, you probably would accept the offer in hand rather than gamble on a better offer - unless you are relatively financially secure to begin with.

Maybe I wasn't clear: Hospital #1 is the one being pined away for. { < Wow, that's some rough sentence structure! lol}. But hospital #1 would like the convenience of working their way through their other options before considering the OP.

That's what I'm saying is not for me.

I just can't.

I'm with you, I would choose to do business with the people who clearly want to do business with me.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

Magnet status and "prestige" have been known to be naked emperors. I would not hold out for hospital #1. It may be worth the wait; it may not.

Sounds like there's nothing wrong with hospital #2, and they've offered you the job. Take the job. When hospital #1 makes you an offer in a few months, decline it. Tell them you have accepted another offer and would consider it very disloyal to jump ship. Tell them you appreciate the offer and will be glad to reconsider in a couple of years. (Or sooner if hospital #2 turns out to be a pit.)

You will gain experience and a reputation at hospital #2; you can parlay those into a solid career no matter where you go. Play the long game.

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Hello everyone!

THANK YOU so much for taking the time to read and offer your advice. I have decided to go ahead and accept Hospital #2's offer! I think that is the best and most practical decision right now! After months of job searching I am grateful that I am being offered a job and I know that I will gain a lot even if it wasn't exactly what I originally wanted. But such is life! And sometimes what you think you want isn't even the best thing for you. So I will just make the best of my first RN job, regardless of where it is. ?

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
19 hours ago, JKL33 said:

Maybe I wasn't clear: Hospital #1 is the one being pined away for. { < Wow, that's some rough sentence structure! lol}. But hospital #1 would like the convenience of working their way through their other options before considering the OP.

That's what I'm saying is not for me.

I just can't.

I'm with you, I would choose to do business with the people who clearly want to do business with me.

Gotcha! I totally read that wrong and I agree with you completely.

MGM, congratulations on landing your first RN job!

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16 hours ago, mgm0711 said:

So I will just make the best of my first RN job, regardless of where it is.

Great attitude!

Here's some unsolicited advice ? - you mentioned people having advised you to simply resign from #2 if #1 gets around to contacting you. I think you will be best served in your position at #2 if you put that idea pretty much out of your mind. You can make good in many different places and that depends a lot upon your beliefs and motivations. It also does depend heavily upon the culture of your workplace, but being known as #1 doesn't guarantee any particular culture will exist on a given unit. IOW, the chances of #1 being significantly better than #2 with regard to your future personal experiences as a nurse may be negligible--and are far from guaranteed, besides.

You have made not just a practical decision, but a really good and exciting one! Reread @TriciaJ's post and then get out there and don't look back.

Congrats!

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20 hours ago, TriciaJ said:

Sounds like there's nothing wrong with hospital #2, and they've offered you the job. Take the job. When hospital #1 makes you an offer in a few months, decline it. Tell them you have accepted another offer and would consider it very disloyal to jump ship. Tell them you appreciate the offer and will be glad to reconsider in a couple of years. (Or sooner if hospital #2 turns out to be a pit.)

You will gain experience and a reputation at hospital #2; you can parlay those into a solid career no matter where you go. Play the long game.

I agree so strongly with @TriciaJ! Give yourself a solid year or two at Hospital #2. Then if you want to transition to Hospital #1, you can do so without burning bridges anywhere (the best case scenario). If you're able to land a job at Hospital #1 as a new grad, I'm confident that you'd be able to get a job there once you have experience.

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