Advice needed on which job to take...

[SD**RN]

I am a new RN i've been out working for 3 months, my husband and I are relocating and i've been applying for new jobs. I've been offered two currently and cannot seem to come to a conclusion on which would be best suited for me. the first is at a ambulatory surgery center so of course the hours are amazing and very tempting however it is much different the hospital nursing i have previously experienced and that makes me nervous. However, i have been told that it is a very busy facility which is something that i enjoy. the second job is at the local hospital working med surg with the option to cross train or specialize after 6 months in OB or ER both of which i enjoy. However of course it is typical hospital hours of nights, every other weekend, and holidays... etc. they are both in the same healthcare system so pay and benefits that have been offered are the same. Also, they are across the street from each other so commute would be the same. I just can't seem to find one thing that seperates the two enough to help me decide... any thoughts, experiences or ideas you could share would be greatly appreciated :confused:

[aminv]

i would take the job at surgery center because i have baby that will be 2 years old soon. so having weekend off and better hours works in future for family.

[intermediateRN]

Take the surgery center job and don't look back :)

[WillowNMe]

I would also go with the surgery center... if pay is similar in both, I think you would enjoy having a normal schedule. Only difference would be if your goal long term is to be in ER or OB. Then I would take the med-surg route because it will help you move towards your long term goals.

[Phoenix Nurse]

I would take ambulatory surgery center job anytime over med surg job.

[vwde]

The only problem I see with the surgery center, as a fellow new nurse, is that it is not considered an "acute care facility"... is it? That's the big stumbling block where I live. I took a hospital job initially, over others because it seems like almost any other job in nursing wants you to have "a minimum of 1 year in an acute care facility". I feel like that will open many more doors later.

However, if it's on par with a hospital, in the eyes of future employers, I would definitely take the surg center job.

[R*Star*RN, BSN, RN]

Surgery center would be my pick hands down.

[Lovelymo79]

I agree with the previous poster who said consider your long-term goals. If your long-term goals include working in the ER or OB, take the hospital job. If not, definitely take the surgery center job. You never know...you just might fall in love with it! Good luck!

[NVCW]

I would go for the surgery center. It is definitely better than med-surg, and after you've worked there a bit, if you decide you wanted to work in ER or something else, you could transfer there and skip the med-surg.

[enchantmentdis, BSN, RN]

Med-surg is a nightmare. Hurry and accept the ambulatory surgery center position.