Can't decide between two job offers..HELP

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Just for a background, I am a new grad RN and have just been offered two different positions. The first position is full time, night shift and at a small satellite hospital. It has roughly 70 beds and I would be working as a medical/surgical nurse. The nurse manager was fantastic, but I am concerned due to the fact that she has lost an entire team of nurses and the unit seems understaffed. She stated that the unit could have nearly 40 patients or 3 patients at a time and there would be times when I would be called in or called off. The pay is higher due to its connection with a much larger hospital, but it is 30 minutes away from home.

The second position is full time, night shift and a medical/surgical position. However, the floor specializes in women/urology/gyn, which I thought would be a good start since I one day hope to specialize in L&D. This hospital is much bigger (500 beds), but the pay is slightly less. However, this unit did not seem like a ghost town (looked well-staffed). Everyone seemed nice enough, although I did not find the nurse manager to be quite as friendly. The new grad orientation seemed more organized, but I will have to sign a 2 year contract with the unit. However, this hospital is only 15 minutes away from my home.

Both have their ups and downs, I'm just concerned I will make the wrong decision. Any advice?

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I would go with the first since the second requires you to sign a two year contract. Who knows where your heart will be a year from now and whether you want to continue to work med surge, and I'm sure new opportunities will pop up along the way so you don't want to be in that bondage for too long.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I was all set to recommend the larger hospital and busier unit ... until I saw the 2-year contract requirement. I think you will have more income in the long run with steadier hours and get better experience at the larger hospital. But I would be reluctant to sign a 2-year contract. Hmmm....

Read the contract carefully. What happens if you want to leave before the 2 years are up? How big is the penalty? Can you live with that penalty? If so, I would recommend signing the contract. Because you will probably work more shifts, you'll earn more money -- probably enough to pay the penalty should you want to leave early. You'll also probably get better experience (relevant to L&D) in the bigger hospital. But play it safe -- prepare for breaking the contract and whatever that entails, just in case you want to do that later.

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The contract states that leaving before the 2 years are up results in a $10,000 penalty

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
The contract states that leaving before the 2 years are up results in a $10,000 penalty

Well ... how many shifts will you get with job #1? How many time will you be called off? What will your REAL pay actually be with that job? Will you be called off so many times that it adds up to losing a couple thousand dollars in pay? Will you never have vacation time saved to go on a real vacation because you end up using it to cover the times you are called off? Factor that likelihood into your consideration of the two jobs. The $10,000 penalty for leaving job #2 early might not be much bigger than the money you don't earn as a result of being called off a lot.

For the experience and education that will set you up better for career advancement in the direction you want to go ... I would choose job #2. But I would save my pennies and be prepared to pay that penalty if I really wanted to leave early. I wouldn't put myself in a position where I felt I couldn't leave if I really wanted to.

But that's just me. I'm good a living cheaply and saving money -- and would be willing to do that for the better career opportunity.

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Specializes in Ambulatory Case Management, Clinic, Psychiatry.

can you shadow on unit #1 or talk to one of the current staff to get a better idea of staffing/ratios?

what shift is job #2 (if it matters to you)? do you know anyone who works there or has an inside scoop?

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

The first hospital is not a good setting for a new grad. You need structure and support. The high turnover is a huge red flag. Best wishes

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In my first few years of nursing, I worked in a unit with a "fluctuating census." It was brutal. When times were good, I worked too much and my physical and mental health suffered. During lean times, budgeting was extremely difficult (I was in my early 20s - money management was new to me), and coming up with rent was a challenge. Go with the second job. Those two years will fly by.

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Unless the hospital is paying for your education or repaying a student loan or giving you a bonus of some sort, I do not understand the benefit of signing a contract..what would the point be? To just ensure the hospital "owns" you for 24 months? I would not sign one just to agree to work there for 2 years without some direct benefit other than a job. Employers are going to look out for themselves..so you need to look out for yourself as well. The travel time between where you live & the hospitals is negligible...it sounds like the larger hospital is more inline w/your interest & long term goals. Not all nurse managers/directors are friendly..who cares? If they are fair & professional that's what counts..they are your boss/supervisor, not friend. That's not to sound harsh but it's a fact & honestly, you will have little interaction w/the director I would think once you are working. It's nice to have a boss who is friendly but one that is more stoic shouldn't be a deal breaker.

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Specializes in PICU, CPN, CCRN.

My first job was in a contract as well. It stated I should work there for 2 years or I would have to pay $5,000. However, they did not give me any sign on bonus or offer loan repayment. I was desperate and in a new city so I just took the job on a busy med surg/neuro floor. I ended up hating it and leaving after 4 months. They sent me a letter asking for the $5,000 but I had an awesome lawyer friend who explained to me that unless they had given me something upfront like a sign on bonus or loan repayment I was not obligated to pay due to some sort of law that protects public servants (police officers, nurses, teachers). I can't for the life of my remember the laws, but I ended up writing a letter back to them quoting these laws and stating I had no intentions of paying and any further discussion will be forwarded to my lawyer and I never heard back fro them again! So unless they are offering you some sort of sign on bonus they cannot legally hold you accountable for losses they will have to endure if you decided to leave before 2 years. Just a thought if you did go with the bigger hospital and end up hating it! I now work in pediatrics (PICU) and love it! I will never go back to adult med surg in a busy understaffed hospital!

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