Changes After an Offer Letter Was Signed

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As a new grad (May 2010) without experience, the job search has been quite a challenge. I was finally offered a job in St. Louis (I am from Chicago but went to school in STL for my BSN) and I thought things were looking up. I was willing to relocate and made a trip to sign my offer letter, complete my physical and sign a lease. I was schedule to start my first day of orientation in 2 weeks and move into my new apartment in 1 week from yesterday.

I got a call yesterday stating that I "was selected" to be a part of the new nurse residency program (The Versant Program) which is just starting at the hospital...I have heard this is a good program, but here's the catch...it won't be until June 20th! Can hospitals really do this after an offer letter has been signed by the hospital and myself???? I know I should be happy to have a job, but I have spent a lot of money to transfer my RN license, my living room is full of boxes, I have signed a lease and quit my current job and now I'm just to sit around and put my life on hold for 3 months?

The hospital told me they may be able offer me a position as a tech until then, but 1. $12 an hour is not going to pay my rent and 2. Is is legal for an RN to work as a UAP?

Thoughts??

Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

I'd like to add to my earlier post.. this residency program would be a fantastic opportunity for you and even if less money then Chicago.. training is priceless. Can you function with $14.59/hr till June.. It will be good experience and maybe once you get going you could pull an extra shift if you needed more $$.

And I agree 2 yrs from now these 3 months will not really make a difference in your life. But only you know how you feel.. Good luck with your decision.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.
I'd like to add to my earlier post.. this residency program would be a fantastic opportunity for you and even if less money then Chicago.. training is priceless. Can you function with $14.59/hr till June.. It will be good experience and maybe once you get going you could pull an extra shift if you needed more $$.

And I agree 2 yrs from now these 3 months will not really make a difference in your life. But only you know how you feel.. Good luck with your decision.

I agree training is priceless, lack of training is stressful and potentially dangerous. Transplant ICU no less! This is one of the most challenging, and difficult units fraught with landmines and stress. I would put that up with pedi ICU. How can a unit like that have no training program? This is a huge red flag. They should have a training program that far exceeds the norm, not that falls short. Good luck.

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The training program would consist of general hospital orientation and then 4 months with a preceptor. The new grad said other nurses are willing to help if they have time, but everyone is usually busy with 3-4 patients (some considered step down, some icu with a higher acuity). There aren't any new grad/nurse meetings or classes to follow up. I know of several hospitals that meet with new hires as education or a "support group" once they are working on their own. Since I have been out of nursing school for almost a year, I'm nervous to jump into this situation. I don't want to risk losing my license before I can truly utilize it.

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This is what I woke up to this morning...I guess my decision is made...

I wanted to send this email as we just had another candidate who is internal at the hospital and would be offered the job prior to any external candidates as she has the same credentials as you. I just wanted to let you know that you were a strong candidate and this application came unexpectedly. I sent this prior to next Friday so as to not delay any prospective job offers you may have in the coming weeks as you are an excellent candidate. I wish you luck in your nursing career.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
This is what I woke up to this morning...I guess my decision is made...

I wanted to send this email as we just had another candidate who is internal at the hospital and would be offered the job prior to any external candidates as she has the same credentials as you. I just wanted to let you know that you were a strong candidate and this application came unexpectedly. I sent this prior to next Friday so as to not delay any prospective job offers you may have in the coming weeks as you are an excellent candidate. I wish you luck in your nursing career.

There you go... you have one open door, and while it's not perfect, it's pretty dang good from where I sit.

Be grateful that you have an employer who's willing to invest in you by running you through the Versant program and that you had a prospective employer with the decency (which is so lacking these days) to inform you of the true status of your application.

I know it seems like forever but it's only three months. You can do nearly anything for three months. I endured old-school (well, mid-school, maybe) USMC boot camp for three months... I was homeless for three months in college... I spent three months as a kid with not nearly enough to eat... My folks spent about 12 months living on flour and water pancakes while my dad was finishing college.

It may not be pleasant but you will make it and you will be so happy on that first day of work... and that first pay check.

All the best to you.

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Specializes in Cath Lab/ ICU.

Wait, which offer was lost? Transplant icu or the initial one?

I would not challenge them or you won't have that job in three months. Move and take the tech position or move and wait. This is one of those unforeseen times when a person uses their six to nine months of savings that Suzy Orman and Dave Ramsey tell us to always have on hand.

Couldn't have said it better myself...

. Fall in love with oatmeal and PBJ. Good luck and congrats.

And top ramen ;)

Take the move, tech position, and be extremely grateful for the job.

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As of 2 hours ago, I thought the Transplant ICU job was lost....1 hour ago, I received this email:

Okay you must be really lucky, the other candidate from the hospital will not be available. I apologize for the back and forth, I just did not want to send out the wrong impression. Please call me on Friday if you are still interested.

Thank you.

This is not a fun game to be playing. It's unbelieveable that with this "nursing shortage" hospitals can treat applicants however they want and there is nothing we can do because we are desperate.

It is not worth my time to be a tech and barely be living paycheck to paycheck. It is smarted for me to sit home in Chicago and do nothing for 3 months (rent free), than to struggle because I moved too soon.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
As of 2 hours ago, I thought the Transplant ICU job was lost....1 hour ago, I received this email:

Okay you must be really lucky, the other candidate from the hospital will not be available. I apologize for the back and forth, I just did not want to send out the wrong impression. Please call me on Friday if you are still interested.

Thank you.

Yahoo!!

Hope it works out the way that you want it to.

It's unbelieveable that with this "nursing shortage" hospitals can treat applicants however they want and there is nothing we can do because we are desperate.
And there's where you're confused -- there is NO NURSING SHORTAGE - nada, never really was, never really will be.

It is not worth my time to be a tech and barely be living paycheck to paycheck. It is smarted for me to sit home in Chicago and do nothing for 3 months (rent free), than to struggle because I moved too soon.
Do what you think is best, of course. However, if the TICU gig doesn't come through, be very careful about making a short-term decision which could have very long-lasting effects. Many new grads (yes, even ones with the stellar GPAs, good references, all the certs, etc) end up out of work for very long periods of time... and now they're facing the "must have graduated within the last 12 months" or "unemployed for more than 12 months need not apply" restrictions.

Be very wise in choosing to turn down a job offer... any job offer.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Getting in as a tech in the meantime will cement your spot there for June, imo. Personally I would take it with a good attitude, suck up the 3 months and get a waitressing gig in the meantime to make ends meet. Just my two cents though. Good luck.

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As of 2 hours ago, I thought the Transplant ICU job was lost....1 hour ago, I received this email:

Okay you must be really lucky, the other candidate from the hospital will not be available. I apologize for the back and forth, I just did not want to send out the wrong impression. Please call me on Friday if you are still interested.

Thank you.

This is not a fun game to be playing. It's unbelieveable that with this "nursing shortage" hospitals can treat applicants however they want and there is nothing we can do because we are desperate.

It is not worth my time to be a tech and barely be living paycheck to paycheck. It is smarted for me to sit home in Chicago and do nothing for 3 months (rent free), than to struggle because I moved too soon.

I am sorry that you feel this way but I think you have a valid point. However, I do think you should give it some more thought before Friday. This could very well be the only offer you receive in a very, very long time. You don't want to be second guessing your decision seven months from now. Best wishes.

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I'm so sorry you are going through all of this. It really is terrible. The job in Chicago seems to be open again but they don't see all too together either. I would go with the one you think will bestest match your needs in the long run. If you take the one in STL work as a tech and maybe you can waitress on weekends. It's not ideal but it's temporary.

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