choosing my first RN job ... please HELP

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Hi everyone, I just graduated with my BSN a few weeks ago and I have been applying like crazy for my first nursing job. Well now it seems I have two offers and I really am conflicted about which one to take!

Job A: This is a night position (72 hours p/pay period), working 3 12's p/week in a cardiac telemetry unit. The manager seems very great and supportive. It is a 21 bed unit and I was told that at night it is staffed with 3 RNs and 2 PCAs. So the patient ratio is generally 1:7, depending on how busy the unit is. This hospital is close to my home (only about 13 min away) and I would only be required to work every 3rd weekend. This floor also happens to have the ICU on it and the manager of this unit manages the ICU as well. She said that after about a year she will train a new nurse in the ICU but wants them to start in cardiac telemetry first. There is also a monitor tech on this unit. I can't remember quite how long the orientation is but I think it is like 6-8 weeks? I also wonder if I would be limiting my learning due to the fact that there is a more specific patient population or if this would work to my advantage in the end? I also wonder if the higher patient ratio would be too overwhelming or if it would just help me become better at my time-management?

Job B: This is also a night position (72 hours p/pay period) in a smaller hospital. Because the hospital is smaller (in a suburb of a larger city) there is only one ICU, which is also an AAU (acuity adaptable unit) so basically intermediate or progressive care. I have been working on this unit for the past year and a half as a PCA so I am familiar with the nurses and environment. Also a fellow nursing student who also worked as a PCA with me on this unit has accepted a new position here as well. The scheduling is pretty flexible and you are able to really work 8's or 12's but 12's are usually preferable. This position also requires every other weekend and is further from my home (about 25-30 min, except during rush hour, it can take me up to an hour to get home). The ratio is much lower, usually 1:2-4, depending on the acuity of patients, which can sometimes be pretty high. The patients can range from pretty stable to ready to code and anywhere in-between, you just never know. It is a 32 bed unit and there is only ever one PCA on at night so the nurses do a lot of their own cares. I also am not sure on whether I would or when I would be cross trained as an ICU nurse and even if I was, I am not sure I would really get to have that many ICU patients as there can be a lot or none on the floor at any given time. We also see all types of patients on this floor with pretty much anything, detox, cardiac, you name it. With this job I know my staff and my management which I have not ever had a problem with and the orientation would be 8-12 weeks.

I mentioned the ICU stuff because eventually I would like to work in the ICU so that I can gain experience to later become a CRNA. (However I am open to possibly finding something I love and wanting to stay). Also, the pay at Job A is lower at $27.75 on weeknights and $29.50 on weekend nights, including differential. Job B is $30.75 on weeknights and $32.75 on weekend nights. I know pay is not everything at all but it is something that I take into consideration especially when I don't feel super strongly one way or the other about Job A or Job B. I feel that there are many pros and cons to both. I feel that the experiences and atmospheres would be very different and I am not sure which one would be the best fit because I can see myself in both. I also believe the benefits are somewhat comparable at both jobs.

So at the end of the day I know that this is my decision but I was hoping to get some advice from anyone that could possibly help me decide. I figure that there are a lot of smart nurses/new grads out there that might be able to give me a new perspective. :) Thanks for taking the time to read my super long post and any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! :)

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I'd greatly appreciate any words of wisdom for choosing my first nursing job. I feel that I am at a fork in the road and I want to start my nursing career off on the right foot. If anyone could offer me any advice that would be so appreciated!

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I'd make a list of pros and cons of each to get it out on paper in front of me...that being said, it sounds as though offer B looks like something you're familiar with and more of the area you'd like to be in down the road. I just was hired into a similar unit and I may be projecting, but offer B would be my choice.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

My advice would be to take the job where you know the staff and manager are OK. Those considerations are critical during your transition from student to professional nurse. Make that transition in an environment that you know will be supportive ... rather than gamble on the unknown and possibly get your career off to a terrible start.

After you get a year or two of experience and are a successful RN ... then you can start taking more risks and gambling on trying out some new things/places.

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Thanks so much for the advice :) AmyRN303 - I will definitely write down a pros and cons list! llg - You are right about it probably not being a good idea to gamble on your first job. Not sure if I did mention this in my original post or not, but Job B recently hired 2 new grads that couldn't catch on and were required to transfer to a med-surg unit, but many other new grads have been successful on this unit. Still, it makes me a little nervous... What did you guys feel was most important when deciding on your nursing job??

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Hi there! What a post ;) So the first thing I thought was...huh? So she is a staff member at Floor B? It seems like if it was a decent place, you'd automatically accept a job offer there, since that's your "home". Is there something about it that turns you off? I only act surprised because I feel like you'd just accept it immediately if you were happy there, correct? Anyways, it sounds like you wrote your pros and cons list to me in this post! Also it sounds like you just need someone to reiterate what you already know in different words to help you choose, haha, so here I go though ("going with your heart" is not the advice you're looking for, I assume!):

Job A: Seven patients seems like a LOT. Especially for this environment. Sounds like you'll be where you want to be though, and sooner than later. A supportive manager and staff can make all the difference. But seven is a lot. Seems wild.

Job B: First thought was that every other weekend is a lot! But you're already here...if you like it and your team, why wouldn't you stay? The pay is higher as well. Of course money is not everything, but we live in a capitalist society and money DOES help make life easier (especially when you're trying to go back to school ;)). That differential adds up to almost 6,000 per year more (minus what the feds take). That's a big deal!

Also, don't let the two new grads that couldn't catch on stop you. You sound incredibly intelligent and mature, and you will likely excel in whatever you do. You're smart to think about your future - what does give you more critical care experience? If you're really, truly serious about being a CRNA, I would advise going to whichever unit will give you more experience with drips and such (not an expert on the pre-reqs) that you need to have. It sounds like you do have a tough decision, like I said, I'm in the same position as far as deciding which job based on which schedule. If it helps you feel better, you sound like a smart gal who is going to make whatever she wants happen for herself. Don't stress too much - that's why you have two positions instead of zero - you're in a not bad spot. ;)

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@hakunamatataRN - Thank you so much for the kind words! :) Your advice really was wonderful and you really had a lot of great points! I really appreciate your time!

Sorry if my first post was kind of crazy my mind had a lot rumbling around inside of it. lol Basically what happened was that originally I wasn't sure if I was going to apply to my floor so I put in applications elsewhere first. Then my husband suggested that since I would most likely have a pretty easy time getting a job on my unit that I should at least attempt to put in an application, as a back up option if nothing else. Well in the mean time I had the interview for Job A and I felt that that went pretty well but then I got a call from my current unit (Job B) for an interview. As I didn't yet have a job offer from Job A I accepted the interview. So I ended up getting offered Job A the day of my interview with Job B. I took it because I was very excited about it from the interview and also I didn't want to turn down a job as a new grad and not end up with anything. So long story short I did recently accept Job A but the interview with Job B has me wondering if I made the right choice because that went pretty well too and my manager made it pretty clear that I would most likely be extended an offer by the end of this week. The money and other factors didn't play such a huge role until I realized that I might actually have a choice - As a new grad I just wanted a job! So right now I feel that I will stick with Job A because that was my original instinct and so far I feel that the unit has gone above and beyond to welcome me, as I have already received a phone call from my nurse educator welcoming me and wanting to go over my orientation schedule. I also feel that this particular company may treat it's employees better and I believe the orientation is 2-4 weeks longer than Job B. Also, even though the pay is less and the patient ratio is high I really like the luxury of every third weekend as that is the only time my husband has off. Plus I just think of how much I have dreaded the drive home from just working an 8 hour shift at Job B during rush hour. After working a 12 driving over an hour home in rush hour (especially in a winter blizzard) will flat out suck. Having a commute 1/4 that is sounding pretty enticing to me. And really the reason I didn't want to take Job B at first was that I just wasn't feeling the feeling that I thought I would have about it being the right fit. (The interview is what made me feel better and confused me. lol) But as I said I think I will stick with my original instinct and stick with Job A but I just keep second guessing myself. Also even though I am familiar and friendly with my staff on Job B it is a very cliquey unit and I was hoping to stay away from that? Sorry I know this post was another bunch of ramblings but thanks to anyone who staid to read it!

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