Company loyalty or more clinical experience?

[travelgurl18]

Hello fellow nursing people!

So I am trying to decide what location I should stay at during nursing school, which starts in a few months.

Currently I have been working at a really big name hospital in LA, for two years in the PICU as a CNA. I love it there, but unfortunately have been suspended one time for being late to work. Although, I know my managers think highly of my work ethic and actual work performance. My plan was to work their during nursing school and hopefully secure a job after graduation. However I am worried that I might limit myself, and if I don't get into their new grad program I would be pretty upset, having commuted 50 mi one way for four years!

...but this hospital would work around my school schedule

Alternate option:

Try a different hospital closer to my house, and gain experience in a different unit. I will be able to have a "clean slate" - no record of tardies and form more networking opportunities. I'm not sure if they would let me work only one day a week though. I'm looking for a per diem resource CNA/PCA position.

Does 4 years of loyalty to a company look better than more experience at other hospitals? Do most hospitals let you work one day a week in a float pool/ resource position?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[runsalot]

Network! Especially if you will be still working at hospital number 1.

[Career2_BSN, BSN]

It never hurts to explore your options. Keep the job you have now and apply to those closer to home. When interviewed for new positions, tell them you enjoy what you're doing but are looking for something closer to home. Don't mention tardies. Tell them you are in NS and need a position that can work around your school schedule. Also express your desire of rolling into a new grad RN position upon graduation. Some locations don't hire new grads and you don't want to waste your time there if they don't. According to many nurses on this thread, networking is how they got their new grad job.

Working closer to home = less commute time = more study time.

Do not give up your current job while looking for a new one just in case you find it difficult to get the position you're looking for closer to home.

Best of luck to you!!!