Conflicted with New Grad ED/ICU job offer

Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2019

Congratulations on the two possible job offers!

Only you can truly decide what is important for yourself. With that being said some of the things that are important when starting a new position for myself are:

-Money (I have student loans that need paying)
-Schedule Flexibility (I prefer to work every third weekend)
-Benefits (PTO, Health Insurance, 403(b), pension, etc)
-Specialty (I work within critical care)

handersRN · Feb 25, 2019

Thanks for the quick reply! ?

Money truly is a big factor. I, too, have those horrid student loans. I have also been feeling a bit overwhelmed with the idea of signing a contract. I really like having the ability to move around if need be. The hospital that is requiring new grads sign a contract is known to be kind of a not-so-favorable place to work (which might be a red flag).

I really love the ED, but that could also be because I really only have experience there. I believe the ICU would be a wonderful learning opportunity, I think I'm just a bit intimidated with all that comes with the ICU!

Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2019

Any specialty, be it medical/surgical, mother/baby, emergency, critical care has it's share of anxiety and skill set. It's absolutely normal to feel overwhelmed.

I started my career in critical care, and I'm still there. One of the most important factors in the successful transition from student to professional nurse is a nurse residency that includes support, mentoring, didactic and clinical learning experiences.

The best part of nursing is both the upward and lateral mobility.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Feb 25, 2019

8 hours ago, Handerson9 said:
I currently have a job offer for an ED nurse residency position. This position is at a hospital that isn't one of my top choices. The main reason is that they have a stipend pay for the first 4 months of residency. I would be making less than I did as a nurse extern, and it does not have benefits or PTO until after those 4 months. This hospital has a 2 year contract.
I just interviewed for an ICU nurse residency position and it is pretty likely that I will be offered the job. This position IS at a hospital that I love. I did clinicals here for my last semester. I would love to work in this hospital's ED. This ICU position also pays 2x as much as the other ED position at the other hospital, with benefits starting instantly. This job does not require a contract and will allow you to move to other departments within the hospital within 6 months.

With the first job you only stated the negatives and the second job you only stated the positives. Seems that you have already decided which is the better offer.

I would never choose a job that didn't pay me my full pay from day one with benefits. What are you suppose to do without benefits for 4 months? Then they add in a 2 yr contract. No thank you.

RNperdiem, RN · Feb 25, 2019

Hopefully the interview at the preferred hospital leads to an ICU job offer. Is there a deadline to commit to the first job offer; can you delay a bit? The ICU offer does sound like a better choice, especially with the lack of contract. Even if ED is your final goal, time in the ICU gives you an excellent skillset that transfers to many other departments.

What is stipend pay? This is something I have not heard of. When I was hired as a new grad, I was hired to full pay and benefits (PTO took time to build up).

Career Columnist / Author · Feb 25, 2019

An ICU position in a prestigious hospital? Sounds like a wonderful opportunity, congratulations!

handersRN · Feb 26, 2019

13 hours ago, NICU Guy said:
With the first job you only stated the negatives and the second job you only stated the positives. Seems that you have already decided which is the better offer.
I would never choose a job that didn't pay me my full pay from day one with benefits. What are you suppose to do without benefits for 4 months? Then they add in a 2 yr contract. No thank you.

The positives regarding the ED position is that I would ultimately be in the department that I want. The interviewers were very nice, the department seemed nice, and the drive wasn't too bad (only about 30 min).

The negatives for the ICU position is that it is not in the ED. There really aren't any negatives regarding the ICU position. It is only 15 minutes away, the pay is appropriate, and no contract.

I am a little weary about the stipend pay for the first hospital mentioned. It is the only hospital in this area that does that, and I find it odd.

handersRN · Feb 26, 2019

12 hours ago, RNperdiem said:
Hopefully the interview at the preferred hospital leads to an ICU job offer. Is there a deadline to commit to the first job offer; can you delay a bit? The ICU offer does sound like a better choice, especially with the lack of contract. Even if ED is your final goal, time in the ICU gives you an excellent skillset that transfers to many other departments.
What is stipend pay? This is something I have not heard of. When I was hired as a new grad, I was hired to full pay and benefits (PTO took time to build up).

Thank you! I can delay the offer for the first one for about a week.

The stipend pay is something that I've noticed only this hospital does for new grads. It is just a lump some that is paid biweekly. It is not very much money at all, and it is honestly a big factor in why I would not want to accept the position. I really don't know how they continue to be competitive to new grads, yet they pay half as much as the other hospitals in the metroplex.

0.9%NormalSarah, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2019

To me it really sounds like you have a job offer from a place that doesn't truly value new recruits. If it did, it would pay you market wage for your work, even if it was a slightly decreased "new grad rate." I am also looking for my first position after recently being licensed, so congrats to you on your awesome prospects! I understand feeling like you want to take what you can get and in the department you want as it can be tough to land the first job, but a job with stipend pay, no benefits, and a contract? That just doesn't sound good.

If you already landed a good interview in ICU and this other offer, it sounds like you are prime pickings! If that's the case, you probably won't have a hard time finding a good gig at a better place, even if it's not your top department. I am aiming at working for a great hospital, even though I want ICU I would work somewhere that is supportive of new grads in any transferrable acute department and then make my move internally when the time is right.

Wlaurie, RN · Feb 27, 2019

Why don't you counter offer. Tell them you need wages and benefits right from the start. If they say no then it's all settled.

Wolf at the Door, BSN · Feb 27, 2019

What type of icu is this?