Confused about which job offer to accept. Advice please

Hi Everyone! I'm an LPN and newbie at allnurses.com and in real life nursing. In fact I am having a hard time deciding which offer to accept.

URGENT CARE, per diem position, 8 days/month 8hours per day. $20/hour

LTC, full time position, $23/hour

I would like to work in urgent care because I think I would be able to improve and learn new skills, possibly see different things that aren't in LTC. I prefer to work in a non routine environment. The thing is I have student loans and rent and bills to pay so I feel like I have no choice but to work in LTC. I thought of working at both places, however the schedule conflicts and it just won't work since LTC schedule is 4on/2off and so on. Urgent care requires 2 weekends and some nights per month which is fine since I would be able to use my days off from LTC job.:confused::confused::confused::confused:I am getting so stressed over nothing I think. Everyone's telling me I am lucky to have choices specially in our present economy but I have no clue what to do. Feels like I'm stuck... Sorry guys for venting but I really need help from you all wonderful experienced nurses out there.

Thank you very much for helping in advanced!

[littlemammanurse, BSN, RN]

If it were me I would take both jobs if they do not have conflicting schedules.They would both give you good experience.That's just my opinion, but then you don't want to burn yourself out either.

thanks for the reply, yeah I would if I could but the urgent care offer asked me to be free the whole first month so I could be trained/oriented. Urgent care place wants me to start on dec 6th and ltc on dec 1st. It's insane. I think I am given a wonderful opportunity but I don't know how to handle it.:brnfrt:

[itsmejuli]

Reality....working 8 days a month isn't going to pay your bills.

Reality....working 8 days a month isn't going to pay your bills.

Yes true. I am also hopeful that i might be able to change my status to part time or full time...? Thanks for the input though

The full time position would be more appealing to me. You could always look for a per diem later on.

[Crux1024]

Yes true. I am also hopeful that i might be able to change my status to part time or full time...? Thanks for the input though

Being hopeful also wont pay your bills.

If you NEED to work fulltime, Id take the LTC job. It doesnt make sense to take a per diem and hope to upgrade. If they had an actual position open full/part time at the Urgent care, theyd probably have it listed already .

Good luck in whatever you decide.

[Juwon]

Hi Everyone! I'm an LPN and newbie at allnurses.com and in real life nursing. In fact I am having a hard time deciding which offer to accept.

URGENT CARE, per diem position, 8 days/month 8hours per day. $20/hour

LTC, full time position, $23/hour

I would like to work in urgent care because I think I would be able to improve and learn new skills, possibly see different things that aren't in LTC. I prefer to work in a non routine environment. The thing is I have student loans and rent and bills to pay so I feel like I have no choice but to work in LTC. I thought of working at both places, however the schedule conflicts and it just won't work since LTC schedule is 4on/2off and so on. Urgent care requires 2 weekends and some nights per month which is fine since I would be able to use my days off from LTC job.:confused::confused::confused::confused:I am getting so stressed over nothing I think. Everyone's telling me I am lucky to have choices specially in our present economy but I have no clue what to do. Feels like I'm stuck... Sorry guys for venting but I really need help from you all wonderful experienced nurses out there.

Thank you very much for helping in advanced!

Hi, first off congrats on completing the LPN program. Personally if i were in your shoes, i would take the long term care route. The LTC route is more stable than the urgent care, hence you get more days and better pay. Also, in long term care you may possibly get overtime. Once you get experience in LTC, then you can move on to something else. Also, to get more knowledge under your belt, you should take small certificate courses to build upon your experience. For instance, you can learn how to start an IV and prevenative diseases and stuff.

[Tina, RN]

If I were you, I'd take the full time position. Once you are comfortable there, you can always look for per diem work in urgent care at a later date.

As a new nurse, it's going to be an adjustment beginning your new job anyway. Allow yourself to get used to one thing at a time!

Best wishes!

One more vote for full time, per diem is always dicey. Often they cut your shifts, not add to them.

[Spoiled1, MSN, RN]

I would take the Full time position especially in this economy. It's more stable and better pay and hopefully benefits. There will always be a per diem shift you can pick up later on.

I hear your pain but would go for the LTC route as well. You are just getting started and can switch over to urgent care later. LTC will teach you certain skills that will be useful in future positions across nursing. Also, while it is fantastic that you got two offers, considering the economy if you took the urgent care position and it did not become full time you might be stuck and unable to find another full time position.

Full time will pay your rent. If the other is part time now, it will probably be part time two years from now.

I'll beat the dead horse. No way I would world less than half-time for less money per hour to boot! That's not even getting into benefits. If the opportunity for PRN work to fit your schedule pops up later, that is great. Same for FT in another field you want to give a try, but you will starve on $1280/month pre-tax.

[lilaclover]

Well I think it depends on your end goal. If you really want to work in acute care/hospital setting then it may actually be better to take the per diem job. Hospital experience will help you get future jobs in a hospital setting.

BUT it depends how bad you need the money. Are you living alone off your own income?

I was in this exact same situation a few years ago. I ended up taking the LTC full time job over a per diem position at the hospital. I actually ended up enjoying LTC . But I must tell you that have wanted to work in acute care this whole time and am now, 3 years later taking a per diem position at the hospital to get my chance. People I know that took per diem positions 3 years ago now are working full time. I can't help but think that if I had only made that choice 3 years ago I would be where I want to be now...... However at the time I was in a desperate situation financially and I made the choice I had to make.

My Point?

If you are secure financially at the moment ( married to a husband thats making good money, living at home, or a spoiled rich kid) then I would follow your heart and take the per diem position. You are always going to wish you did if you didn't

If you are struggling financially then you do not have much choice but to go with the LTC full time job.

Life eh?

[sourapril]

Have you toured at both places yet? How do you like the physical environments? How do you like the interaction between nurses and patients? If paying bill is not urgent, I would take the per diem job. Like others said, hospital experience will get you hospital jobs later.

The full time position would be more appealing to me. You could always look for a per diem later on.

True... but idk whether something like this will open up in the future hehe... hopefully though :)

Well I think it depends on your end goal. If you really want to work in acute care/hospital setting then it may actually be better to take the per diem job. Hospital experience will help you get future jobs in a hospital setting.

BUT it depends how bad you need the money. Are you living alone off your own income?

I was in this exact same situation a few years ago. I ended up taking the LTC full time job over a per diem position at the hospital. I actually ended up enjoying LTC . But I must tell you that have wanted to work in acute care this whole time and am now, 3 years later taking a per diem position at the hospital to get my chance. People I know that took per diem positions 3 years ago now are working full time. I can't help but think that if I had only made that choice 3 years ago I would be where I want to be now...... However at the time I was in a desperate situation financially and I made the choice I had to make.

My Point?

If you are secure financially at the moment ( married to a husband thats making good money, living at home, or a spoiled rich kid) then I would follow your heart and take the per diem position. You are always going to wish you did if you didn't

If you are struggling financially then you do not have much choice but to go with the LTC full time job.

Life eh?

well... then I guess I have to go to LTC... I hope something opens up soon and be in a similar situation you are in now! :) I will get my RN down the road and hopefully work in the ER (end goal) :) thank you so much for your input! :) guess everyone that voted for LTC is right since my financial situation won't allow me to do otherwise.