Decision-new to L&D

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Specializes in Med-Surg,Pediatrics, women services.

I have been a nurse for 6 years mostly working in medical surgical, postpartum and pediatric area. In late August I not only changed my area of nursing to L&D, but also moved to another state. Due to family illness, I am finding myself having to relocate back to my prior location. I have 2 job offers for L&D, but I am finding it hard to decide on which job to choose. Both jobs as mention are for L&D, same salaries, and same distance of travel. The first job is considering me to be an L&D nurse with experience even though I have only about 6 weeks of experience. With that being said, the job is offering me 6 weeks of orientation to their facility. The second job is considering the fact that I have been an L&D nurse for a short term and is therefore offering me 12 weeks of orientation. The icing on the cake is prior to getting the second job offer, I already had accepted the first job offer and just waiting on start date orientation. Could anyone give me some input on what they would do in this situation?

Sorry for long text- Thanks

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Specializes in OB.

Is there any difference in the acuity level of the two facilities? Any factor which would give you a boost on your resume?

If not, which facility "feels" more of a fit to you?

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Specializes in Med-Surg,Pediatrics, women services.

From what I gathered through the interview process, each facility have about the same level of acuity- high risk deliveries. The only thing that is troubling me is the time period of orientation offered by the first job which I have already accepted. I don't like changing jobs constantly so I don't want to make the wrong decision and have to change jobs.

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Can you tour both places? This might give you a feel for the environment and culture.

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Specializes in Med-Surg,Pediatrics, women services.

Cat365 I wish I had thought about that and asked to job shadow each for a day.

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Well, here's an odd thought, can you ask for a longer orientation at the first hospital? I understand (and respect) your hesitancy to work in a high risk OB environment and be treated as an experienced L&D nurse when you are still quite new to it. It's worth a shot, right? I mean, it can't hurt to ASK. Just be honest and tell them that you really would prefer a longer orientation, for both your professional development and for patient safety, and so you can be a fully participating staff member when it is over. Hopefully they'll see this as I do: good decision making and a good investment.

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Specializes in Med-Surg,Pediatrics, women services.

I will definitely ask for a longer orientation. I just hope that I have made the right decision about taking the first job. When I went for an interview at the first job they were so stuck on hoping I had learned enough in 6 weeks from my prior job while the second job interview didn't dwell on that but instead were opened to hiring an inexperience nurse in L&D with great willingness to train me.

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