Dilemma regarding offer at current company

[lauramrob]

So I am currently in my last semester, and have been applying to pretty much every single L&D residency I can find. I currently work as a PCT on a postpartum unit, and my manager really wants me to work there. I have already been extended an offer by my hospital for new grad RN job on my current postpartum floor. In many ways this is an awesome opportunity, however, my main goal is L&D. Since I have applied so many places and it's still so early in the game, I am worried about accepting my current offer and then getting an L&D offer later.

I know there have been many discussions about the acceptability of declining offers after previously accepting on here, but it seems different and more personal to me in this situation since I currently work at this hospital on the very same floor.

Is this situation really no different? Am I overthinking it? Is it acceptable, or would it be looked on poorly to later change my mind and accept an offer elsewhere when I currently work at the hospital offering initial employment?

[llg, PhD, RN]

I don't think your situation is significantly different. If you current employer starts pressuring you to accept their offer, then accept it and be prepared to resign if a better offer comes along.

In the meantime, does your current give you any indication that you may be able to transfer to L&D in the near future? Have you even expressed that interest to your current employer? Does he/she even know that L & D is your first choice? I would talk to your current employer and be sure they know that L & D is your first choice and see what they say -- if you haven't done that already. That way, if and when you do get an L&D offer somewhere else, they won't be surprised that you take it -- and shouldn't blame you. They will have had their chance ...

Good luck!

[lauramrob]

I don't think your situation is significantly different. If you current employer starts pressuring you to accept their offer, then accept it and be prepared to resign if a better offer comes along.

In the meantime, does your current give you any indication that you may be able to transfer to L&D in the near future? Have you even expressed that interest to your current employer? Does he/she even know that L & D is your first choice? I would talk to your current employer and be sure they know that L & D is your first choice and see what they say -- if you haven't done that already. That way, if and when you do get an L&D offer somewhere else, they won't be surprised that you take it -- and shouldn't blame you. They will have had their chance ...

Good luck!

Yes my nurse manager knows that L&D is my first choice, as I listed it first on my application (L&D, PP and NICU are all one app) and she mentioned it in my interview. The offer says I have to turn it in by Wednesday. So I suppose I will accept it and then resign later on should I need to. I suppose it just seems a little awkward since I'm currently working there, but hopefully she will understand (if I get another!).

[lauramrob]

I feel awkward about sending reference requests to my current manager when she knows I've accepted her offer. I suppose I should just get over it and accept the fact that she knows I'm continually looking!