Dilemma

wow this post is so similar to mine it's scary.

I too, am 30, second career, just passed boards. I was awaiting the news from a nurse residency program and took another job jic the residency didn't pan out.

Guess what - the residency DID pan out! I now have to make the decision you are considering. Only I don't have the luxury of being in an ER position. I'm in LTC

I would def take the ER job :)

Is the residence focused on Emergency Department? Does it 'guarantee' an ED position upon successful completion? What would happen if you don't successfully complete the residency program or they don't have a job for you after you complete it? This is a pretty common occurrence. On the other hand, you know that the ER position will also be dealing with trauma & you have already landed that one.

It looks like both options are in line with your career goal of trauma nursing. I would advise you to go with the ED job & focus on learning as much as possible - get your CEN as quickly as you are eligible. General ED experience & expertise will also open the employment door for a job at the trauma center when one is available & you are ready for it.

Based on my own experiences, I also suggest that the general ED job would probably be a better environment for launching your career. High level trauma centers are extremely high-stress. Beginners may not be tolerated/supported by the staff who thrive in that type of environment.

Yes the residency is en the ED, and the way residency's work in my state is that you are a full-fledged RN w/ regular pay and everything. So it is a job already. You sign a 2 year contract and you have mandatory education. Granted, you don't complete the 2 years you have to pay them back a couple of grand. Right now I plan on taking the local ER job and if something else comes along thats better for me career wise I will take it. I'm just excited to start off my career in an ER and not in a specialty far off from what I'm wanting to do. Thank your for the advice! It's all about getting your foot in the door and on my way to my CEN, which I will obtain around my 2nd year as an RN. You can actually take the exam at any time, but it's recommended to take it after a minimum of 2 years experience.

"At will" employment means that you can quit at any time... and they could fire you just the same. I personally wouldn't sit around waiting for the nurse residency for 4 months unless it is 100% guaranteed, and no job is. The position you have already been offered sounds like a very close second to what you want and you could advance and transfer on YOUR terms, not whenever the residency starts. It's totally your call, but if it were me, I would take the ER position.

Excellent. Thank you for the advice! I've decided to take the ER position, continue to grow as a nurse and if something happens to come along that will aid me in becoming an even better nurse...well...I will take that opportunity as well!