Everyone says to relocate...new grad just got offer..2nd thoughts!!

[vlh2001]

Hello all! I hope my fellow nurses can give me some advice here. I've been an allnurses member for a little while, so I routinely come here to see how my fellow new grads/seasoned nurses are doing. In this job market, I also got some advice to relocate if possible. So...I did. I drove 250 miles away from home for a job interview and got a job offer.

Problem is, I'm not sure if I am able to take the job. Reason being, the position that was offered to me is a part time position with full time benefits. Full time benefits is a plus, and there may be room for full time hours but of course, that is no guarantee. Its kinda of a heart wrenching situation because the unit is what I requested (med-surg/telemetry) and I know that I will learn a whole lot but for 1-2 years I will literally have to apply for forbearence on my student loans and live check to check. Living check to check is not necessarily something that I wouldn't do (of course) but other people such as friends and family advise me to wait it out and see if something closer to home will open up.

2nd issue: I recently went on a second interview for another position closer to home, and more money, but this is a private doctors office (IVF fertility center). I think that this is really an interesting part of womens health, but I am not sure if this is the best choice for me to make as a new graduate RN. The office has 6 other nurses, so its not like it would be a situation where I would be the only RN, so that means I will have resources. If I were to get a job offer, is it ok for me to take on a doctor office position as my first job?? Will it hurt my chances of getting a hospital job in the future??

Thanks so much for reading! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

About a year or two ago, we hired a staff nurse who's only previous experience was doing a year of home health, where she learned time management & the ability to work on her own. She is an excellent nurse & worked out just fine.

I'm old school and believe that a year of med surg provides a great foundation, but health care is changing, and there are more avenues other than in-hospital staff nurse. It's always a risk, but as long as you can articulate what transferable skills you learned in the clinic, you should be OK.