TWO PCA job offers from same company! How to decide?

[irishgirl0821]

Hi all!

I'm actually quite happy, I've been searching for a PCA/PCT position in a hospital system in NJ for the past 5 months after moving back home after receiving a CNA certification from CA. Finally after several interviews, 2 positions were offered to me today and I have to decide which I like best.

I won't be starting till June and will be done with my pre-reqs for nursing school next week. I would like to work for about 6 months-1 year before I start nursing school so I can gain exposure and earn some income. I do have a BS already, so I am considering ABSN programs as well as my local CC (for cost).

These positions are both for the same company, which is a very large hospital network in NJ and highly rated.

The first position: part-time day PCA position on Oncology floor with base pay of 13.70. Hospital is one of the best in NJ, is university affiliated as good benefits with ability to pick up more hours. I would love to work at this hospital in the future after I become an RN. Its not too far from my house, probably 30 minutes. (However, previous tech told me they had issues on their floor due to previous drama with team effort and building. Nurse manager said that they have changed a lot of what was going on and things are different now)

Second position: full-time nights PCA position in the ER with base of 13.70 but with night differential, its $17.70. Its 5 minutes from my house, I live exactly down the street from this hospital. Its a smaller hospital, not a trauma center and mostly sees lower-level ER cases and elderly patients. I volunteered in this ER for 4 years, so I'm pretty familiar with it. (I'm just worried about having my neighbors and family members as patients or even my previous high-school classmates [especially with the increased drug addiction in this area] given I lived in this area my entire life.)

These positions are separate hospitals but under the same company, so benefits and ability to transfer is the same. Its just a matter of pay, role, time and distance and prestige of the hospital.

I ideally want a full-time position, which is why the second position is ideal, but I know that I want to work in a diverse setting, the first option allows more of that in regards to different patients under a specialty and I have an interest in oncology, I've volunteered in hospice throughout my college career. On the other hand, I'm new, not in nursing school yet, and I don't know what filed I want to work in and I was wondering if the ER will give me the best exposure, even if its a nights and its lower-level trauma.

I can see myself working at both positions and money is important and the night shift is appealing to me as well as full-time,(though I've never worked nights before) but I don't want to make that a decision in comparison to different specialties and experience or exposure.

So, as seasoned nurses or healthcare providers, what suggestions would you have in regards to how I should make this decision?

Thanks!

[emily34812]

If you really need full time I would go with that. You can always transfer after you get some experience