Would you go to another career fair if you already accepted an offer somewhere else?

Nurses General Nursing

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So in my home city there are two main hospitals. I got hired on an oncology med/surg unit. This hospital has a 2 year contract, I'm friends with someone who also got hired so I'd at least know someone, it is for-profit, and they do pay ok! I accepted.

The thing is, the other main hospital in my city is a magnet hospital, there is no contract, they pay slightly more, they are non-profit, and it's slightly closer. Their applications open up next week and they're having a career fair that is very good for networking and getting hired onto their unit. The position I would be looking for would be your standard med/surg unit.

Would you go? Having already accepted an offer?

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I wouldn't simply because that may eliminate the for -profit hospital as a place of employment in the future.

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As CharleeFoxtrot said, leave the place where you just accepted an offer, and you are asking them to make you a "Do Not Hire/Rehire". Not worth it. Work at your accepted job and see what the future brings.

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Specializes in ER.

Don't make the mistake of overestimating the difference between for profit and nonprofit hospitals. I've worked for both and have seen hospital administrators behave the same everywhere.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

If I had already started the 1st job, I would not go. However, if I hadn't started the job yet, I would go to check out the other place.

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After accepting an offer, I generally stop looking at classifieds to avoid the temptation. Don't job hop to burn bridges. Healthcare is increasingly small...

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Would you mind if an employer continues to interview for your position after they have made you a formal offer and you have accepted it?

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If you would be able to accept a offer before starting at where you already accepted, I don't see why you shouldn't go.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

I would only go the job fair if you were 100% serious about getting a job at hospital B. Having said that, if you take that other job, and bug out on hospital A, you have basically assured that you will never work for hospital A. There could be even greater consequences. Is Hospital A owned by a company that has facilities in other towns/cities? Have you now burned bridges to those facilities, before you even got to said bridges?

Also, don't forget the individuals in this. Suppose at hospital A and assistant manager was working on your orientation schedule. 10 years from now, she is now the NM at a unit to which you are applying at some other hospital. She may remember your name/face. She may put out the word to other NMs to 'watch out for this one.' Nursing is a small world.

Not saying that you absolutely can't go with hospital B, but there may be a lot of consequences that come with that. My 2 cents: keep the job at hospital A. Who knows, you might love the unit! If you don't, after a year or two, you can move on to something else. No need to shoot your future career in the foot with a rash move now.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I would go, in case the position I'd accepted didn't work out.

If the job you took wasn't working for your employer, or they decided they liked another candidate better, or someone high up in the organization had a friend or relative who needed a job, they would dismiss you without a second thought. There's nothing wrong with wanting a fallback job.

I may be cynical because my first nursing job was cancelled 45 minutes into my first shift. They said it was a budget issue. It took 2 months and a 250-mile move to find my next job. I learned long ago that loyalty to an employer is a fool's game.

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No. The nursing world is small and you could run into so-and-so that knew you did this and when you need a (future) job but because you dropped that gig like a hot potato, said manager or now CNO (who was your peer when you dropped your gig) will remember you. Keep your word, do your gig and once done, leave with integrity.

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Specializes in ED, med-surg, peri op.

I agree. Stay where you are.

You were happy enough to accept the job in the first place.

At this point you have no idea what it's like to work in either place. Your job may turn out to be perfect or could be a disaster, but at least you have a guarantee job. Where as going for another job may ruin that and you could be left with nothing.

Also theres no guarentee this other hospital will be any better to work for.

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