Good Experience vs Job stability-what's more important?

[RNDude2012]

What do you think is more important as a younger/ and newish (3years) nurse? Good experience or job stability? I currently work at a VA and registry in telemetry/med surg. I love my coworkers, and the work is pretty manageable at the VA. I'm stuck in telemetry though. All of my coworkers are stuck because our unit has a high turnover rate. I'm somewhat bored, but I mean there are worst ways to make a living, right? I REALLY want ER/ICU bad, but the VA I work for doesn't seem to hire any internal applicants without prior specialty experience. I just got an offer at a private hospital for ER. I HAVE to go full-time though. This ER is a very very busy smaller community hospital. This hospital has somewhat of a bad reputation, but I did clinicals at the place during school, and think I would learn a lot in this ER. On the flipside, the VA can be a job for life if you ride it out. I like it (We have fun at work), but I'm not doing what I went into nursing to do, and I'm moving up the payscale slower than most because I started there as a new grad vs doing registry or getting pay raises through job hopping. I also feel like I'm just not living up to my full potential. The benefits are good (some hospitals in the area have better benefits surprisingly), but the stability can't be beaten. No call offs, difficult to get fired, etc.

So this all leads me to my question: What is more important as a younger/married nurse who supports their SO? Experience or stability? Do I take the job in the ER? Or ride it out at a VA for stability and stay in order to get a moderate pension (my states retirement is far superior to the feds) 30 something years from now that I'm not sure will even be there by the time I retire?

One of my buddies who works in the ER says I will love it won't look back. He also says higher acuity experience will open a lot more doors, and once you have specialty experience, jobs are plentiful. On the flip side, my dad says job stability is more important, and what's the point of working harder if I already have a good job?

I currently work about 48-60 hours a week since my SO is in school. I can easily do it at the VA with some agency shifts on the side, but I know it will be a little more difficult to work that many hours doing ER as my full-time and agency on the side since ER is a littler faster paced than floor nursing.

Decisions decisions.

[Nurse_]

Since you are just beginning your career as a nurse, I say go for the job that will enhance your knowledge as a nurse. With more experience and nursing knowledge, job stability will always follow.

[firstinfamily, RN]

I also vote for the ER position, you can always go back to telemetry, med/surg. Of course, your father is right, stability is important and the VA is a very stable facility. However, in nursing it is what you do that markets you and if you want to be in the more intensive environments you are going to have to get some experience and the way would be to get out of med/surg and into a more demanding area of nursing. You are young, you have only been a nurse for about 3 years and you say you are bored. That is sad and also an indication you are ready to move on. Do it!!! You do have to look at your income as you are the main bread winner for your family so, sit down with your hubby and discuss income etc. How much longer will he be in school and can he work part-time when he is completing his school. You also most likely pay for the benefits, so look at how much the benefits are going to cost you at the acute care facility. They may be more than they are with the VA which would affect your bottom line. Good luck with your decision!!!

[RNDude2012]

Thanks for responding. Hope to hear more.

[Cricket183, BSN, RN]

In my opinion life is way too short not to love what you do. It sounds like you feel stagnant where you are. And although I agree with your dad that job stability is important, I feel having a sense of fulfillment in what you do is more so. Sure you could "ride it out" at the VA. It sounds like the working environment is pretty good--manageable workload and decent coworkers. But ask yourself if that's what you want to do 48-60 hrs a week until retirement. Personally, I couldn't do it. But that's just me. If I am not passionate about something it just seems like drudgery to me. I found my niche in oncology nursing. 99% of the time I really looked forward to going to work. It was hard work both emotionally and physically. Some days I would come home physically exhausted and emotionally spent but the sense of accomplishment and sense of purpose made it all worth it.

[RNDude2012]

Thanks. Are jobs really more plentiful once you have ER experience? I somewhat believe it since I Can imagine there being a high turnover rate in ER. The only thing I'm really skeptical about is going from an established hospital with excellent benefits to a less stable hospital with almost non-existent benefits.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Is it possible to go ahead and take the ED job to obtain that experience while 'keeping your foot in the door' with VA as a PRN? If so, it would be much easier to re-enter VA for a specialty position when one becomes available. In my organization (large health care system) there seems to be a consistent back-and-forth of staff between ICU & ED because the skill sets are similar.

Also - please take care of yourself. Working 60 hours a week does not leave much time for your 'real life' with family.

[sourapril]

You live once. Do what you gotta do. You can always come back to VA, can't you?

[nursenancy27]

I worked at the VA, left for ICU job in the private sector (because I needed a new challenge ) and was applying back to the VA within 6 months! I wouldn't have the awesome job I have now without that experience but it's very different in the private sector (especially if you've been with the VA your whole career). Only you can decide what's right for you!