HELP ME PLEASE! 2 job offers, less than 24 hours to decide

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Hi all, I graduate with my BSN next week!!! I can't believe I have made it this far. I interviewed for a small hospital where i had clinical on a med-surg unit and was offered the job. I also interviewed a bigger magnet status teaching hospital (Froedtert and the Medical College), on a pulmonary internal med floor. It's been two weeks and had not heard anything from the big hospital. I left a voicemail accepting the position at the smaller hospital for 8 hours PM shifts. And told the manager i was going to accept (I had my last clinical there today). THEN the bigger hospital calls offering me a position with a formal offer tomorrow, there I will start as a nurse extern right after graduation and when I pass my boards became a staff a nurse, it pays a few dollars more than the smaller hospital but I will be working 7/70, which is a little scary because I am worried about getting burnt out.

My dad is a physician and my family is strongly suggesting I go with the bigger hospital because I will have more learning opportunities, I will also see more and do more. They tell me I should strive to be the best I can be. I agree, but the bigger hospital is intimidating and because I have had clinical at the smaller hospital I feel more comfortable...however my Mom tells me a challenge is a GOOD thing. I can hardly decide what to order when I go out to eat let alone decide on a job in 24 hours. Any advice? Where did you start? What do you recommend? How do you base your decisions?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Critical Care.

So, for the smaller hospital would you be working five 8 hour shifts a week?? This, to me would be more of a burn-out than the other option. There are definitely many benefits to starting at a large, magnet teaching hospital (notably, shared governance model, better patient outcomes, higher nurse satisfaction) but ultimately, you have to decide which position is right for you and will make you the happiest. Also, what do you think about the culture and attitude of staff on both of the units? Where do you see yourself fitting in the best? How about commute/where you will be living? These are some things I'd take into consideration.

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i would make a pros and cons list but i have a feeling that in your gut you probably already know where you want to be.

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Specializes in Psych, HIV/AIDS.

Congratulations on your achievements!

I know it is past the 24 hours but I am interested in knowing which hospital you chose.

Your parents' choice may not be what is in your heart as to where to work. I say, I hope you went with what you are most comfortable. It is your life and your decision. I have worked in teaching hospitals in the past and no doubt you do learn and see much. But if your heart isn't in it...what good is it.

If you chose the 1st offer it sounds as though you will be more comfortable. Besides, the teaching hospital will be there forever and you can also re-apply in the future if you decided not to take their offer.

Good luck...let us know...

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Hi there! I haven't made my official acceptance yet. But I am going to choose the smaller hospital. I keep playing phone tag with the HR lady. I was supposed to call her yesterday but I had testing all day. I sent her an e-mail explaining and she won't be back in her office til Tuesday next week. I also e-mailed the unit manager to let him know I am still interested and explained the delay.

I wanted to work at the bigger hospital and I know I will end up there eventually but there were some red flags. Although it is a magnet status and has a great reputation the manager told me yesterday they have a high turn over rate on the floor. Next that manager is a temporary manager she has been there 6 months filling in. I think that says something when they don't have a permanent manager. Plus I have no idea when or who the new manager will be. Next I never got to shadow on the unit and when I took a tour the nurses seemed stressed out.

So although a good hospital, I think this unit may be their weakest link. Plus they offered 12 hour night shift and I am hesitant to take a night shift right away, I think it will only add my stress of being a new nurse.

I chose the smaller hospital because I have had clinical there and I really liked the unit and the nurses. Plus I will see more of a variety. The bigger hospital is really specialized and I think by being at the smaller hospital and having opportunities to float to ED and ICU on occasion, as well as the variety of patients will allow to me figure out what I really have a passion for. In addition the bigger hospital has specialized teams for things like foleys and IVs so I won't get to practice my skills as much. So in a year I will start looking for positions in the bigger hospital and go for what I want. I will then have time make a really good decision rather than feel rushed into making a decision. Plus, I will probably have a better idea of the type of nursing I really want to do. :)

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It is five 8 hour shifts one week and four 8 hour shifts the next week. The shift is 3-11:30 pm so it won't screw up my sleep too much. Magnet is great and that is what I want, but the unit at the bigger hospital had some red flags. The manager told me they have high turnover, and the current manager is temporary and has been filling in since December. So although a great hospital, this unit is obviously not living up to the high standards. The commute is about the same bigger hospital is 35-40 minutes freeway, and the other hospital is 30-35 minutes country roads. Yes winters are brutal here but the hospital is across the street from my University and I've made it school for the past 4 years.

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Froedtert is a great hospital and the nurses that I know actually like the 7/70 schedule because when they take a week of vacation they end up with 3 weeks off in a row, although I would feel those last couple days each week would be difficult. I did hear they were trying to phase that scheduling out there, though. Plus I would think traffic around Froedtert is probably awful at times. Wish you the best at the smaller hospital! I'm sure you'll do great

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Thank you @EPIC_nurse (not sure if i can tag??..worth a try). Froedtert is GREAT, and I want to be there, but seeing as how I kind of accepted an offer and Froedtert accepted me one the next day along with some things I was unsure of on the unit I decided the smaller hospital. I REALLY hope the one year in med-surg at the smaller hospital will make me a better candidate in the future at Froedtert because that is where my heart truly is. However, transitioning in a familiar environment with shorter shifts I think will make life a little easier as a new grad.

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Congrats on accepting a position!

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Specializes in Psych, HIV/AIDS.

I think you made a great choice and have a good head on your shoulders. Good Lick!

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Specializes in PICU.

With the larger hospital you would have more opportunities. There always will be high turnover in nursing, people get married, have kids, want to travel, don't like something, etc. You always can rescind an offer. Do you have the offer in writing? Have you signed the paper work? Is the unit at the smaller hospital a unit that you are very excited about, or is it just familiar and you are worried about change? No matter where you start as a new nurse there will be challenges and it will be hard. Make sure that the unit you start on is a unit with populations you are interested in and fell a passion about.

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I do not know what population I am really passionate about. I have an interest in critical care, emergency, pediatrics and NICU. I feel the general med-surg unit I will be working on will expose me to a variety of patient populations that will help me to better figure out what I truly enjoy doing. Along with the red flags I noticed on the unit at the bigger hospital, the hospital units are very specialized. They have teams that do IV insertion, and Foleys etc. I feel I will get better hands-on experience at the smaller hospital, which will help me build upon my skills as a new grad. I think once I gain some experience I will gain a better understanding of where I want to go with my career. The beauty of nursing is that the options are endless. :)

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