Help!! New grad ER or L&D?

Published

Hello guys, I really need help. I am a new grad who has been offered a position in L&D.

I need to let the recruiter know by Wednesday if I am accepting.

I also interviewed at a larger hospital today for their new ER new grad internship as well. The interview went very well and I have a feeling I may be offered the position. Problem is, I may not know either way until end of the week.

My issue is two-fold: Which do I really want? L&D or ER...and if I choose ER but they don't choose me I would have passed up the L&D position. Should I call HR of the ER place tomorrow and ask them if I am their considered candidate because I really want to work for them but have another offer? (they have 3 out of 12 that interviewed)

Pros and Cons of each

L&D PROS:higher pay, sign on bonus (10K), no contract, smaller facility, 15 min drive,

nice people

CONS: only familiar with L&D

ER: PROS: ER experience (THIS is worth 2-3 pros IMO), fast pace

CONS: less pay (for new grads- not sure where it goes from there), 3 year employment

contract, 35 min drive, large hospital system (less personal), I may end up burned

out

Any advice is greatly appreciated!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You have fast pace listed as a pro.

And you have "only familiar with L&D" as a con under L&D

L&D looks like the winner here, and it isn't even close.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You have fast pace listed as a pro.

And you have "only familiar with L&D" as a con under L&D

L&D looks like the winner here, and it isn't even close.

Thank you for responding. I think I should clarify: with L&D I would only get L&D experience I meant. As opposed to The busy ER experience.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thank you for responding. I think I should clarify: with L&D I would only get L&D experience I meant. As opposed to The busy ER experience.

From my perspective, that's also a pro, much like how a fast pace would be a con for me.

It sounds like your two decisions are between a job that is easy, pays well and conveniently located vs a job that is a little more difficult, pays less and out of the way.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Take the L&D since you may not get the ER position, but get back to them late Wednesday afternoon and hopefully you will hear back from ER before Wednesday. Don't call the ER job and let them know abt your other offer bc that may take you off their list of candidates. They already told you they would get back to you by the end of the week.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Is it sad that I'm more impressed that sign on bonuses still exist !?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

10k sign on bonus for new grads? You sure about that? I've never heard of sign on bonuses for anyone without experience. And if they really are offering 10k I would run fast away from that place because it can't be good to work there if they have that hard of time hiring employees.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

L&D can be incredibly fast-paced, as well...

I was in a similar situation and had to choose between two job offers - also think about the hospital and type of orientation you will get. Did you get a sense of a supportive environment when you interviewed for the L&D position?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

If it were me, I would pick ER. But I'm not you. I wouldn't have applied for L&D unless I was desperate.

The only thing that concerns me is the three year contract. What are the terms?

And yes, I would call the ER job and tell them i had another offer that needs to know but they are my first choice. Alternatively, I would call L&D and ask for more time, if they had given me less than 2 weeks. Are we talking Wednesday like today?

But again, I'm not you.

Do get back to me on the terms of the contract. It's concerning.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.
10k sign on bonus for new grads? You sure about that? I've never heard of sign on bonuses for anyone without experience. And if they really are offering 10k I would run fast away from that place because it can't be good to work there if they have that hard of time hiring employees.

Agreed. Given the general glut of new grads in most areas coupled with how many nursing students want l&d makes a large sign-on bonus a huge red flag.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Informatics.

I was a L&D nurse for more than 20 years.

I disagree with your statement: 'only familiar with L&D'.

Pregnant women can - and do - have all the problems that non-pregnant women have -- but they've added the risk of being pregnant to their medical or surgical issues. I had pregnant patients with pancreatic cancer, traumatic injuries from accidents, blood sugar problems, bad infections, cardiac issues (one patient had transposition of the great vessels -- and didn't know it! She didn't understand why we were really concerned!!!) The list goes on. While I spent much of my career providing direct patient care in a perinatal center, I spent 10 years prior to that in a community hospital -- and even though we transferred patients with these issues to the perinatal center -- we had to care for them until the transport team got there. (This was the process in the state I practiced in.)

And -- if the ER had a pregnant women walk - or get moved into - their ER --- they wasted no time calling L&D or just bringing the patient up to L&D -- regardless of the patient's problem. Pregnant = L&D.

So --- I think L&D is the place -- and especially looking at your pro's/con's ---- I think you've answered your own question.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It sounds to me like you prefer the ED position. I'd call the contact there and tell them you need to let another offer know but you'd much prefer theirs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion