Help me pick!

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care.

So, I'm graduating in December and I have an offer for a nurse residency at our local hospital. It's a one year program that's very prestigious. It's also typical nursing hours (3 12's and some on call).

I also interviewed and received an offer from another position with the same hospital. It's basically a float position for the hospitals clinics and urgent cares. It's Monday through Friday 4 days out of the week 8-5. The orientation is shorter and I could start work earlier after NCLEX results.

I'm having trouble deciding between a dream schedule and gaining experience. Everyone I've talked to seems to think that accepting the float position will somehow make me less of a nurse but I have an almost hour drive to the main hospital and 3 children and a husband that works third shift.

I'm leaning towards the good schedule but know that I won't be getting that critical care experience that seems to make or break further opportunities. What would you pick?

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

Taking any kind of nursing position will not make you "less of a nurse". I don't know where that mentality comes from; it seems rather ubiquitous at the moment.

Whichever position you choose, you will be gaining experience. Hospital nursing isn't necessarily the be-all end-all. I was a nurse for 20 years before I worked in med-surg. They gave me a decent orientation and I was up and running.

If you have little ones at home and the possibility of a commute, you have to factor that in and look at the whole picture of your work life and what it's going to take away from your family life. I think opportunities are like buses; they come along fairly reliably.

When you look back, which would cause you the most regret: missing a hospital opportunity or missing your children's childhood?

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care.
33 minutes ago, TriciaJ said:

Taking any kind of nursing position will not make you "less of a nurse". I don't know where that mentality comes from; it seems rather ubiquitous at the moment.

Whichever position you choose, you will be gaining experience. Hospital nursing isn't necessarily the be-all end-all. I was a nurse for 20 years before I worked in med-surg. They gave me a decent orientation and I was up and running.

If you have little ones at home and the possibility of a commute, you have to factor that in and look at the whole picture of your work life and what it's going to take away from your family life. I think opportunities are like buses; they come along fairly reliably.

When you look back, which would cause you the most regret: missing a hospital opportunity or missing your children's childhood?

You're so right, this is what I'm leaning towards and I feel like everyone tells me I'm crazy to go into a float position in doctors offices. I think it sounds wonderful! ?

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Oh man, I know what you're going through. I'm a new grad as well (June 2019), and heard all the same about what I "should" be doing post graduation. I feel like it mostly came from the younger group--not married, no kids, bigger egos--who would have felt they were a failure if they didn't get to start in prestigious ICU or ED nurse residency programs. These were also the group who gave me the side-eye for expressing interest in psych nursing. Apparently that is not "real nursing" either. ? I've never been the type to put much stock into what others think, but it does start to make you question yourself after a while. I say go with your gut. Its YOUR life, and only you know what will work best for your family. I'm a second career nurse, with a young family as well, and recently started full-time BSN classes. A good schedule is important for me to manage all of that and still retain my sanity. Right now, I work in outpatient dialysis M/W/F 12 hour day shifts, and its perfect. The pay is better than or comparable to what other new grads are making in my local hospitals, and I love my job. I get Tuesdays and Thursdays to focus on school, and then I get to enjoy my family on the weekends. I couldn't ask for a better job.

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care.
On 9/8/2019 at 2:48 PM, SnipRN said:

Oh man, I know what you're going through. I'm a new grad as well (June 2019), and heard all the same about what I "should" be doing post graduation. I feel like it mostly came from the younger group--not married, no kids, bigger egos--who would have felt they were a failure if they didn't get to start in prestigious ICU or ED nurse residency programs. These were also the group who gave me the side-eye for expressing interest in psych nursing. Apparently that is not "real nursing" either. ? I've never been the type to put much stock into what others think, but it does start to make you question yourself after a while. I say go with your gut. Its YOUR life, and only you know what will work best for your family. I'm a second career nurse, with a young family as well, and recently started full-time BSN classes. A good schedule is important for me to manage all of that and still retain my sanity. Right now, I work in outpatient dialysis M/W/F 12 hour day shifts, and its perfect. The pay is better than or comparable to what other new grads are making in my local hospitals, and I love my job. I get Tuesdays and Thursdays to focus on school, and then I get to enjoy my family on the weekends. I couldn't ask for a better job.

Thank you so much for this. I think I've made my decision. I'm going to call about the float position and make sure they'll hold my position until after NCLEX then accept :).

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