Help please! How to put job offer on hold

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Hi everyone! I'm new to the site and thought it'd be great to get feedback from other nurses. I've been a Med-Surg RN in SF for 3 years and now I'm relocating to NY. (Yes, I know about the paycut haha) I just am burnt out and want to try something new while experiencing a new city. I signed up with a travel agency and they weren't getting many job offers so I decided to apply for regular positions as well.

For weeks, I've been trying to set up an interview at NY Presbyterian in the IVF unit which I would LOVE to do and FINALLY got an interview for next week (April 6). So I booked a nonrefundable flight and decided I would stay for a week and try to check out other hospitals, etc. Today, my travel agency called and said I got offered a position on a Med-Surg unit and I think it starts April 25. The recruiter emailed me telling me she wants me to call so I can start the paperwork. I have no idea how to ask for an extension until after my interview! Should I tell my recruiter or the nurse manager that offered the job? And should I say I just want to discuss with my family and get back to them next week OR tell them the entire story of wanting to give the other hospital a chance and weigh out my options and say I really would love to work there, I just can't cancel something that I took so long to book. I don't want it to sound like they're just my backup plan. I really just want to see which would be a better fit for me. AHHH! Help :( Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

Tell travel agency you need to discuss with family and get back to them next week.. They are helping you to fit into how they will make the most money off of you. You do not owe them anything until you sign the contract.

However if you have not had a phone interview for this specific job I would recommend going forward with that.. got ta actually get the offer before you can turn it down or negotiate. Companies that hire travelers usually have some flexibility in start dates.

Good luck and enjoy life once you decide and try not to second guess yourself later on.

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Hi! Thanks for replying :) I had my phone interview yesterday and it lasted 5-10minutes and I knew she needed me because their census is really high right now. The start date was originally April 25 so I'm sure she needs us ASAP.

I'm just going to call the manager tomorrow and ask how long I can have (sometime after my interview next week hopefully) to get back to her so I can discuss with my family and handle other things. I guess I have to tell the recruiter as well but I know she'll just be trying to get me in the position as fast as she can since they make money off us!

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Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

DO NOT TELL THEM YOU HAVE ANOTHER INTERVIEW!!!!!

April 25th gives you almost a month. Just tell recruiter you need another week. Usually travelers do not discuss anything with actual manager,, so speak to recruiter first. They are like your agent and handle details for you.. she should be on speaking to manager not you..So be careful.

If your interview is April 6 you still have time but remember very few offer job on the spot.. so you might be waiting longer.

It is an option though not the most professional but in today's market one must watch out for one's self.. and that would be to go forward with travel job paperwork and then decline if you get the other job... Just realize this happens all the time and if the hospitals census all of a sudden fell and they did not need you they would cancel you in a heartbeat.

Of course then that travel agency might never work with you again but considering the good number of other agencies out there.. that would not concern me at all.

Hang tough.

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THANK YOU! Yeah, I won't tell them that I have another interview. My recruiter knows that I'm going to NY next week so I'm sure she knows I'm trying to get other jobs. I'm just going to call her tomorrow and tell her that she can send me the paperwork so I can get started but that I'll know my decision (hopefully) after "family discussions and other things I need to handle" by the end of next week! So that should buy me some time :)

Should I tell my interview next week that I have an offer but that they are my priority so it would be great to know sooner than later?

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Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

NO.. what is it with nurses who want to tell everyone everything?????

It is logical that if you told them they might hurry along their decision.. but since when is anything in nursing logical.. I have heard of more telling things "backfires" and you do not even get considered. I am sure someone did tell and it worked but I am speaking in general sense.. Just tell them how psyched you are and how much you are ready to come work for them as soon as possible.:twocents:

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Hahaha, ok thank you so much for your advice :) It helps A LOT coming from another nurse!

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