Help! To stay? Or not to stay?

[ajanilom]

Help please! Fairly new grad here. I work two jobs. Job 1 is at a small psych hospital, where I function as an MHS or psych tech, and am waiting for an opening to train as Charge Nurse in their new grad program. I have been there for three months and only work part time nocs.

Job 2 is at a DD Emergency Crisis Shelter, functioning as an RN but only PRN. I have been with this company for about 7 months. Did community based case management with psych patients for a while, then transferred to DD. Here, it is very flexible, pay is alright, but it's split shift. I come in the morning, give am meds, go home, and come back in the evening to pass meds do some charting and im done.

Job 2 had offered me a full time charge nurse position yesterday, and now im torn! I really want to be the hospital setting, rather than in the community but im having trouble with the pay. I talked with my nursing manager at the hospital, and she said there is still no opening for me. Now my nursing supervisor at Job 2 wants an answer. Thanks in advance!

[Davey Do]

Welcome to AN.com, ajanilom!

Gathering data, or different perspectives, is a step in the problem-solving process and I applaud your action.

However, the decision on which path you choose take needs to be your own, for you are the one who has to walk that path.

But, for my two cents, I'd take the bird in the hand. You're a fairly new grad. If the bird in the hand doesn't work out, there'll be other birds in other bushes.

Good luck to you, ajanilom, and please keep us up on your status!

[amoLucia]

Davey, I don't get which answer you're suggesting?!?!? Am I thinking that #2 DD position is the 'bird in the hand' position? Makes sense that it offers a confirmed FT position.

For job 1, there is NO guarantee for anything opening soon - repeat NO GUARANTEE. So job 2 sound like the sure-er position. It most likely will offer other benefits, (incl vacation time option sooner). OP will have 7 months 'seniority' as well.

OP - would 'charge' be a negotiable pay increment possibility? Also, you still could maintain your #1 position if you wish to hold on to it. You now have a nickle's worth of opinions as I offer my 3 cents to you.

Like Davey commented, only you can determine what's best for you after you do all the pros & cons.

Good luck on your choice.

Davey - hadn't heard from you in a while. Of course, I missed some time recently. Missed you.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Look at it this way:

One position is a definite job offer. The other position is a "maybe"...and a "maybe" often has a way of panning out into a "no." Plus that job is PRN, which means that hours are not guaranteed: you may work 40 hours one week and 0 hours the next. If you're the main breadwinner, that's not really something you should be taking a gamble on.

IMO, take the charge nurse offer. It's a definite job, and you can keep building your experience and skills. If and when the PRN position opens up, you can take it in addition to the charge nurse job, and work a shift here and there.

Best of luck whatever you decide!

[ajanilom]

Thank you everyone for your input! Just a little update. I accepted the charge nurse position. However, the company that I am working for right now is notorious for NOT training staff adequately, and being so unorganized. My direct supervisor is not a nurse, so therefore I feel very lost at times asking her questions. I feel that my license is really on the line at this job. Therefore, I have talked to my coworkers at my previous job, and was able to land an interview at a magnet hospital, as a psych tech, and move up from there. I really just want to get my foot in the door. I believe that I will be happier in the acute hospital setting, where I will receive proper training, and will be able to work beside other RNs as opposed to my current job where I am the only nurse.