Help! Unsure if I should accept my first job offer!

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I really need some help with finding my first job.

I'm a new grad and just had an interiew and was offered a great job at a magnet hospital. The benefits are great and everything is just what I think I want in a first job. It's swing shift, but I would get to make my own schedule. I would be starting in June following my graduation in May. The only problem is that it is a 1 hour drive from where I will be living. I'm really not sure if it's worth it to make the long drive, even if I will only be going 3 or 4 times a week if I do 12 hour shifts.

There are some other hospitals that are closer, but they are much smaller (around 200 beds, compared to 700 at the other hospital) and are not magnet status. I have applied to 3 of them, but they have not replied and I called and they usually do not start hiring or interviewing until sometime in February. I have to accept my first job offer soon, the recruiter told me I shouldn't wait until February to make my decision, or someone else might get my job. I'm afraid if I accept this job, I might be passing up something closer and just as good. Would it be appropriate to accept the first offer and continue to interview at the other hospitals? And if I found that one of them was more practical, could I resign from my first position that I accepted?

I really don't know what to do about this and I would appreciate any advice that someone would be able to give me!

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If I were you, I'll grab the opportunity. Nowadays, nurse will do anything just to get hired.Think about it. Opportunity like this only knock once. you'll never know if there are other opportunities that will come your way. We have to learn to sacrifice some things but I know it will be worth your effort. You can resign from the hospital if in case you think it's not really for you. Good Luck!

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It sounds like a GREAT job at a really good hospital. You will probably learn a lot there. In the long run if the drive seems too long, you could always apply at the closer hospitals in a year or two as an EXPERIENCED(!) nurse. It might be more difficult to make the switch the other direction if you take a job now at one of the smaller hospitals but then later wish you were working at the magnet hospital. I am in the same boat you are, graduating in May and trying to decide where to work. The closest hospital to me is a smaller hospital, and a nurse friend who works there told me she was happy she got her initial experience at a large hospital right out of school because she saw so many different things that she does not see at this smaller hospital. She likes the small hospital, but said the bigger one gave her great learning opportunities. The fact that the hospital that made you a job offer is a magnet hospital makes it pretty desirable. But... I am not speaking from experience, but as one who is also looking for a job right now (I have an interview later today!). I'd love to know what experienced nurses would say.

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Thank you for your input on my situation!

I was still wondering whether or not it is appropriate to accept the position but still continue to interview at other places? And if I found that one of the other jobs was comparable and a closer drive, could I resign from my first job?

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You COULD do that, but it could have negative effects if you ever wanted to work at that magnet hospital in the future. If you think you'd really rather stick closer to home and have a few choices in your area, then the risk is not that great, but it's worth considering.

It is a tricky thing to balance. I remember that when I graduated 20 years ago with a different degree and was interviewing at corporations, the recruiters were very pushy for an answer. I had about 10 intereviews set up and got an offer from the first one. The recruiter was super nice during my interview, but once I had an offer and I said I wanted to weigh out some other possibilities, she got pretty snippy with me. I ended up accepting that job because I felt a bit intimidated (great corporation and I never had contact with that recruiter again.) I'd like to say that 20 years later I would handle it differently if something like that happened to me now, but I just don't know....

You do need to look for what is best for you. If you are pressed for an answer, I would probably accept. If you find another job closer to home, I would notify that first hospital as soon as possible so they could fill that position, but just keep in mind you might be on the mud list there for a certain number of years.

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Having worked at magnet and non-magnet hospitals - I'd choose the magnet hospital. They still have their problems but they are much more likely to offer a better orientation and support than a non-magnet hospital.

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go for it..it gives u lots of experience and orientation... awooo awooo:w00t:

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get a dorm :)

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

Hi Wickys1,

I'd say accept it and give it a go. What you learn there will be beneficial - the orientation and education will be superior to anything you will get at a small hospital. Later if you decide you don't want the long commute then find a job closer to home.

A bird in the hand is better then two in the bush. Besides you should consider it a compliment that you have gotten a job offer so early.

And of course you can continue to look for jobs after accepting - it is a free country last time I checked. But I still think you should gracefully accept the magnet hospital offer - you'll regret it if you don't, because it could potentially open up all sorts of opportunities the that small hospital's can't.

One question. Could you move closer to the large hospital - if you decide that's where you want to stay for a while?

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Specializes in NICU.

......

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