How do you choose?

Published

How do you choose your job? Location? Pay? Preference to the hospital? What is most important?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry, Med Surg, Pediatrics, ER.

The answers to your questions will be different for everyone. I have 3 hospitals all within 15 minutes of my home and numerous hospitals within a 45 minute drive. Add in the clinics, ltc facilities, etc and there are lots of opportunities. Personally, I like working locally and not having a long drive. I choose to work in the hospital setting because there is a huge difference in the the nursing responsibilities, the salary is substantially more, and the benefits are better. I would love to have weekends and holidays off, but that is not going to happen in the hospital setting in most instances. Each person is drawn to a specific area in nursing. I love ER. It is not for everyone though. I absolutely loathed working on a med-surg floor, but that was mainly due to the facility, staffing, etc, and not the job itself. You will find your niche, but it will be for reasons that appeal to you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

"How do you...?" questions aren't always clear.

"How do you tie a knot?"

"How do you do your hair?"

Which kind of question are you asking?

The first one asks in general. You choose a job based on your needs, preferences, and opportunities. Most of us have little choice in regard to needs and opportunities, so preferences generally make the difference in choosing job A or job B. Each opportunity will have it's pluses and minuses. Choose what you think will work best for you.

The second one asks an individual what THEY do. Personally, I place a high value on a job being close to home (I hate commuting), on a colleageal atmosphere (I'll take accept lower pay for better work environment), etc. It can be interesting to see how different people have different ideas of what is a "better" job choice!! Sometimes, hearing other people's reasoning can help you figure out what reasoning you're going to go with when you have the choice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.

For me I interviewed everywhere then made my choice. For me I "just knew" the moment I interviewed there it was the right place. Friendly nurses, great pay, great location, great shift. I was sold on the spot. Hold out till you find the right one.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well, I will just be starting college in August...

But I want to have the tuition reimbursement from the get go (some offer 4 years, others 2)...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

And which class are you wanting these answers for?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well, for the hospitals that are offering 4 years of tuition reimbursement.... I'd like to know if they would be a good place to work before I have a committment....

Because I LOVE the hospital, but would be an hour away from my parents in Tallahassee, Florida.

And I would LOVE to work in the NICU there...

So, should I email about it?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I think that many of the answers you will receive and the conclusions you come up with change according to the individuals and your personal life between now and the time you graduate. Right now, it would be best to focus on getting through your pre-requisites, getting accepted into the nursing program and experiencing your clinicals.

There are many factors that influence your decision, though. First and foremost should be your interest, meaning job satisfaction. If you graduate and have a particular area in nursing you want to focus on, then, your search would probably begin then. But, if say for example, you enjoy endocrine nursing and the positions are a 2 hour drive from where you live, the pay is low and there are traffic jams (and gas is expensive these days), that might influence your choice. Or, if you get a job in L&D, where the pay is great and it is in your back door, but the work environment is toxic, you may not remain there, either. You may decide that you would rather be happy and get less pay, but less stress.

I can understand making plans far ahead, but to get to the island, get the boat you need to get you there, first. You may see other scenery that you like along the way and wish to return there. Good luck with your education and career!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Oh, and in terms of hospitals offering tuition reimbusement; most of them require that you work with them for at least a year, and have a great evaluation to qualify. You have to be a bit careful with those, though, because while the place may be great to work for as an aide or anicillary position, but hell on a nurse who must remain there to complete a contract.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

Just clarifying in case you don't know the difference (I didn't when I went to school). Tuition reimbursement means they pay for schooling while you are working for them, so you would either need to work for them while going to nursing school or while obtaining a graduate degree. If you want your nursing school loans to get paid off by a future workplace, that is called student loan repayment and is more difficult to find.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Just clarifying in case you don't know the difference (I didn't when I went to school). Tuition reimbursement means they pay for schooling while you are working for them, so you would either need to work for them while going to nursing school or while obtaining a graduate degree. If you want your nursing school loans to get paid off by a future workplace, that is called student loan repayment and is more difficult to find.

That was the situation I was under; I was offered a leave with pay, including tuition and books to become an LPN. I had already worked for my job for 7.5 years by that time, and had a great evaluation. Now that I am back, I owe them about 3 years under the contract. I was directly hired as soon as I obtained my license and have been working in a clinic. If we leave before the contract is up, we have to pay the difference, and it is a huge one. It is not just the tuition that has to be repaid (I went to a community college, so, it was only about $5000 total), but, the length of time I was on leave with pay, along with my complete medical benefits and all that would have to be figured into this equation. The final amount would have been at least $50,000 to repay. Fine if the job situation is great for nurses. I see it is less than advantageous. But, I have a great deal of seniority, vacation time, pension, etc...and at 43 years of age, it is better to remain at the place that I know than to face demons I cannot see at this time. I have a decent situation from a personal perspective, but, I can see how a nurse that is not careful can be thrown to the wolves in this environment. Some of my collagues that graduated with me are in less fortunate situations, where they are feeling the wrath of people and experiencing less fortunate situations, but have to remain.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion