Job offer advice

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 10, 2010

OK....so I'm graduating with my BSN in 28 days!
I need some advice regarding my job offers.
Option #1:
I have been offered a full time position in a Graduate Nurse CV pool, where I would work on two units for five weeks and choose one that fits me. These floors are generally CVPCU's and open-heart step-down.
Option #2:
I am also negotiating with another hospital system in my town, but they have yet to make an offer. I told that system that I was only interested in working for them if they hired me into the ICU. They have not gotten back to me yet.
Option #3:
Another hospital system in another city is seriously considering hiring me into their MICU. If the offer is made and things get solidified, I am leaning towards taking this job.
My dream job is to work in an ICU. I had my practicum on a CVICU working with post CABG patients and I really want to get back into the critical care arena ASAP. Would you advise me to take the CV pool job and transfer into CVICU in a year, or start in the MICU and transfer into CVICU as soon as something is available? Even though MICU is not cardio related, I still feel I'll get the thrill of working with critical patients. But I have worked in the option #1 hospital system throughout my entire nursing school experience and feel like I'm at a great advantage since I already know the facility and have some connections, not to mention I already know how to use the electronic charting system.
If you have any advice, please share it with me!

Given that the job market really sucks, I would take Option 1--it's a concrete job offer. There's no guarantee that hospitals 2 and 3 will make you an offer...you could take a chance and wait to see if 2 or 3 will offer you something...but that means that you might end up with nothing because hospital 1 won't wait forever for you to commit... and with the with the glut of new grads out there, it's not as though they will be struggling to replace you.

Also, it's hard for new grads to get hired straight into ICU. It does happen sometimes...but there's a very steep learning curve because ICU patients are the most critical--you don't have the wiggle-room for mistakes that you would have on a regular med-surg floor or even on stepdown. I can understand why it'd be important for new grads to gain some med-surg experience first before jumping into an ICU. I'm in psych, but I did my preceptorship in critical care and it was fun but tough. You've done your preceptorship in it to so you know firsthand what it's like...but keep in mind that when you start working, you're not going to have that "I'm a student" safety net under you anymore. You'll have a preceptor for a while but ultimately it will be YOU who makes the decisions and deals with the outcomes. Reality shock is cruel.

You're young, so IMO you don't need to go into your speciality straight out of the gate. I vote for gaining some experience first, then after a year or two you will likely find it a lot easier to get into an ICU (and also find it easier to work in one!).

My 2 cents. Good luck in whatever you decide!

caliotter3 · Apr 10, 2010

I also would go with the concrete job offer, #1.

linRdsNay · Apr 10, 2010

seriously? you haven't even graduated and you have 1 job offer and 2 potential offers? where do you live?! count your lucky stars! :)

MrRockerSN · Apr 10, 2010

You give the best advice, and I really appreciate it. I was mainly getting some heat from my family for not negotiating, but they just don't realize how fragile the employment market is right now. They still think nurses can get a job anywhere with dozens of sign-on bonuses and whatnot. Thanks again for your advice!

MrRockerSN · Apr 10, 2010

Given that the job market really sucks, I would take Option 1--it's a concrete job offer. There's no guarantee that hospitals 2 and 3 will make you an offer...you could take a chance and wait to see if 2 or 3 will offer you something...but that means that you might end up with nothing because hospital 1 won't wait forever for you to commit... and with the with the glut of new grads out there, it's not as though they will be struggling to replace you.
Also, it's hard for new grads to get hired straight into ICU. It does happen sometimes...but there's a very steep learning curve because ICU patients are the most critical--you don't have the wiggle-room for mistakes that you would have on a regular med-surg floor or even on stepdown. I can understand why it'd be important for new grads to gain some med-surg experience first before jumping into an ICU. I'm in psych, but I did my preceptorship in critical care and it was fun but tough. You've done your preceptorship in it to so you know firsthand what it's like...but keep in mind that when you start working, you're not going to have that "I'm a student" safety net under you anymore. You'll have a preceptor for a while but ultimately it will be YOU who makes the decisions and deals with the outcomes. Reality shock is cruel.
You're young, so IMO you don't need to go into your speciality straight out of the gate. I vote for gaining some experience first, then after a year or two you will likely find it a lot easier to get into an ICU (and also find it easier to work in one!).
My 2 cents. Good luck in whatever you decide!

You give the best advice, and I really appreciate it. I was mainly getting some heat from my family for not negotiating, but they just don't realize how fragile the employment market is right now. They still think nurses can get a job anywhere with dozens of sign-on bonuses and whatnot. Thanks again for your advice!:yeah::redpinkhe