2 jobs offers. Should i stay or should i go?

[GradRN19]

Hello. I have a bit of a dilemma and I'm not sure what to do. I will be graduating this year in May. I have 2 job offers. One at my current place of employment and another at a bigger hospital.

Hospital A is where I have worked for over 2 years in the ICU as an aide/secretary. While being there I have also floated many times to Med Surg and ED and OB to help out. It is a smaller hospital in the area and is a 138 bed facility. Our med surg unit has 22 rooms and icu has 5. The hospital has declined over the years but they are currently doing renovations and expanding the ER and Cardiac center. With that said, our hospital does get sick patients, but nothing...extreme if you will. Everything gets shipped to our bigger sister hospital. The most I see in icu are vents and cardiac drips. Which has been good experience.

My manager has offered me a position on med surg. I could do day or night part time. They also have a union for the nurses. The staff is close with each other and everyone knows everyone. The problems come from the catty gossip and drama. Also when theres an issue, it gets swept under the rug. Favoritism is an issue there, which is well known.

The plus to staying is I know everyone, I know all the docs, I know how things run. I feel comfortable there. I like most of my coworkers and get along with ppl well.

Cons: When a problem happens, like a pt codes, EVERYONE loses their minds and it turns into a cluster f*ck. Then everyone is in a bad mood after that all day. There is a lot of drama (which I know is everywhere). Nurses refuse admissions and people fight. Most pts get shipped to bigger facilities. My manager is not there most of the time. She shows up when she wants and thats it. Census can be either way but nurses do get put on call. I dont feel as I could advance. Retention rate has not been that good.

Hospital B i got offered a part time night on a medsurg/tele unit. That hospital is our bigger sister hospital. 280 beds and is the local trauma center. The unit i would be on is 28 beds.

Pros : i would get better pay (no union). Closer drive for me. I think I would get some good experience. I would see more. Better resources. Teaching hospital. Trauma center.

Cons: i dont know anyone there. Way busier than im used to - im scared ill be behind and wont know what to do. Many docs/residents that I'd have to try to remember. Retention rate is iffy.

I am really unsure what to do. My ultimate goal for the future is ICU. I also have anxiety bad when it comes to change. I am a creature of habit lol. Advice? Its such a tough decision. What would be best for a new grad? TIA.

[Wuzzie]

Do you want to work in an environment that sounds like the Jerry Springer show with little hope for advancement and less money that’s farther away from your home?

[JKL33]

2 hours ago, GradRN19 said:

Cons: i dont know anyone there. Way busier than im used to - im scared ill be behind and wont know what to do. Many docs/residents that I'd have to try to remember. Retention rate is iffy.

I say get out in the world early in your career if you think you ever might want to. Earlier is probably better for taking on something bigger than what you know as far as people's willingness to help you as a novice rather than look at you as someone who has experience and thus doesn't get much assistance even when trying to learn a lot of new stuff.

2 hours ago, GradRN19 said:

I also have anxiety bad when it comes to change. I am a creature of habit lol. Advice?

The funny thing with this is that while avoiding things that seem scary, people are often willing to put up with plenty of crazy/scary/annoying stuff for no other reason than sheer familiarity. The saying goes: Better then devil you know than the devil you don't. That's really something to ponder when you're talking about possibly missing out on opportunities you would like to take in your career! I did a quick search and found a short but motivating/inspiring little article for you to check out that deals with this. I think every one of the tips/suggestions could inform your thought with regard to your choices.

Get out there and live your life! ☀️

[Kallie3006, ADN]

You will be graduating soon and be working as a GN and then a new RN, both roles which are different than what you are doing now, so change is inevitable no matter which facility you decide to start your career at. Even though you know the coworkers at facility A, your new role changes the dynamics of your job description, work, and unit contributions thus equating to the change that you are attempting to avoid.

Where do you think that will give you the growth and nutriment that you will need as a novice nurse to progress towards your ultimate goal of being in the ICU?