Just got new job, but just got better opportunity?

[skydancer7, BSN, RN]

Hello, and heeeelp!

I just got a job at a day surgery center; freestanding, outpatient. Pretty low key, low stress, very kind co-workers and approachable, nice management and docs. HOWEVER, it is a $7 per hour paycut from my current hospital job. It's per diem, but they are hoping I will eventually do full-time. I just started last week and did 2 orientation shifts. Love it, very low stress.

THEN just now FINALLY heard back from my current hospital's day surgery center. It is busier, more crowded, but rumor has it management is great and the nurses down there are VERY happy. It's not a job offer yet, but an opportunity to orient there so that I can float... and that is usually how they find the people they want to keep for full-time, so it's a foot in the door. And I keep my current good wage and benefits, etc.

My current MED-SURG job is HELL and I need out ASAP. I think day surgery at either place would be great. I already signed up at the small outpatient place for orientation days, so now I have NO free days left to orient at the hospital!! And they are asking when I can come in... aaaaaah!

What do I do? Call out sick or say something come up and ask to postpone orientation at the low-paying place? Tell them I have this opportunity and want to postpone to see if I am going to bail on the low paying place? I don't want to burn a bridge but don't want to lose the opportunity to potentially have a better, less stressful job that IS NOT A $500-1000 per month paycut

My current thinking is call out/postpone at low paying place, while I orient for a week or two at current hospital day surgery. Then I come back and orient at low-paying place. Then I will have BOTH the hospital and a sweet low stress per diem gig, if they don't fire me first for bad attendance...

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!!

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Yeah, calling out during orientation is not a good idea, unless you are on your deathbed.

It's not unusual to have 2 per diem positions. Why can't you tell the hospital's day surgery center that you're currently orienting at the freestanding SC and may need to wait a week to start the day surgery orientation?

[AliNajaCat]

Yeah, take both per diem positions in OP Surgery, lose the crazy-making m/s position, and over the next couple of months figure out which day surg place you want to see more of. One of them is bound to be better that the other somehow, and you'll have the benefit of learning more to boot. Score!

[skydancer7, BSN, RN]

Ah perfect, yes!!! Why didn't I think of this :) I will ask to wait to orient at hospital job. I am sure they can wait a couple weeks :) You are awesome, thank you!!