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Discussion

Multiple interviews, possible offers, new grad needs help

This may be long, but I want to give you all the info

I am a new grad with my ADN. Southern California (Riverside/Orange County/San Diego area). My BSN starts on Sunday with West Coast University online. I thought starting the BSN would be ok for those hospitals that are already magnet or going magnet. Not so, they all say they have so many applicants with BSN and MSN degrees they can be picky. So that threw the big guys out the window as a new grad for me. UCI told me to get a year experience and my BSN and come back and apply as an experienced nurse, which they all want.

My goal is to become a CRNA as soon as I can. I plan to get my BSN, and 2 years critical care experience and start to apply. I know longer is better, but why not try if I meet the qualifications. Soooo, Specialty ICU is best, then ICU, then ER especially if it is a trauma center and well known.

So I have apps out EVERYWHERE. Probably 100 apps. I haven't heard anything for over a month. I have called HR and the recruiters, told they will pull me app, then they disappear. So I got a call out of the blue from an ER director about a night FT position (very small ER and is a psych receiving facility). I interviewed with him, and am awaiting him to complete his other interviews by next week. I was excited to have something, even though it wasn't exactly what I wanted. Then on the way home, the sky fell. I got an email from an ICU director where I did my clinicals telling me he wants me to come interview and will call me to schedule it. Then, I stopped at another hospital that a friend of mine is an RN in the OR. HR was impressed with my appearance, portfolio, and certs, and walked me straight to the Nursing Recruiter. She was also impressed, and when I told her about my friend referring me, she said that goes a long way and put a post it note on my resume that said "employee referral and the person's name." She said she meets with the hiring managers early next week and will personally give them this and let them know I am an employee referral with my license in hand and a slew of certs. This would be for an ER new grad program. I get home, and get another call from a well known level II trauma center ER director, which I stopped to see and she wasn't there so I left her a message saying I was standing in her lobby etc etc. She said she was so sorry she missed me and she got my resume etc, and asked me to come interview Monday at 11am, which I obviously accepted.

Dilema breakdown

Option 1: Small ER, 63 mile drive, $36-38hr, night shift

Option 2: Trauma ER, 63 mile drive, $36-38hr, night shift

Option 3: Basic ICU, 67 mile drive, $30hr, day shift

Option 4: ER new grad program, 39 mile drive, $31 starting/$34-36 after 90 days, day

shift

I really do not care about the distance. I just want to be realistic about the time I will be driving and how much that really means I make per shift because of travel. I REALLY do not want to work nights, but $6+ and hour could be $1000 a month after OT. The one thing about the ICU position is I know TONS of people at that hospital, and especially the anesthesia team. They are very supportive of me and will continue to be. I could still be in contact with them if I were somewhere else, it just seems I may have more contact if I worked at that facility. The most lucrative and keeps me on days would be option 4, but isn't the best for experience toward CRNA. I would enjoy the work at option 2 the most, but I don't know if it is the best to get me to my goal. I also am thinking about using these as experience to get me to UCI in the SICU or another specialty ICU, then work there for a year before applying to anesthesia programs.

I don't know which to choose if they all turn in to offers, and what to do if one offers me a position and I really am holding out for one of the others. Any and all advice is MUCH appreciated! Sorry that was so long. Again, I wanted to give all the information so it is all clear what I have in front of me.

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    • Featured Replies

    Wait and see what is actually a solid offer in writing. Talk is cheap.

    Then do what will be best for your future plans and do not worry about salary until you have the experience.

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    • Author

    Felt like I should update this so any new grads reading it could have some insight. I turned down option 3, and option 4 filled the new grad position but then offered me a standard ED position. I interviewed with option 2 and really felt good there. They offered me the job, which I accepted, then when I got in my truck option 1 called offering me the position, which I declined thanking him for the opportunity. So Trauma ER it is! I was so discouraged not getting any calls for 2 months, then everything came down the pipe at once. My advice to new grads is get in there! Don't be shy, suit up and go straight to the director of the department you are applying for (apply online first). It got me 5 interviews and 4 offers (I didn't mention another hospital called to interview me after I already accepted this position).

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    If you were so interested in CRNA schools, you turned down the only option that would get you there. None of the CRNA programs I have seriously looked at accept ER experience, even if it is a fancy Trauma ER. You put your goal off by at least a year accepting that one, but at least the extra money will help you save up for school in the long run.

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    If you were so interested in CRNA schools, you turned down the only option that would get you there. None of the CRNA programs I have seriously looked at accept ER experience, even if it is a fancy Trauma ER. You put your goal off by at least a year accepting that one, but at least the extra money will help you save up for school in the long run.

    A bit rude no?

    OP, great job and congratulations!! That's awesome, you obviously interview well since you received so many job offers. So kudos to you and good luck!

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    • Author

    Thank you to both of you. Calivianya, that wasn't rude, just direct which I appreciate. I agree that ICU is better for the anesthesia programs. However, it was a very small ICU and I know nurses from there that want to be CRNAs, they have applied with no luck, and I think it has to do with their experience they get at that facility. They all are trying to relocate. Where I am now, I can move to ICU after 6 months, and although a fancy ER is not normally accepted as you have said, it was better than tele or medsurg, and in my educated opinion is similar to that other ICU.

    Postpartum RN, thank you! I was surprised at how much came up for me, and honestly it really stressed me out, worrying about making the right decision! I know I will be happy working at this hospital though. Everyone seems great and happy. People stay there too, I haven't heard of any quick turn overs.

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    ...Isn't that the way it always is? ;) When it rains, it pours?

    I was toodling around about a month ago throwing out some resumes because I was considering going back to the hospital. I'd like to be a flight nurse one day (granted, I've been a nurse for 2 years) and decided I needed to get back into the acute care saddle.

    Long story short, I got 4 offers for interviews (CT stepdown, 2 EDs, and a CICU) and 2 job offers between 3 major Level 1 trauma centers, including a hospital that I tried really hard to get into their new grad program. I turned down the ED and ICU interviews because I had already accepted a position. I stuck with my first offer, CT stepdown, because I like the staff, I can train up to the CTICU in about a year), and this hospital's flight program loves them some cardiac patients.

    Sometimes it's not about the conventional paths of travel, but about where you feel the best at, and where you'll be able to go with it.

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    • Author

    I really appreciate the story. It makes me feel better about my decision and getting to my goal. Thank you for sharing that! I am excited to start, just need these backgrounds to hurry on through!

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    Hey mrdearmas, congrats on getting a position you're excited about! I hope it has been good to you!

    I was curious what you think of West Coast University's online RN-BSN. I have similar aspirations as you and am considering this route to get my BSN, but there is little to be found on the school in my online research. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

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    • Author

    I have 5 weeks left of the program and I am done! It has been an awesome program. 12 months and the only clinical time is the part for your PHN, which is included in the program. The staff is great and is always willing to help. Call there and ask for Rima Masuri, she was my counselor. My first name is Jose. Let her know I sent you and ask for the same price I got!!

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