Need some advice... Decisions, Decisions

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Well its almost over. I am officially complete with school 8/20/09. I have interviewed for intern jobs and the hospital in which I currently work for has offered me employment. I love the manager, I love the hospital, the staff is great, you couldn't ask for anything more I was truly blessed to have been selected upon thousands of applicants. The only thing is, its a country club. Which is great for nurses who are burnt out. You can actually be the nurse you always imagined inside your head when going through school or even when you decided upon nursing as a career. The thing is I don't feel that I will learn very much and as a new grad, you only get a short window of time to be oriented and basically "let off the hook''. After that and after you get letters after your name you are accountable. My other option is to work for a hospital that is a much faster pace, diverse and likely to see alot of cases. The hospital that I am referring to was impressed with my interview and had a recuriter call me to make me an offer.

The thing is my manager somehow found out that I was interviewing and sent an email to the interviewing manager claiming that I belong to them. Quite flattering, but I would like to keep my options open. Hospital #2 has stated they cant make me an offer until Hospital #1 backs off. I contacted my manager, and cleared things up with her and explained to her that although I expressed interest in coming to hospital #1 I have decided to start off at hospital # 2. I called the recruiter for hospital # 2 and they have said that they will need to contact my manager and do an internal background check (i.e performance, attendance etc) and now I am highly upset:banghead:. I walked away from a job "in hand" based on the presumption that they wanted to make me an offer now their stringing me along.

I feel really bad now about walking away after my manager stuck her neck out for me soooo. Now what do I do? I'm thinking about calling my manager back and asking for my job before she fills the position. Help. Thanks.

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Specializes in Clinicals.

I would definitely call my manager before the position is filled. Just explain to her exactly what you said here. It seems that your manager would LOVE to keep you!

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First off, there are a LOT of new grads on this forum who have been unsuccessful in getting any kind of interviews, not to mention offers, so don't be surprised if you don't get a whole lot of sympathy here.

I am wondering from your post if the two hospitals are within the same system? Just because you said they had to do an internal background check. If they are, could you go to someone in HR to get it straightened out? If they are not, could you suggest to hospital #2 they get a reference from a clinical instructor, professor, or anyone else you can think of other than the manager? If those two don't work, could you sit down and have a heart to heart with your manager and just say exactly what you said here?

I think I understand what you're saying about the hospital you work at. I work for the same system, but for the main campus, and although it isn't new or fancy, it is clean, functional and very unpretentious. We see a lot of different kinds of cases, and the nurses (and patients) are for the most part down to earth - no country club here. I think it is a great place to learn as a brand new nurse.

Good luck.

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I don't think working at a country club hospital sounds bad :no:. I wouldn't want to commute to where I think you are working, though; too much of a hike :wink2:. I'm trying to embrace where I'm currently working, if I walked into your hospital I'd be in trouble (not wanting to walk back out!). Why do you think you will miss out on learning experiences? Do you mean medically or culturally? I work in a big melting pot. It's been a bit of a culture shock, but also very interesting.

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Your current manager didn't stick her neck out for you, and she isn't doing you any favors. If she wanted you to stay and work for her she should have discussed it with you and given you an offer. Then as a professional, she should have accepted that you are interested but will also look into other opportunities and support you in making the best decision for YOU. Contacting hospital #2 and claiming you as her own was unprofessional and wrong. It is your decision, and you should make it.

I would contact Hospital #2 and tell them exactly what is going on. Say that you are still very interested in the position and would love to officially hear an offer. Also tell them (nicely with no bridge burning) that you are concerned about the internal background check because your current manager is upset with your choice to explore other opportunities and that you can provide other references from coworkers in case she decides to tarnish your record.

I would not get back to your original manager, asking for the job after this....she's not someone you want to work for.

MichiganGirl- This poster is asking for advice, not sympathy. There is a big difference. Do not hold her success against her.

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MichiganGirl- This poster is asking for advice, not sympathy. There is a big difference. Do not hold her success against her.

Sorry. I shouldn't have posted, I don't have any good advice.

I don't hold her success against her. I wish her well.

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Thanks for the responses,

Michigan girl, yes it is within the same system and as far as internal references-My rational for the delay in making an offer is I think that hospital #2 is just trying to buy more time so that the two managers may have a chance to talk and be clear on the final decision because there was a lot of miscommunication and confusion. Hospital # 1 because I had expressed great interest in working there. Hospital # 2 because I interviewed with them and now they're being told that I've already accepted a position. and ME because I had no clue that I had accepted a position either.

A4L4S,

The reason why I said she did me a favor is although I had spoken with her a couple of months ago, and she said she would take care of it, nothing was ever settled, finalized or set in stone. Therefore, I felt it was best to keep my options open "just in case". Well she'd interviewed for positions, held job fairs and filled all of them but 1 that she held for me. It was just assumed that I would come there so she just switched my title over and set it all up so that I didn't have anything to do but graduate and show up. I'm sure she bent alot of rules to do this.

No I'm not expecting sympathy by any means. I understand alot of people would kill to be in my position so I feel blessed. It's just that I feel so tormented: guilty for leaving a place I love, and wondering if I made the right decision.

Some of us are, or have been at the cross road transitioning from school to career, and I was just wondering as a new grad what is more important-- having exposure to a variety of patients and cases in a fast paced environment or certainty that you will orient in a supportive environment where the manager is fair and flexible although the acuity is much lower and the staff has lesser experience?

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Yikes--- that is a sticky situation.

Although most people I would assume would think you were crazy for giving up #1, I understand your concern and why you are leaning toward #2. (I think I would do the same thing). You gotta go with your gut. If manager #1 is a professional, she will understand.

My hiring manager moved to another floor 2 weeks after I started. I'm sure she knew this when she hired me. I have still received a wonderful orientation with very supportive nurses anyway. My point is, people move on, you can't take it personally. Just don't burn any bridges - and I'm sure you won't.

Good luck, let us know what happens.

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UPDATES!!!!!!!!

Well, my position at hospital #2 was hijacked by nursing administrators in an effort to place remaining students in my program who either haven't had the opportunity to interview or hadn't been called back from interviews that they had been on. I was contacted on tuesday and told that I could not be offered the job and that they were willing to make things right with my manager at hospital #1 needless to say I was livid. According to the Gods I was seen as someone who'd already accepted a position so they plopped students in leftover positions and Management had no sayso. Needless to say, I had to go back crawling to my manager to ask for my job back although I made it appear (due to a little email I'd sent over the weekend as a just in case) that I was not settled with my decision and I've decided to remain in my position. I signed my paperworkd and I start Monday.

I guess these things have a way of working themselves out regardless as to why, My Lord decided for me where was best for me to go. I surrender. and I'm happy!

Thanks for the feedback. Good Luck to everyone!

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Guess it was just meant to be. Good luck on Monday!

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CandyGyrl,

You're done with school !!!!!

:ancong!:,:cheers:

~Hoot~

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I know!!!!! Thank you sooooo much!:yeah:

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