Need advice for job... location vs. experience???

[mcdq]

Hello everyone! I have been working as an RN for about 10 months now working part time temp in a medicine unit in Barrie. I guess I can say that medicine is not really my forte and would like to get into more of a specialty area. I am doing my CC1 (which I find very interesting!), ACLS and TNCC. Since I am only temp, I have been applying for the past month for jobs so I won't be unemployed by Feb. So far, it looks like filling out endless applications have paid off and I just had 2 job offers. One is for a temp part time in medicine in Toronto (scarborough hospital) and one is for a permanent part time in surgery in Barrie (in RVH).

Now, I am a city girl and I would really like to move back to Toronto but I do want the experience in surgery. The position in Barrie (surgery) is permanent and I would love to have experience in surgery including a step down unit. However, I don't know if there will be any opportunities in this hospital since they have been on a hiring freeze, which means I don't know if I can get a full time line anytime soon and I really don't want to go up more north to find a supplemental job so I can get more hours.

The position in Toronto is temp but I heard it's harder to get a job in the city. Perhaps if I take this one, I can stay for a bit in this unit and apply somewhere else after a few months? I want to get out of medicine but I guess a job is a job. I'm hoping maybe it would be easier to transition to a full time line eventually, or maybe I can apply internally to another unit? I don't know if being in a hospital in the city (specifically the scarborough hospital) would mean I can pick up more shifts.

I feel like this might be a case of location vs. experience. I would love to go back to the city but I really want the experience that the surgery floor will give me. Any thoughts??

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

If you want to move to the city, move to the city. The difference is that you have some work experience, and at least a temp position. You should be able to sign on with an agency to fill in the gaps. It's the new grads who are most affected by this economy.

I'm all for relocation and paying your dues, but at some point quality of life needs to be a factor as well. Just be prepared that you will need to budget accordingly if you're in the city.