I am a recent new grad and accepted the first job offer I got because I'd heard new jobs were hard to find. I did my senior practicum at this hospital. I know this job will be stressful for me because I don't catch on to things right away and it is a very busy unit. I made very good grades in nursing school but only because I worked very hard. I am scheduled to start in about 3 ½ weeks. I will have to make a 2-year commitment, but I have not signed anything yet.
I recently got an offer from another hospital. It is better pay, low stress and much better benefits. I could stay in training as long as I needed, and would be able to give good care to my patients because nurse to patient ratio is low (I had a clinical rotation there). Only problem is, they won't give me a formal written offer until they finish my background check - it will probably will take at least another month or more, who knows how long.
I am concerned that I will not hear from hospital #2 before I have to start at hospital #1.
What should I do? Should I:
a) just plan to work at hospital #1 and then quit if I get the formal offer from hospital #2?
If I quit during orientation, would I have to put that job down on my resume in the future (if I quit during the first 2 - 4 weeks)? This hospital belongs to a very large healthcare system which is made up of other hospitals in the city where I live. I fear I would be burning bridges pretty badly and would never be able to apply at any of those hospitals in the future.
b) Should I call up the nurse recruiter at hospital #1 and ask her if I can delay my starting date a month or so for personal reasons? I have no idea if they would do that, plus it might sound bad.
c) should I just plan to take the 1st job and stay in it, even if I get the formal job from #2?
I don't want to do anything dishonest or unethical. I can definitely delay working because my husband supports us, but I am scared to rescind my acceptance from hospital #1. I would also hate to have a bad record at a hospital that is a large nurse employer where I live.
To Reg.nurse - thanks for your input about the VA. I had an interview with 2 managers, then one month later I got a call from the nurse recruiter, giving me a "tentative offer of employment". When I asked what they meant, she explained that I had to go through all of their checks and processing (Vetpro, fingerprint, send school transcripts, etc. . . ), and their giving me a formal written offer was contingent on all of those things being ok.
My background is clean, and I have great references, but I just don't think I can risk having no job at all by declining job #1 and hoping the VA will come through.
Wow! Now that sounds good, a lot like my friend who did eventually get in. Wow, thats great, good benefits, pay, etc. With that info, I say wait but Im scared to tell you to do something that might not pan out. It sounds really good though! Congrats to you, its hard to get in. So, basically...you have the offer its just if all the checks balance. You should be fine. Congrats to you. Good luck, let us know if and when something happens.
I just wanted to say, many hospitals that make you sign a contract make you pay when you break it too, to repay your training costs. It can be up to 10 grand--so be careful with job #1!
Personally, I would hold out for the VA since you hate #1 anyway.
reg.nurse
35 Posts
Wow! Now that sounds good, a lot like my friend who did eventually get in. Wow, thats great, good benefits, pay, etc. With that info, I say wait but Im scared to tell you to do something that might not pan out. It sounds really good though! Congrats to you, its hard to get in. So, basically...you have the offer its just if all the checks balance. You should be fine. Congrats to you. Good luck, let us know if and when something happens.