New Grad Dilemma

[mel5236]

I received my RN license this past August and interviewed for an OR position in October and then a SICU position at the same hospital last week. I was offered the SICU position, but my "dream" is OR nursing. In November I flew out to California and interviewed for a New Grad Residency OR Position (I have been hoping to move to LA since I started nursing school) and have yet to hear back (We were told to expect news the first week of January but an information sheet stated offers will be made up until Jan 31). The SICU position was offered to me yesterday and I was told orientation would start January 8th. It would be a major gamble to decline and then end up not getting accepted to the residency either. In your opinion, what is the best move in this situation?

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. I don't know where you are but California is not what it's cracked up to be. Sure the weather is nice and there's swimming pools and movie stars but we also have the third highest cost of living in the country, The highest taxes on income, property and sales outside of New York and New Jersey. It's also a highly competitive nursing market. Ask yourself what you would do if the job doesn't work out. Do you have savings to hold you over for 6 months to a year while you look for a job. You can take the current offer and if the offer from California goes through you can find a way to gracefully exit. Still nursing is a very small world and if you ever plan on going back to your home town make sure you don't risk becoming "Not eligible for rehire.

I would take the current offer if it were me. Then if the other offer comes through you should be about 2 weeks into orientation. Really think in through but if you decide to take the California offer there's always "I don't think thus specialty is a good fit for me." Or just make up a reason like my fiancé is moving to California and I'm going with him/her.

Hppy

[mel5236]

Thank you for your response hppygr8ful. I'm from New York/job offer is at a NYC hospital. I was contemplating accepting the offer and then potentially leaving if I was offered the other job but I know that would be very unprofessional/inconsiderate/would burn bridges so I would definitely need to think the decision through.