New Grad Having Trouble Deciding Where to Work

[AliasMunky]

Hello All,

I am a newly graduated RN, BSN in Florida. I have applied at quite a few hospitals in my region of Florida. Luckily, I have been selected for interview at two locations. At this time, I'll keep the institutions anonymous.

One hospital, a large hospital in my area, interviewed me on Wednesday. The opening was in fact for 3 positions: 2 new-grads and 1 with experience. With a large amount of applicants, the managers said they'd let me know if their official decision Friday at the latest. This floor is considered an infectious disease, complex care floor. The patients usually cared-for on this floor include: vents, tele, dialysis, palliative care, HIV, etc. The patient/nurse ratio is roughly 4-5:1 according to one of the managers. For whatever its worth, this hospital is also roughly 10 minutes away from where I currently reside. I would be working weekend nights.

I had my next interview today at the second hospital for a position on a step-down-type floor or intermediate care neighboring the ICU. The patient:nurse ratio is 4:1 and the patients are more acute on this floor as their care may include: vents, tele, drips, etc. This hospital is roughly 30 minutes from where I currently reside. The nurse manager who interviewed me today offered me the position on the contingency that I meet with the night staff next week for a semi-formal type of interview just to meet the team leader and some of the staff with whom I may be working. At this location, I would be working primarily weekday nights with 2 weekend nights mandatory/month.

Essentially, the former hospital also is slightly more 'renowned' and has a slightly better 'reputation' than the latter. The latter is again smaller, but the manager told me that he and the other administrators are trying very hard to improve patient satisfaction. The hours are not an issue, as I prefer nights anyway. Another concern is picking a job that will suit my needs as a new-grad nurse, possibly giving me room for advancement in the future.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated,

-AliasMunky

[webmansx, ASN, RN]

Take the ICU job. I am a new nurse (1 and 1/2 years) and I took a convenient job, that was only 7 min drive from where I live, had more pay (than my other offer, which was a 45 min drive, but what I really wanted to do ). I regret everyday that I did not take the other job. I'm misreable and unhappy now,and at this time with the economy and all its very hard to find any job, let alone the job you want. You are blessed you have 2 offers!!! So go with the one you want, not the one that sounds "better". I personally would go ICU, the other one sounds like lots of MRSA and maggots in trachs and such, if you are into that, then go for it!

[AliasMunky]

Well the larger institution never called me back. I would have expected them to at least touch base with me regarding their decision either way. I do like the fact that the larger institution has quite a few more resources to aid in patient care as they're a teaching and magnet hospital. Again, its close by to where I currently live and many of my friends work there, which would also be nice, but its time for me to branch out.

However, I do like the potential for a learning experience at the second, smaller place. I have a meeting with the night staff Monday night just to 'meet the night staff.' I was already offered the job, but manager wants me to meet the night staff still which sounds cool to me. He mentioned the majority of the nurses have about 2 years average experience, so it is a younger floor. But he mentioned that is a good thing in that most of the staff is very eager and upbeat. Being an intermediate care unit, I think it will give me more experience in critical care to get me in the door for what I would really like to do, that is, ICU or ER.

Thanks for the insight and essentially listening to me kind of just get this off my chest :)

-Al