I'm trying to rationalize a decision about work and weighing the pros and cons of receiving a good rate of pay vs. gaining experience. I've started working at hospital #1 PRN in the acute care unit. It's a great hospital in that it is the largest in the area and growing and I'll have a stable job. Yesterday I interviewed at hospital #2. It's the same distance from my home as hospital #1. They are a much smaller hospital that has been trying to come back from a financial crisis. They offered me a full-time position in either the CCU or ER - my choice. No doubt this is because their rate of pay is $5 less/hour than hospital #1 and they are much smaller.
It would be foolish not to work at hospital #1. I would never *not* work there. I'm hired to work PRN, however, full-time openings come up often and I hear it's easy to get full-time hours with PRN status anyway. My dilemma is whether or not to work at hospital #2 as well. I would choose the ER as I think I would be safer there from being called off from low census. The job wouldn't start until after I've finished orientation at hospital #1 so that would work out.
What makes more sense? Work only at hospital #1 in the acute care unit for as many hours as I can at a much higher rate of pay....or work there PRN and go full time at hospital #2's ER for $5 less/hour. I have no problem with working acute care...in fact I'm really proud and excited about the job, I just think that ER would look really good on a resume. And even though they are a smaller hospital, the manager thinks I would still get great critical thinking experience. That's the only reason I'm considering it...because I really don't like the pay. I just feel like having that experience might open up a lot more opportunities in the future. Can someone help me think this through and make a decision? I have until Monday to accept or decline the ER position.
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Thank you, everyone. I really appreciate all of the great advice more than I can say. I formally accepted the ED job today and will start on August 12th. It works out great because I have another month to get more used to being a nurse while working in the acute care unit where I'm at presently before I start in the ED at the other hospital. I'll still remain PRN at my present hospital as well. I have to work 8 hours per month to maintain that status which should be easy to do. I don't plan on staying at the hospital I've just been hired at long-term, but the ED experience is just too valuable to pass up if it will get me into other EDs in the future. Thanks so much for helping me to see the value in that, even though the pay is nothing to get excited about - the experience will make up for that in the long run I'm sure.
Don't worry about the cash. Think of it as a paid internship. Besides, if you're working PRN at the other gig, you can make up for it.
It took me three years to finally earn market compensation... something that might never have happened had I not taken the ED job in a rural hospital.
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It took me three years to finally earn market compensation... something that might never have happened had I not taken the ED job in a rural hospital.
Congratulations and much success to you.