New grad Med Surg or PACU?

shoegalRN, RN · Jan 22, 2011

I would go with what fits your schedule for RIGHT now.

It sounds like the Med-Surg position will be more schedule friendly so you can complete grad school.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

NurseVN · Jan 22, 2011

I think so too but I'm not a night person and my hubby said I might be too hard on my body. I wish I can pass on one offer to my good friend in nursing school... After long six months of rejections, now interviews and offers seem to go my way. It's weird.

mnf4ever · Jan 22, 2011

I think so too but I'm not a night person and my hubby said I might be too hard on my body. I wish I can pass on one offer to my good friend in nursing school... After long six months of rejections, now interviews and offers seem to go my way. It's weird.

Hi anuong05! I'm a new grad as well, and your posting has given me some hope in regards to new grad rejection. It has been a VERY long 2 months since I passed the NCLEX and I am just getting rejected left and right. I've had one interview (which I thought I nailed), but they decided to go with another new grad who I'm assuming just had more experience than me. I am starting to feel hopeless. May I ask what you did differently to start getting more interviews and job offers? I am at wits end.

I also think the Med/Surg would be a better option if you're continuing with grad school since you would have more days off to study and plus I think you would get more nursing experience out of this dept. vs PACU. Nights could be daunting, but I think you can pull it off!! You got this far!! :)

NurseVN · Jan 22, 2011

Hi anuong05! I'm a new grad as well, and your posting has given me some hope in regards to new grad rejection. It has been a VERY long 2 months since I passed the NCLEX and I am just getting rejected left and right. I've had one interview (which I thought I nailed), but they decided to go with another new grad who I'm assuming just had more experience than me. I am starting to feel hopeless. May I ask what you did differently to start getting more interviews and job offers? I am at wits end.
I also think the Med/Surg would be a better option if you're continuing with grad school since you would have more days off to study and plus I think you would get more nursing experience out of this dept. vs PACU. Nights could be daunting, but I think you can pull it off!! You got this far!! :)

I didn't do anything different but I work part time (2-3 days/week 8hr shift) at a Rehabilitation Center since I got my license. No benefit and the pay is crappy but I made a lot of friends there. I also had my instructor and Dean look at my resume. Good luck!!!!

MJB2010 · Jan 22, 2011

They both sound like great offers with great experience. I'd be more inclined to take the pacu job, since it is so hard to get into a specialty as a new grad. But for YOU with your plan to go back to school, you should decide how long you want to wait before going back. Working nights is hard, you feel tired all the time for the first 6 months or so, but eventually you could bid on a day shift.

Would you be able to get a set shift at either? Like work the same 5 days each week or the same 3 days? I found that by volunteering to work every weekend they were more than happy to oblige and it made overnights more bearable. I did three 12's in a row, slept all day Monday (all day) and then was ok for tues wed & thurs, but had to make myself stay up all night Thurs to be able to sleep Friday day in prep for the weekend 12's.

Either way working full time and going back to school is exhausting so best of luck to you! I think you can't go wrong with either choice they will both be great experience.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Jan 22, 2011

I got both offers from 2 different hospital. One is night 12-HR shift (7p-7a) on Med Surg. I have the options of choosing a specialty and interviewed with that manager after 6 months. I need 18 month commitment with the hospital. One is in PACU day 8hr shift (10-630). Im in a master program to eventually become a NP/CNS and working 5 days/week will prevent me from school but the manager here is so nice. I need 30 month commitment with the hospital.
What do u think?

I think that one of the jobs requires almost twice as long of a committment. That means that much longer to stick around if it turns out to be a bad fit, that much longer to delay schooling because the hours clash with your goals. I'm not sure what you plan to specialize in as an NP/CNS, but the med surg job allows you to continue going to school as well as give you the option to specialize in another area after 6 months. Unless you got a really bad vibe from that manager, I would lean towards the med surg one.

NurseVN · Jan 22, 2011

They both sound like great offers with great experience. I'd be more inclined to take the pacu job, since it is so hard to get into a specialty as a new grad. But for YOU with your plan to go back to school, you should decide how long you want to wait before going back. Working nights is hard, you feel tired all the time for the first 6 months or so, but eventually you could bid on a day shift.
Would you be able to get a set shift at either? Like work the same 5 days each week or the same 3 days? I found that by volunteering to work every weekend they were more than happy to oblige and it made overnights more bearable. I did three 12's in a row, slept all day Monday (all day) and then was ok for tues wed & thurs, but had to make myself stay up all night Thurs to be able to sleep Friday day in prep for the weekend 12's.
Either way working full time and going back to school is exhausting so best of luck to you! I think you can't go wrong with either choice they will both be great experience.

I have a set schedule at PACU for my first year M- F 10-6 pm or st like that. That's why school is impossible. It's great schedule though. With med Surge, Ill have every other weekend and self scheduling 7p-730 am. I have until the end of this month to decide. I like both offers but of course can only take 1 :-)

NurseVN · Jan 22, 2011

They both sound like great offers with great experience. I'd be more inclined to take the pacu job, since it is so hard to get into a specialty as a new grad. But for YOU with your plan to go back to school, you should decide how long you want to wait before going back. Working nights is hard, you feel tired all the time for the first 6 months or so, but eventually you could bid on a day shift.
Would you be able to get a set shift at either? Like work the same 5 days each week or the same 3 days? I found that by volunteering to work every weekend they were more than happy to oblige and it made overnights more bearable. I did three 12's in a row, slept all day Monday (all day) and then was ok for tues wed & thurs, but had to make myself stay up all night Thurs to be able to sleep Friday day in prep for the weekend 12's.
Either way working full time and going back to school is exhausting so best of luck to you! I think you can't go wrong with either choice they will both be great experience.

I have a set schedule at PACU for my first year M- F 10-6 pm or st like that. After first year, I'll have to calls on weekends and weekdays (11p-7am) like other staffs. That's why school is impossible. It's great schedule though. With med Surge, Ill have every other weekend and self scheduling 7p-730 am. I have until the end of this month to decide. I like both offers but of course can only take 1 :-)

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Jan 23, 2011

I have a set schedule at PACU for my first year M- F 10-6 pm or st like that. That's why school is impossible. It's great schedule though. With med Surge, Ill have every other weekend and self scheduling 7p-730 am. I have until the end of this month to decide. I like both offers but of course can only take 1 :-)

You'll have on call time on evenings and weekends? That does not sound like my idea of a great schedule. Does your school offer any of the classes you need to take online? Would you be willing to put your school plans on hold for 2 and a half years?

mnf4ever · Jan 23, 2011

I didn't do anything different but I work part time (2-3 days/week 8hr shift) at a Rehabilitation Center since I got my license. No benefit and the pay is crappy but I made a lot of friends there. I also had my instructor and Dean look at my resume. Good luck!!!!

Thanks for the advice. I will look into Rehab centers as well. Good luck with your decision!

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 23, 2011

i have a set schedule at pacu for my first year m- f 10-6 pm or st like that. that's why school is impossible. it's great schedule though. with med surge, ill have every other weekend and self scheduling 7p-730 am. i have until the end of this month to decide. i like both offers but of course can only take 1 :-)

i agree with the others. in addition to the flexibility of your schedule, med surg is probably a better choice given your future career goals. as a np you need a broad work experience background that med surg offers unless you want to work as a critcial care np.

btw, i am in the application process again. it has been some time since i have had to apply for multiple jobs to get one-two interviews especially since i am now an experienced nurse!!! however, i am applying to areas out-of-state that are saturated with nurses my situation is expected. in any case, i am interested to know how you managed to get your hiring managers to wait a month to hear your response???