New grad Med Surg or PACU?

[NurseVN]

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?

[NurseVN]

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???

they're not waiting for me. the new grad program does not start until march so i won't do physicals or sign paperwork until february 2nd. it's like 3 weeks from when i was offered the job. i was offered the position right during the interview.

[MJB2010]

Mbarnes the interview process is getting out of hand for us newbies! I had my first interview for a new grad program back in Nov (with HR) then the second interview was first week of Dec. with another HR person. My third interview was with the unit manager, just before Christmas. They have scheduled a panel interview for me first week of Feb and this is all for a med surg overnight position for new grads that starts in March. Fortunately I was just offered another position which I accepted. If I had to wait for this new grad program and their million interviews I would lose my house. They really drag it out. I know they started with hundreds of apps, but 4 interviews seems a bit absurd. And who knows if there will be more after that! I am just greatful to have gotten something else.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

they're not waiting for me. the new grad program does not start until march so i won't do physicals or sign paperwork until february 2nd. it's like 3 weeks from when i was offered the job. i was offered the position right during the interview.

thanks!! i do not think you should wait to give a response. so many new grads applied too and may take your spot! i would let the hiring managers know now that you are interested. if it makes you feel better, talk to both and see if you can shadow for half a shift this week to make a decision by the end of the week. this way you can get a feel for the floor and your potential co-workers. i still think you should accept the med surg slot, but if it is a toxic work environment, then my vote is for pacu!!

mbarnes the interview process is getting out of hand for us newbies!

yes, i agree. when i was in my fourth semester of my adn program back in '08, i had three interviews. the first was a mixer, where the new grads met with hiring managers for five minutes in small groups (i kid you not) to get to know them and learn about their specialties and their floors (september). you could drop off resumes at that time if they were on your person. then there was a panel interview for the specific floor and then one with the don in some cases that were too busy for the panel interview (october). all applicants learned about acceptances and rejections quickly (november). the new grad program began in february, but we were allowed to start working prior to licensure as externs (december) so we could start learning about being a nurse and working the floor. we were not allowed to perform med passes by law, but we could do everything else under the guidance of a licensed rn.