New Grad with 2 offers

[StarMom2Nurse]

Hi everyone! Was hoping to get advice or maybe a different perspective.... I just graduated and all along was convinced I wanted to be an ICU nurse. But after graduating and evaluating life I have been considering labor and delivery. Some force keeps drawing me back to look for L&D positions and videos on Youtube. My personality loves a faster pace and likes to be constantly challenged. I worked as an LVN in a high demand Skilled Nursing/ Rehab facility and LOVED my patients and my job even though we had a high turn over I had nothing negative to say. So here is my dilemma....

Offered a position in the DOU step down from ICU with opportunity to transition to ICU after 6 months. It is at a smaller hospital with a not so good community reputation but many of the nurses have been there for >10yrs. They either love it or hate it. They have a great smaller new grad program, competitive pay, and only 25 mins from my house. But if I did not like DOU and wanted to pursue L&D, I would not want to work there. Catch, is I know the nurse supervisor and my favorite clinical instructor has worked there for 15 yrs in ICU. I feel comfortable there because I did clinical rotations in ICU there but not sure if I am just scared to be at a larger hospital with no support and I am just staying in my comfort zone.

Second job offer is on the Med Surg. floor at a nicer, larger hospital. The pay is a few dollars more, and there is an option to transfer to other units after a year. They have a NICU, womens center, and large L&D unit and an amazing new grad program. I actually gave birth to my daughter there and loved it! Same driving distance from my house, but I wouldn't be in DOU/ICU either.

I guess I just feel extremely stuck. I made a pro's and con's but they are equal in different ways. I was more excited than I thought about the med surg position but still do not know what to do.

Any advice or personal experience would be greatly appreciated!!

[blueblossoms22]

Larger hospitals tend to have more resources, but go with your heart

[Nonie76]

My first hospital I worked at was a very popular local hospital that catered to some cutting edge medical care.   I worked there 5 years.  I did med surg for a couple of years, got incredibly board and moved onto float pool which was my favorite! I worked ER, SUB, DOU and all adult medical surgical floors.  Here I am 25 years later..  doing something very different.  However, having that hospital on my resume has always been a source of positivity for any interview…. Just a perspective.  Large hospitals offer more resources and cross training..  YOLO 

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

Which one do you have a more positive feeling about?

[StarMom2Nurse]

Thank you all! I feel like my heart is with the smaller hospital, but its in a rougher area and a different patient population so my husband wants me to take the larger hospital. It still doesn't feel right but I accepted a job at the larger hospital. Im so grateful and excited to finally work as an RN!