I am a new grad that was offered a job on a telemetry floor in a hospital where there is not a contract to sign. I was also offered a job that is an OR fellowship that starts with 6 months of training so I would have to sign a 3 year contract. When I graduated I told myself that I just WOULD NOT sign a contract. I am a married 38 year old (no children) and held my first job for 7 years and 2nd job for 12 years before leaving to go back to school so I am not a job hopper but I don't like the idea of signing my life away. I don't know if it is worth my sense of freedom. It seems like a great opportunity that I would be crazy to turn down BUT I am just not 100% sure.
The tele job is my first choice out of floor jobs (I was also offered a job on neuro and another job at a long term care facility) but I never saw myself as a floor nurse, although I could do it and would be great for experience & it would just be a stepping stone. I liked the director & she really liked me. She is big on growth and learning & doesn't expect you to stay on that floor. She says I could transfer to another department after a year.
Schedule and having a work life balance are important to me at my age. The OR fellowship is 4 ten hour shifts & I would work one weekend every 6 weekends. I would also be on-call two days every 6 weeks. They do self scheduling. I really don't like the idea of being on-call but I realize it is part of the job. The tele job is day shift 7a-7pm 3 days per week, 36 hours. I would work every other weekend (not a problem) but maybe not because some prefer to the weekend shifts for the diff. Basically OR =less weekends and being on-call. Tele = more weekends and no on-call.
I feel with tele I would move into other roles easier than OR vs OR and deciding to move to another dept because it is so specific.
Another problem is that a prior clinical instructor had her students at the hospital I would be at. She told me about this program because I was talking to her about OR. She got me the interview because she just ranted an raved about me to the charge nurse. The fellowship was full but they brought me in and offered me this position. It is kind of last minute. I feel they are doing me a favor and I know my instructor pulled strings. She just has been very impressed with this hospital. So I feel the pressure to do prove to everyone why they did this for me. However, I don't really like favors being done. So if I turn it down I will feel embarassed and that I wasted everyone's time. I honestly didnt' think it would pan out.
I think I would be a good fit for OR but I only shadowed a nurse twice in school so I can't really be sure. BUT I would be in contract for 3 years. That is a long time to not be in the right spot. Another problem (sounds dumb) is that I remember being in the OR and not being sure I could work there because it is soooooo FREEZING and I hate being cold and am always cold.
Plus, being on-call makes me REALLY nervous. So while tele may not be the dream job I would feel free and know I can grow. I graduate Summa Cum Laude so I feel I can succeed and am will move on to great things.
Does the tele job also involve a residency? How much training are they offering? If the tele job has no residency and the OR job does, that would make me learn towards the OR job. But yes I freeze in the OR too!
I like the idea about finding out if transferring to a different unit would count as breaking the contract.
FWIW, I hired into a residency with a 2 year obligation. They forgot to give anyone in my residency group the contract for 4 months and then when they remembered, we refused to sign it retroactively. By then, they had invested so much that it didn't make sense to let us go.
I would take OR, except like you, I'm ALWAYS cold! I work on a cardiac step-down unit, which is basically a glorified tele floor (we don't even get post-op hearts or caths, mostly CHF, ETOH w/d, COPD, arrhythmias, severe bradycardia, drug OD, electrolyte imbalance, stroke, NSTEMI, PE on heparin, and just about everything else). I usually have 6 patients, which is insane if you ask me. I basically hated it from the first few months onward, planned to quit nursing forever a few months ago, but then decided to stick it out a little longer (need the $$$). I'm planning to hand in my resignation later this week. If I could go back, I'd probably pick OR. It avoids everything I dislike: conscious patients, family members, dirty conditions, dealing with petty patient complaints.... But you should do what's best for you!
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
Like you, I would be hesitant to sign a 3 year contract. If you do decide to turn down the OR position, you can be up front about not wanting to make a commitment you aren't sure you can keep. They'll probably appreciate your honesty and not hold it against you, even if strings were pulled.
Personally, I hated OR. But that's just me. Other people find it suits their temperament just fine. Good luck, whatever you decide to do.
I was just talking to the HR recruiter at my local hospital yesterday (I graduate in May). They require 2 year contracts in ED, ICU, and OR. I was a dental assistant/oral surgery assistant for a number of years and I hated OR - that's just me. I too, would be hesitant to sign a 3 year contract. The penalty if you leave is 8k. I really want to leave the area badly so I've been going out on a limb and applying for new grad positions in the state I'd like to move to. If I don't get those, I think I'll just do med-surg or tele, get my year, and try again. I guess it all boils down to personal preference, but I can't stand the thought of being stuck here another 2 1/2 years. But as someone pointed out, OR is highly marketable if you'd ever like to travel.
JAnd for the record, almost every single new grad has to sign a contract if they hire into acute care. Surprised you found one that doesn't require it.
That is incorrect , a lot of hospital do not require new graduate nurses to sign a contract for commitment including the one I work for. I know some hospitals did a few years ago but they stopped it when they realized the contract did not stop people from leaving. To the OP, I think 3 year is a long time, personally I would not sign it.
The tele job does have a class we go to for 4 hours once per week that is on different topics. That is for 12 weeks I believe. My training is 8 weeks with a preceptor, up to 12 weeks. So I am not actually familiar with other residency programs but I have heard one director at this hospital call it a residency and another say they don't have residency like other hospitals. So I get trained in the tele job but not like this OR position. For the OR they said at the end of the 6 months I WILL BE competent, I may not be "confident" but that takes longer and I will be COMPETENT.
I don't think they will forget about this contract but I should find out a lot more today.
No place is going to spend 6 months training you without a contract. Since you won't sign a contract then tell people that right up front so you won't waste their time.
Hi cocoa_puff, you sound like me. Everything you mention is what I don't like about floor nursing. I don't know if you know your personality type but I am an ISTJ and floor nursing doesn't really jive with that. My tele floor would be mostly pre and post CABG, chest pain, arrhythmias, etc. So a true tele floor. Sounds a lot like your floor. I will also have 6 patients. The director said the goal is 5 but to be honest, there are usually 6 patients. I almost took a job at the same hospital on a neuro floor that would be 5 patients, 6 if they are really busy, BUT they would pretty much be all stroke patients, ALL total care, and confused, etc. Sounded pretty hard to me. I loved everyone I interviewed with but it just wasn't enough to convince me. I figure I may hate the tele job too but I am willing to give it a shot as a starter gig. I actually don't know how I will do with all the patient juggling. With OR you have your one patient at a time but you are dealing with everyone else in the OR and they can be strong personalities. I think I can hang but may have to toughen up a bit...develop thicker skin. I am worried about getting shaken if I have a surgeon yelling at me. You can't lose composure in the OR when you have that patient who cannot speak relying on you to advocate for them. I think I would be ok though. I find out more today so I will post an update. Depending what I find out I may just go for the OR.
DeeAngel, I agree. I just hadn't heard of a 3 year contract before. Two would make me less nervous. If I am able to transfer departments then the contract is fine. Again, I don't think I would want to transfer department & I am NOT a job hopper BUT I am just thinking worst case scenario. 3 years may not be that long but sounds like a long time to feel trapped if it turns out I hate it. Honeslty, as long as I get thru the 1st year okay then I think I can get thru the other 2. It is the first year I am worried the most about
After finishing up my clinical on a telemetry step down unit, I would say go for OR. I have been an LPN for 8 years and my RN clinical on the tele floor had a lot of the overwhelming, stressed out, and confused staff I experienced while working in LTC. I mean to the point I was thinking why in the world did I go back for my RN?! They had 5-6 patients each which being in LTC where I had 1:30 that didn't seem like a lot but it was with all the extra nursing tasks and acuity. I also agree with the previous poster that said the OR job seems like they value their staff, that is so hard to find. I myself do not have a strong interest in OR, and am always cold, but I would take the OR in a second over the telemetry job. Just wear long johns underneath your scrubs.
Julius Seizure
1 Article; 2,282 Posts
Does the tele job also involve a residency? How much training are they offering? If the tele job has no residency and the OR job does, that would make me learn towards the OR job. But yes I freeze in the OR too!
I like the idea about finding out if transferring to a different unit would count as breaking the contract.
FWIW, I hired into a residency with a 2 year obligation. They forgot to give anyone in my residency group the contract for 4 months and then when they remembered, we refused to sign it retroactively. By then, they had invested so much that it didn't make sense to let us go.