New graduate-should I take this job? What does a good nursing position include?

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Hello everyone,

I could use some help and or advice from experienced nurses. I am a new graduate from nursing school. I have a BSN. I applied to a nursing residency program thinking it sounded like a good opportunity to gain some experience and beef up my nurse resume post-college. The program is four months of precepting and classes (precepting on the floor where I would be working at the end of the four months- med-surg ortho) followed by 18 months minimum working on that floor. It's a contracted position. I earned a position in this nurse residency program and they want to know by this coming Tuesday if I am going to take it or not. I haven't even passed the NCLEX yet or gotten my ATT number! The hours are "full-time" and the pay is 25 dollars an hour.

Is this sounding like a good, bad, mediocre deal?

What questions should I be asking before I sign a contract?

Is taking this position going to lock me into med-surg forever?

(I am not really interested in it particularly but this is guaranteed money! And as a broke graduate with looming loans I could use the security.)

Any advice for me would really be appreciated.

-MK

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

Many here would love the opportunity you described

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You are lucky to be offered this position......take it!

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OMG, dear, grab this one! So many of your peers would give their right arm for this chance!

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Sounds like a great deal! The one thing you should know before signing on the dotted line is the penalty for breaking the contract- some places will make you pay back the cost of the training. Obviously, nothing in life is guaranteed, and some life event may occur in those 18 months that would prevent fulfilling the contract.

Taking any position most likely will not lock you into that specialty for life. Nurses change specialties all the time, as long as positions are available. Many will argue that a year minimum in med/surg should be required (I disagree, but that's another post), and that it will provide you with a good basis for later specialties.

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Specializes in oncology, MS/tele/stepdown.

Speaking as a new grad myself, I would take it. A lot of places expect you to get a certain amount of med surg experience anyway, so it won't lock you in so much as make you look well-rounded. That's what I would think, anyway.

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Thank you guys so much for your responses and reassurance! I feel much better now about starting in med-surg. I will definitely read the contract carefully with special attention to penalties as far as breaking the contract just in case. I think I will take the position and be grateful :). Now just to pass the NCLEX before October 7th- the start date!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I think you need to take this position for the opportunity it represents for the job market is very poor and a majority of jobs are requiring experience of 2-3 years. This will open doors of opportunity for you. We cannot offer legal advice about your contract signing and I would discuss this with your family. Read everything careful before you sign it and know what the conditions are.

:ancong!:for graduating school! :ancong!: for your new position and Good Luck on your boards!:anpom:

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