new nurse thinking of leaving hospital job

[n1wgmp]

I've been a nurse for 6 months now and landed an amazing job right out of school in the Cardiac ICU at a local hospital. During my orientation my preceptors and managers said I was exceeding expectation left and right and couldn't believe how well I was doing. They asked me if I would be interested in working day shift and of course I jumped right on it! (new grad nurses automatically get sent to night shift to get their experience and "feet wet", there hasn't been a new graduate nurse sent directly to days in over 10 years from what my managers say)

So needless to say, I lucked out and got the day shift job, a great schedule and everything. My managers are great, the nurses around me are extremely supportive and helped, I love every single one of them. I am happy with where I am at. Some days are extremely stressful but others aren't and I really enjoy my work. I do dislike working 12 hour shifts though.

However...I am a little disappointed with the hospital itself. They have went back on their word twice now concerning raises. When I was first hired and at 6 months. I was "promised" a $1 raise and now they have cut it to .50 now so thats been sitting in the back of my mind for some time. It was kind of like, they told me all the things I wanted to hear in order to get us nurses to work there, and now its like they are going back on their word because I already work for them. The hospital is all about saving money and won't hire more nurses even though we are all short staffed.

I was recently approached by one of the top cardiologists and asked to be his personal nurse (they have their own nurses that work with them in the clinic and rounding with them in the hospital). The job would be Mon-Fri 8 hour days, no weekends, no on call, paid holidays off and paying $12,000 more/year that what I am at now.

At first, in my head I was like "oh of course not, no way I would ever leave my job, I love what I do"

However... the idea keeps lurking in the back of my mind and I cannot seem to shake it. In the long run, it would be optimal for me. I knew I wasn't going to be at the bedside forever when I started nursing but I figured I would get 5 years or so. My husband and I are newlyweds and we plan on having kids here within the next 2 years, so an office job would be the best in that situation, plus that is the schedule he works now as well.

The job pays more money, a better schedule, and in the long run would be something I've always wanted. The opportunities to work for a good doctor like this are hard to come by and I don't want to be passing up an opportunity that may not come along again.

However, I only have 6 months experience and I'm still extensively learning every single day and do not want to hinder my future opportunities by quitting so soon after graduation.

I feel as if it would look unprofessional and if I ever wanted to go back to the hospital I may not be able too.

If anyone has any advice about this, please! I'm all ears :)

[canigraduate]

Don't worry so much about future opportunities in hospital nursing. You may find that you like clinic nursing so much you won't want to return to the hospital.

Also, this kind of opportunity does not happen often. Frankly, I would already have my notice on my manager's desk, while singing and dancing on my out of the door.

Do your due diligence, go talk to the HR lady, find out your benefits, do a cost-benefit comparison.

I really think you should go with the cardiologist. It does not look unprofessional for you to pursue a professional opportunity. It is actually unprofessional not to. The people at the hospital will tell you that it is unprofessional so they don't have to train a replacement. This is one of the little tricks they play to make you feel bad about leaving. Don't fall for their passive-aggressive baloney.

Besides, they are already not honoring their word to you. That usually gets worse instead of better, in my experience. Soon, you will be getting the $0.04 cost of living raise rather than the 8% merit raise that you are supposed to get. It's happened to me a couple of times.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I only have 6 months experience and I'm still extensively learning every single day and do not want to hinder my future opportunities by quitting so soon after graduation.

I resigned from my first nursing job approximately six weeks after starting it. I only received one day of orientation before being cut loose to work on my own. Then, when something bad occurred several weeks later, management attempted to throw me under the bus in spite of the fact that I never received orientation to this job.

This was about 10 years ago and it has not hindered my career. I do not believe in being loyal to a workplace that will not display any loyalty to me. Good luck to you.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

No one says you have to work bedside forever.

For your life at present, this is a great opportunity to do what you love and an alternate to what you are doing now.

Interestingly, with hospitals at the MD's beck and call, they may see your opportunity in a different light and welcome you per diem. I wonder how they feel about their MD's poaching the nurses?

Two things. Be sure that you relish the idea of working 5 8 hour shifts. 12's are not easy, but you have 4 days off. And the difference in pay is a 36 vs 40 hour time schedule. Also be sure that if you do go per diem, that neither the 2 shall mix. In other words, don't get into the "well you work for him, call him and ask xyz"

And another good thing is that it could set you up for continuing on to your NP in the future when your family life is at a good point. If that is something you have thought about doing.

Wishing you the very best!!

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

I resigned from my first nursing job approximately six weeks after starting it. I only received one day of orientation before being cut loose to work on my own. Then, when something bad occurred several weeks later, management attempted to throw me under the bus in spite of the fact that I never received orientation to this job.

This was about 10 years ago and it has not hindered my career. I do not believe in being loyal to a workplace that will not display any loyalty to me. Good luck to you.

I can not like this enough!! The business of health care is such that they would like the most efficient time manager for the least amount of money feasible. And with as few nurses as possible. Combined with a thought process of any nurse is replaceable.

And reasoning to throw you under the bus at first indication of anything amiss. Regardless of it you believe the unit to be understaffed or not.

The "finally, a new enthusiastic nurse on the day shift! AND willing to do it all!! We have hit paydirt" mentality.

[sjalv]

If I were you, I would be wary of this offer. No offense, but what about you vs more seasoned nurses on the unit made him single you out as the nurse he wants working with his practice? Why would he pay that much more for a (basically) new nurse? How well do you know this cardiologist? Do you know him well enough that you can see him being your direct boss? If things are as they appear on paper, then definitely jump ship (with giving a notice) and go work for his cardiology practice. But do your research first; as you well know, things aren't always as they appear.

[idialyze, BSN, RN]

I did this exact thing many years ago, I was tired of bedside nursing after 11 yrs on the same unit. A physician I thought I knew very well

offered me a job that sounded too good to be true. As it turned out it was so bad I had to move away from the small town where I had

lived all my life to get away from his craziness ! I had to testify against him in a wrongful death case about 2 years later, and the family

was awarded a $2 million judgement. he then claimed to be insane, declared bankruptcy , and checked in to a rehab program. The family

never saw a dime.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Make sure you get everything in writing before you quit your current job.

I've been offered these "wonderful opportunities", and when it came right down to it, the cardiologist refused to put anything in writing. My former colleague, who took the job, said he was more after her body than her expertise or experience and she wished she had never fallen for it.

[J Colt]

As others have said, run, do not walk--it sounds like a wonderful opportunity, especially if the doctor is so nice. Congratulations, you're clearly a rock star nurse!

[SarahEAW]

I agree with Libby below. I would try and talk to his last nurse to ask her about the job. Has the job had a lot of turnover? 12,000.00 is a huge pay increase. What are your long term goals? If you don't take the job with cardio, I would keep at your current post until you have at least 1 year of experience, & then look at your options.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

I know there are some great docs out there, but they're pretty thin on the ground - especially when it comes to creating great working environments for their staffs. PP is correct - GET ALL EMPLOYMENT PROMISES IN WRITING. Those lovely 8-hour days will morph into extremely looooong days because you can't leave before the last patient is out of the office.

You could find yourself answering the phone for your doc after hours "because you're so smart and such a good nurse", and he really deserves that time away ..... certainly not because he doesn't want to be bothered . This last situation can be VERY dangerous because it can easily result in scope of practice violations and loss of your license if you are actually 'taking call' for the doc. Time off is very difficult to negotiate because he can't run the practice without you. Same excuse goes for not supporting any continuing education activities. Raises won't be possible because of all those horrible changes in reimbursement that are decreasing his income. Yep - heard them all.... from friends that drank the Koolaid.

[IQ168]

here is the best scenario, first go to work for the cardiologist after first finding out what it is like working in his office. always make sure it is a good place to work. second, go per diem at the hospital. keeps your skills up with this. win win.