New RN, first job offers...advice needed!

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 9, 2010

What are your long term career goals?

Your friends are right in that you may have trouble "moving on" to other jobs after the rehab experience. The hospital job would probably give you more options for career mobility and career advancement later. It might be worth the lower pay to set yourself up for more career options later.

You didn't say what type of job the hospital job is though. Would it give you good "hands on" experience? Is the work environment reasonable?

The 2-year committment is worrisome. What have you learned about the hospital as a place to work? Have you read the fine print on the contract? What happens if you leave before you 2 years is up? Do you throw you in jail? How much money would you have to pay back? etc. That's an important piece of information.

Unless you know the hospital is a bad place to work ... or the contract has penalties for leaving early that are too horrible to risk ... or the particular job is really unappealing to you ... or the particular job would not give you good experience ... I would be inclined to pick the hospital job. Money is not the only consideration now. A little extra money now will not outweigh good career options later. Think long term.

However ... if rehab is something that really interests you and you intend to make it you long term career, then go for the rehab job -- particularly if it is a much nicer place to work. You also may want to take the rehab job if some of the issues I raised above about the hospital job are really bad.

You haven't told us enough about the 2 options or about your long term goals for me to give a firm recommendation. But hopefully, I have raise a few issues to think about as you make your decision.

Good luck to you.

Rljohnson8 · Aug 10, 2010

Thank you llg for your reply! Yes, the hospital does have a pay back penalty if you terminate your contract before the 2 yrs. The amount depends on how much time you have left to complete the term. I had a phone interview and they said they were not sure if they could guarantee a "day" intern and they could not guarantee which "campus" I would end up working at. I also have to agree to work every other weekend. In addition to this the hospitals benefits do not become effective until 3 months of hire. At the rehab center benefits start DAY ONE of hire including PTO. There are no weekends involved and it involves working 3, 12hr week-day shifts. The rehab facility is a private center and with a more personal work environment but it has the benefit of a large corporate facility because they have branches throughout the US. The nurses and staff that have worked there have been there for years. I will be responsible for assessments, passing meds, documentation of care, admission/discharge assessments, team "care-plan" meetings every week with the physician, social worker, family and director of nursing, basic nursing care (foleys, straight cath's, wound care, IV therapy, teaching, central line care, diagnostic testing)I really feel this is a good opportunity for me but again,I get conflicting opinions from well meaning friends that I will "lose skills". Couldn't I take a refresher course of some sort if I decided to move back into the hospital environment? Besides, what if I really enjoy this rehab-field? I like the idea of having more personalized patient care and having more of a role in the rehabilitation of patient's. Anyhow, thanks again for your opinio, every little input helps!