Nurse Extern Position- Which Should I Take?

[em.m_carter]

Hello,

2nd semester traditional BSN nursing student here. This Summer will be the Summer before my senior year, meaning I'll graduate (ideally) the following Spring and will be applying to full-time jobs.

I was lucky enough to apply and be accepted into two nursing externships this Summer- the UPMC Student Nurse Internship (accepted at UPMC Mercy on the surgical oncology floor) and Nationwide Children's Hospital's Student Nurse Externship (accepted on the Hem/Onc floor).

I would easily pick Nationwide- it's a top 10 children's hospital in both hem/onc as well as overall in the nation, and has been for several years. Pediatric hematology-oncology is the field I've been wanting to work in since long before I was in nursing school, so this truly would be the perfect opportunity, especially since the program claims it has the "opportunity for career advancement.” And it pays better than UPMC.

However, UPMC guaranteed me a position after I graduate if I participate in their program this Summer. Nationwide didn't guarantee it. 
 

So my question- for both graduate nurses as well as anyone who has completed a nurse externship before- is what should I do? I've heard participating in nurse externships at Children's hospitals boosts your chances of obtaining a new grad position at any Children's hospital in the U.S., but if I'm guaranteed a position at UPMC (at a well-ranked hospital, but not nearly as well ranked), would that be the smarter move to make here?

Thanks in advance!

[Julia Liou, RN]

Hi em.m_carter,

I am not sure if you have already made a choice, but congratulations on getting two job offers! I think at the end of the day it would be what unit you would prefer to work on. Although you would be guaranteed a position at UPMC, would you actually like working there? It makes me wonder why they are offering you a position at that unit. Are they severely short staffed, which means they may not have the support to guide and mentor you as a new nurse?

I think if your heart is in a specialty like Peds, just go for it, as it tends to be more of a competitive stream, so once you get work experience in that field, it'll be easier to get into that specialty afterwards. 

I don't think the hospital ranking really makes a difference in the grand scheme of things, it would more be the skills you've learned in the hospital, and whether you're working in a supportive environment.

Best of luck! 

 

Hi em.m_carter,

I am not sure if you have already made a choice, but congratulations on getting two job offers! I think at the end of the day it would be what unit you would prefer to work on. Although you would be guaranteed a position at UPMC, would you actually like working there? It makes me wonder why they are offering you a position at that unit. Are they severely short staffed, which means they may not have the support to guide and mentor you as a new nurse?

I think if your heart is in a specialty like Peds, just go for it, as it tends to be more of a competitive stream, so once you get work experience in that field, it'll be easier to get into that specialty afterwards. 

I don't think the hospital ranking really makes a difference in the grand scheme of things, it would more be the skills you've learned in the hospital, and whether you're working in a supportive environment.

Best of luck!