Nursing internship or just new nurse job?

[er3465]

The local hospital offers a nursing internship (Advanced Care) which I have interviewed for and am waiting to hear back about. I interviewed August 10th and every deadline they have given me to hear back has been pushed back. The latest date I was given was this past Tuesday. No word, I emailed and I got a response on Wednesday. They would like me to come in and shadow a nurse on the trauma unit. So this morning it was set up for me to go in on Monday.

While this has been going on I also had an interview on the floor I precepted on (med surg) last Thursday. This afternoon I was offered a position via voice mail. The manager said I could call back next week, but I called and left a message saying I was very thankful and am very interested. I said I had a few things I needed to smooth out and would get back with her with a definite answer by Tuesday. I want to see on Monday if I can find out any more about the internship as it was too late in the day to talk with the internship contact. I am going to tell them that I have another offer but I would really like the internship and I really need to know, because I do not want to lose the other offer.

So my question, if I find out I got the internship, is it worth it, or should I take the job I was already offered? This is going to be my first "big girl" job, and I really do not know what to do. I know they say your first job may not be your first choice, but I want to find out about the internship, but also do not want to miss out on another great job. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

In this economy you never leave an offered job laying on the table unless you have other options. The internship job sounds like they are having trouble pulling the trigger for whatever reason. Honestly the reason does not matter. Without an offer on the table from them or any end in sight to when they intend to stop the interviewing process and make a hiring decision, the internship position is not an option worth weighing out against a real, live job. Take the job you have been offered.