Offer retracted

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

Last week I had what I thought was an offer for a place in a new grad program. I was on cloud 9. I should have known that nothing counts as an offer until the contract is signed. Today they called to tell me they decided to go with someone else.

I don't know what this means for me or my future as a nurse. I was on the verge of giving up when that offer came. I know jobs are scarce around here and it meant the world to me. I feel now that there is no future for me in nursing. I felt and still feel that I have a lot to offer the nursing profession but I have no fight left in me.

Good luck, new grad nurses and old grad nurses. To those of you lucky enough to have landed jobs, never forget how lucky you are, go to work feeling grateful and give your all to your patients.

[solneeshka, BSN, RN]

Jeanette73, that's awful! I'm so sorry that you're having this experience. The hospital should have communicated better if they indeed did not have the position to offer to you for sure. Keep looking! There will be something out there for you. Maybe it means not starting in a hospital, but you can find something. New grad programs really are not all they're cracked up to be; they're a lot like nursing school - heavy on the theory, light on the (real world) practice. Keep with it!

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

Thank you.

I am already open to considering anything, hospital based or not. In fact the offer I thought I had was not hospital based. Right now I'm experiencing very strong doubt if there is indeed a future for me in nursing.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Oh no That's so terrible. I was so excited for you. I would maybe take some time off from the job hunt. I know I suggested that to you before, but I think you need a break, especially after a set back like this. Take a mental vacation from it and then come back and reassess the situation, what you want to do with continuing on or not.

I am so sorry. *hugs*

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'm sorry you lost your opportunity. I hope a better one comes your way, and quickly!

[m2theRZA]

I'm sorry- my heart goes out to you. I can't imagine how you must feel. However, that's a very unjust thing for them to do and shows a lot about their integrity as an organization. Perhaps its a blessing in disguise that you're getting out of it before being sucked into it.

I know the job hunt can be hard and discouraging, but know that you DO have a lot to offer in your career as a nurse. Experiences like this only make you stronger and more passionate about your career in the long run. Don't give up because the world truly needs more nurses like you! I wish you all the best and am confident that good things will head your way.

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

Thanks, guys. Your messages of encouragement and support mean a lot to me.

I am proud to say that while I was shell-shocked the first day, by the next morning I was ready to at least face the world and consider my future. What I have decided for now is to set aside the job search and apply to grad school. The original plan was to work a few years as an RN before going back for my master's, but that's about to change. Who knows, this may be the best thing that ever happened.

I think I have more of a focus now on what I want my future in nursing to be. While job searching I was pretty much going for anything that came up; I didn't feel that I had the luxury of being picky or holding out for my preferred specialty. But if I'm going back to school as a paying customer, it's going to be for something that I want and really interests me. And I'll make sure to make the connections I need during school. I didn't really understand the importance of cultivating contacts during undergrad, or maybe I just didn't know how, but I will learn from that mistake.