Please help....

If this were my decision, I would look at each option closely. You have to ask yourself, how comfortable would you be in corrections? For me, personally, I know working in a prison isn't for me. Is pediatric nursing something you want to do? Pediatric nursing positions are hard to get without peds experience (at least in my area), so it is a great opportunity. Moving away to a place where you don't know anyone is difficult but doable (speaking from personal experience). I decided to move to get my career going and don't regret the decision.

Good luck in your decision! Me personally, I try to worry about making the "wrong" decision. Do what feels like the best fit for you and remember that there are many routes to your ultimate goals.

EKRN2014, thank you for your feedback and advice. I'll post here when I finally decide.

That's a tough choice. I would first take location out of the equation and ask yourself which job do you feel more drawn to, which fits better in terms of your overall career goals (sounds like the peds gig based on what you posted here), which seems like the better work environment, how about your impression of your potential new colleagues?

Once you get a sense of that, ask yourself how you feel about relocating, but keep in mind that no move is permanent -- working at the hospital in NC for a couple years could open up doors back in NJ down the road . . . . hmm, I guess I would go for the job you think you'll like better, unless you really think you'll have a hard time adjusting if you move away from family.

Wow, this is a tough one!!! I moved 5 hours away from my family and it took me about 6 months to adjust. Most of my sisters, brothers had moved away from the home dwelling as well, so we all were kind of spread out. Knowing what I know about NC, that is where I would go. Plus, I think in the long run the benefits of working for the military as a civilian would out weigh the job in NJ. Although, now that I typed that I just thought of the Ebola outbreak, you might be "transferred" overseas to help with that, so you may need to truly think what will be the best decision. I know the cost of living is less in NC than in NJ and you might have a chance of improving your lifestyle down there in the south. When I relocated I was only about 6 hours away, you would be much further but not impossible to travel and see your family. You have a lot of Pediatric experience so it seems you should take advantage of that and continue to grow in that area of nursing.

Purely from a job security standpoint, I'd take the Peds position with the Army (I assume that you're talking about Ft. Bragg). I don't know what "private company" the corrections job is with, but private companies come and go as contracts come up for renewal and renegotiation. The Army isn't going away any time soon. As far as being deployed to an overseas location is concerned, I wouldn't be too worried about that. Unless you're actually joining the Army they can't make you go.

Relocating to a new city/state is often a lot more fun than you think it might be. Sure, you won't know anyone when you arrive, but you'll soon develop a whole new circle of friends. And, as an added bonus, NC weather is also a bit better than NJ!

As an older nurse myself, I think the chart nurse position is less taxing on the body than hospital nurse. I am not sure how old you are but working in a hospital is not it's all cracked up to me.. Good luck on your final descion.

If it were me I'd definitely go for Peds :)

But I'm interested in Peds and I also moved from NY to SC by choice (with my husband and son, but leaving my parents and siblings behind)

We love it here!

The weather and cost of living are so much better!

I would take the peds job. Once you've gotten in 2-3 years in that position, you'll be more marketable to hospitals in NJ if you want to move back.

You do need to be prepared to be very lonely and unhappy at first though. You may get there and your coworkers will be wonderful and you'll have immediate friends. Or you may get to NC and all of your coworkers will be miserable and want nothing to do with you outside of work. If that's the case, it may take quite a while for you to really find your footing socially.

I am now definitely leaning towards NC. I went to orientation yesterday at the jail, there are 3 per diem nurses "trying out" for the same full-time position. Has anyone ever heard of this, except on House. Lol.

thank you all for your feedback.

I am now definitely leaning towards NC. I went to orientation yesterday at the jail, there are 3 per diem nurses "trying out" for the same full-time position. Has anyone ever heard of this, except on House. Lol. thank you all for your feedback.

I don't think I would be leaning toward that NC position; I would be sprinting! How much time did the Army give you to make up your mind? Is that offer still good, or have they filled the opening with someone else?

The offer is still good. I am awaiting the final offer.