so, in this horrible economy i have been blessed enough to have been offered 2 positions. i feel very fortunate!
here's the problem (if you want to consider it a problem): both hospitals are great hospitals.
hospital a:
-very prestigous hospital
-great benefits
-the position is my preferred unit (cardiac stepdown); great cardiac program
-orientation is 8-12 wks (1:1 with preceptor); will take an ekg course and one or two other cardiac-related classes as part of orientation
-$7500 per yr towards a graduate degree (tuition reimbursement is very important to me)
-40% of the unit is staffed with new nurses
-$1200 relocation assistance
-because this is a prestigous hospital, i heard from several people that the environment can be very competitive (i can see this as being a strong motivator and also a distractor)
-this hospital cares for the sickest of the sick. i'll receive great experience here and this hospital will look great on my resume.
hospital b:
-not nearly as prestigious as hospital a but still has a very good reputation and a very good cardiac program; large teaching hospital, affiliated with a university
-this position is also my preferred unit (cardiac stepdown)
-wonderful benefits
-100% tuition reimbursement for a masters/doctorate
-16 wks in a internship program (working 1:1 with preceptor); residency program lasts for one yr (includes additional educational courses regarding use of the equipment, cardiac classes, and other professional development classes)---i love, love, love the fact that this hospital offers so much support to its new nurses through an internship/residency program
-the environment seemed very welcoming but i really haven't rec'd much feedback about this
-better pay than hospital a
if you're still reading this, thank you!!!
so, given this information, which would you choose?
Specializes in Neuroscience/Neuro-surgery/Med-Surgical/.
Go with option B!
Trust me, better pay and more education/support is worth much more than the 'Prestige', anyday.
I work at one of those so called 'Prestigious Institutions', that has changed ALOT in the last 2 years. This place is not supportive of nursing staff, shorter orientations to units(even if new grad), unsafe pt/nurse ratios, and crappy pay in comparison to other hospitals.
Why do I stay? I need my benefits, and most hospitals are not hiring right now. Also, it does look good on my resume. Sad isnt it?
i would definitely go with Hosptial B....excellent reputation, cant beat the 100% reimbursement!, your preferred unit, extensive support of their new nurses, better pay
The big red flag for me was that Hospital A's unit is staffed with 40% new nurses. That means that experienced nurses don't stay there. Why is that? It's probably that it is such a bad place to work that people don't want to stay.
I would not work in such an environment unless I knew why so many people had left -- and was OK with the reason behind the high turnover. That high turnover also means that you will have few mentors available for you.
It all seems to suggest that B is the better choice -- unless there is something you are not telling us.
...a very good Cardiac program; large teaching hospital, affiliated with a university, wonderful benefits
-100% tuition reimbursement for a masters/doctorate, additional educational courses regarding use of the equipment, cardiac classes, and other professional development classes, environment seemed very welcoming
-Better pay than Hospital A
A "competitive"...do you really want the snarky backstabbing that occurs in a competitive environment?
It sounds like hospital B is very supportive of new graduates since there is a one year residency. A supportive environment is worth SO much more than being able to say "I work for a very prestigious hospital."
any particular reason why you think i should choose hospital b?
hospital b:
-not nearly as prestigious as hospital a but still has a very good reputation and a very good cardiac program; large teaching hospital, affiliated with a university
-this position is also my preferred unit (cardiac stepdown)
-wonderful benefits
-100% tuition reimbursement for a masters/doctorate
-16 wks in a internship program (working 1:1 with preceptor); residency program lasts for one yr (includes additional educational courses regarding use of the equipment, cardiac classes, and other professional development classes)---i love, love, love the fact that this hospital offers so much support to its new nurses through an internship/residency program
-the environment seemed very welcoming but i really haven't rec'd much feedback about this
-better pay than hospital a
everything in your post tells me that hospital b is the one for you/ 100% tuition reimbursement finishing your education is very important to you. better pay!!! and it is still the job you want to do. don't think about the prestige all the time don't get caught up with that. i like the internship residency program as well. i am telling you go with hospital b.
vivacious1healer
258 Posts
Go with option B!
Trust me, better pay and more education/support is worth much more than the 'Prestige', anyday.
I work at one of those so called 'Prestigious Institutions', that has changed ALOT in the last 2 years. This place is not supportive of nursing staff, shorter orientations to units(even if new grad), unsafe pt/nurse ratios, and crappy pay in comparison to other hospitals.
Why do I stay? I need my benefits, and most hospitals are not hiring right now. Also, it does look good on my resume. Sad isnt it?