danieg315

So I am currently at a possible fork in the road so I will give you a little background on my experience and tell you my conundrum. I have been a registered nurse for 3 years now, specializing in Pediatric nursing while working in the home health (one year) and ambulatory primary care clinic (2 years) settings. I have almost 10 years experience in medical offices, home health, and other office, home care and private duty settings within the medical field. I did not get accepted into a residency program for a hospital right out of nursing school so I have no acute care experience and it is near impossible to get it at this point. However, I had a very good interview with a prominent hospital that I have not heard back about yet for a med/surg unit residency program position. At this same time, I have already been offered a Clinical Supervisor (Case Management) position with another well known national company. My problems: In the acute care setting it will be a 2 year contract in a remote place that is a very isolated part of the US (so relocating 3,000 miles away), working night shift, on an adult med/surg floor. With the Case management position, I feel I can do the position with my experience but I am concerned that I may pigeon-hole myself if I dive right in or that it will decrease my future options. My biggest need for advice.... If I get offered the residency, since it seems like a rare opportunity... would it be worth the experience, even if I am not happy with the town/isolation/schedule/pay etc?? It seems as though a lot of jobs want that acute care experience and by passing up this opportunity am I doing my career a disservice? (I still have an anticipated 30 years left) For case management, the lifestyle would be great and I am confident that I can do the job with my background and skills already. I also know I would enjoy it more, especially right now where I am at in my career... but as a nurse in my later career will this set me back???? Basically, power through 2 years because I will learn a lot and even though my quality of life may go down for a bit, my later self will thank me? or... take what in the moment seems right because I won't be decreasing my opportunities as much as I am scared of? Thanks for any seasoned advice... this is such a weird position to be in right now, I really feel like this decision (if I get offered the residency job) will really affect the trajectory of my career. Sorry for the book!!!