ngnurse

I was given an offer at a union hospital. Am I "allowed" to negotiate salary? I have a year of experience on stepdown and offered an ICU position.

Hi! I'm a stepdown unit float pool nurse at my level 1 trauma center. I have an interview for a SICU position at a very prestigious hospital - also level 1 trauma center. Any SICU-specific information I should know for the interview? The recruiter basically told me not to be surprised if I don't get the job because the facility wants 2 years of stepdown experience from internal candidates. I'm an external candidate with nearly 11 months of experience, so it seems like a waste of time for them to interview me... Regardless, I'd like to nail the interview. I'm open to all recommendations/advice there is. Thanks!

Exactly. I've been in regular contact with one of my clinical instructors post-graduation, through passing the NCLEX, and now through this. She said the same thing when I relayed the information to her - I'll likely encounter it anywhere I go. My friend said the same about her hospital and that I'd have CV patients. As a new grad 6 months post-graduation, I didn't want to be without a job either! I am so eager to work! Thanks for all your help everyone!

I accepted the step-down float nurse job offer because I need to secure something. After accepting the job, I learned from a friend that works at the hospital that this cohort of nurses is being hired to help with Covid, so I'll likely spend a lot of time floating to the Covid unit since we're expecting a big surge. This was not mentioned during the interview, but I understand they can get away with not mentioning it because it's sort of expected given the conditions of the job. My friend is encouraging me to follow up with the nurse manager of the hospital I haven't heard from yet regardless of my accepting the position elsewhere. Finding myself in an even bigger predicament than before.

Yes, but this is typical of this hospital in particular to take long, but I understand you could be correct about the last part

Yes! The only reason I haven’t turned it down is because of the ratio, the exposure I’d have, and the extensive orientation. It’s the only Level 1 trauma center in my county as well. But the cons are the shifts, the pay, the paid time off/vacation time is about half of the other hospital’s, and I wouldn’t be in the hospital network that the other hospital belongs to (making it more likely to get jobs in that network in the future).

My apologies - ICR is step-down! I wouldn't want up to 7 patient in med/surg. I've heard even 6 can still be a lot to manage and I don't want to spend the majority of my shift passing meds, but I'd leave the position after about a year (assuming I secured something else). The nurses at this hospital overall, however, seem very happy and satisfied. There's VERY LITTLE nurse turnover. I think I'd get the full 5 months - it's split up into 4 weeks on various units. I had a friend who recently started at the same hospital (different position), finished orientation, but was having trouble managing the full load of patients, so they gave additional days with a preceptor to work on time management. It's a large and well-known teaching hospital. I completed several of my clinical rotations there and graduated from the affiliated nursing school. I'm also required to pass their competency "test" (not sure what it entails - written, performance as critiqued by a preceptor, etc) before being given the OK to float. The electronic offer they sent me through their job portal has a "due date" of November 9. Not sure how, exactly, this works since this is my first job offer at a hospital. I imagine this offer "expires" and before the expiry, I can counter-offer or ask questions about the terms. I'm new to this LOL

I’m a new graduate nurse, and I need some advice. I interviewed on a med/surg unit 2 weeks ago through a friend who gave my resume in and haven’t heard back, but likely got the job (nurse educator told my friend I did very well, hospital is notorious for taking a long time to get back to applicants, and I'll likely hear back this upcoming week). The job is 13 days a month, great benefits, level III trauma center but part of a large network of hospitals, so I’d have an easy time getting other positions within the hospital network. Up to 1:7 ratio (14 beds) if the unit is full (nurse manager said it’s not frequent, but a colleague brought up the possibility of a 1:8 or 1:9 ratio with an extra CNA if there are only 8 or 9 patients). However, I hate med/surg, and should stay in the position for about a year to be courteous to my friend for getting me the interview and to make a good impression if I choose to apply elsewhere within the hospital system. Overall, nurses are very satisfied at the facility. I got an offer for an ICR float pool position at a level I trauma center, and I want to be an ICU nurse one day. The orientation is 4 weeks of classroom and 5 months on different ICR units, and I love the idea of getting a well-rounded experience - cardiac, surgical, etc - and an extensive orientation. 1:3 ratio. Day shift. 14 days a month (12 12s and 2 8s). Would make $8,000-10,000 less than the above listing. "Easier" to leave if I want to because I got the interview from applying and not by recommendation. I have to give a response by Monday. Thoughts? Conflicted because I will likely get an offer from the first job and it's a great position to get me to where I want to be in the future (and with amazing pay), but obviously the second job is an official offer ready for me.

Thanks for the information. I didn't consider endoscopy nursing and know little about it, but found this position online. It's a short commute from my house and, as I mentioned, I have been having a difficult time finding a hospital job, so I figured I'd apply and give it a shot.

No, not compared to the "skills that I'm learning from not working," but my question was "would it be a good opportunity to take until I find a hospital position? Would it be worth it to try for LTC or a hospital position over an endoscopy clinic?" So I guess I'm looking to see what would be the best Plan B if a hospital position doesn't work out - LTC, home care, clinic, etc. Of course I know something is better than nothing, but I'm trying to find the best something I can (especially with my limited knowledge of endoscopy nursing) until I can get to where I want to be, hence listing my end goals.

Yeah I've heard similar things about LTC facilities (stuff like 40 patients, 1 RN, and some amount of LPNs/CNAs). I would be fine with working in a clinic, but I'm more worried about making sure I'm learning skills that would directly transfer over to a hospital setting. I've applied to hospitals pretty much everywhere but upstate NY, the Bronx, and Staten Island. However, applying to hospitals in those remaining parts of NYS might be the next move if I can't find anything soon. I don't want to remain unemployed for too long ?

New York

Hi everyone; I'm looking for a little bit of advice. I graduated from a BSN program in May and passed my NCLEX in July. I've been applying everywhere, but I'm finding it difficult to get a job because of COVID. A lot of hospitals nearby are on hiring freezes or are hiring minimal staff members. I had one interview so far, but that went no where. After being frustrated, I've started applying to LTC and clinic positions. I'd like to eventually (sooner rather than later) be an ICU nurse - I just know it's unlikely I'll get an ICU position as a new grad with minimal experience because many new grad fellowships were canceled and the ones that remain are VERY selective. I have the grades, but no experience outside of clinical because I did an accelerated nursing program (second bachelor's) and had no time to work. I have an interview at an endoscopy clinic on Monday. If I'm lucky enough to be given an offer, would it be a good opportunity to take until I find a hospital position? Would it be worth it to try for LTC or a hospital position over an endoscopy clinic? Unfortunately I think May 2020 grads aren't being considered as much because we lost our capstone, and now we have August 2020 grads who had theirs, so I'm lost? Thank you in advance!