Received 2 job offers, a conundrum

Published

I have been out of nursing for two years, working as a personal trainer full-time and decided to go back to nursing. Surprisingly I was offered a 7-3 shift with every other weekend off. This is the kind of shift I love because I can spend evenings and every other weekend with my son(I have a 10 yr old).

THe con? This facility lost 5 nurses all at once. They quit on the same day. I was told by the DON one of the nurses was a troublemaker and was most likely engaging in med diversion and was a mean bitter person, and made it difficult to work for the other nurses. Unforunately DON said she wasn't told of the toxic environment until they all quit.

Something doesn't sit right with me about that explanation. If the troublemaker also quit wouldn't the nurse culture then have improved? So 7-3 shift for me is like winning the lottery, but from what I am reading on glassdoor and indeed.com, the management might be the problem.

I have worked at places where the management is horrible but with good coworkers I am fine. Only thing is I will be the only nurse on the 7-3 shift( I wil be working at a mental health facility). Census is 99.

I also felt not so good vibes after interviewing with the DON. I asked why their agency nurse wasn't offered the job. THe answer, "I don't like her."

So pros- Great hours/ able to have a good life balance and time with the family

cons- I could be working in a den of snakes

2nd job-(similar facility)

the dreaded 3-11 shift. I have ALWAYS HATED this shift. Of course last time i worked this shift was over 15 years ago before kids. My life balance will suck. I will always have to work a sun (Schedule is sun to thurs).

Pros- I'll get $6. 00 an hour more for working the 3-11 . The nurses on the 7-3 and 11-7 have been there for a long time and there isn't alot of turnover. They seem to enjoy the work, and I got good vibes from the DON. I feel I could get along with the DON and my coworkers at this job. The census at this facility is slightly more- 120. Yet 2 nurses are on staff as opposed to one per shift at the other job.

cons- Family time will suffer

So there is my problem.

JOb 1

7-3 (my ideal shift)

possibly hard to get along with management and coworkers(5 nurses leaving at once is scary)

99 patients for one nurse

Good for family time

$21 hr.

Job 2

3-11( I hate this shift)

everyone seems like they love their job and management and coworkers seem great

120 patients /2 nurses

My family time is going to suffer.

$27 an hour

Your experiences are definately wanted! If you have been in a position like mine, I'd love to hear from you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I would definitely take the second job. I know you hate it but I would rather suck it up than take a job at a facility where the DON is terrible & you might have no support from your coworkers. Five nurses leaving at once is a huge red flag.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Immediate red flags from DON #1. Totally inappropriate, everything she said to you (the professional response to anyone leaving is "It wasn't good fit" and leave it at that). I would run away from that, fast.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks. I know not every work environment is perfect, but the 5 nurses leaving all at once is scary.

Seems despite the excuse from the DON that there was one bad apple in the bunch, they were pretty united on the front of leaving all on the same day.

. oh...why can't the 7-3 shift be at the other facility?!! I am going to ask the DON at the 2nd facility what is the possibility of moving from 3-11 PMs to 7-3 or 11-7 if I do a year or two as a 3-11 nurse. If I know moving to a different shift is a possibility in the future, I will slug it out on the 3-11pm. At least I'll get along with the DON and my nurse coworkers!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Update, I picked Job 2. Not just for the pay, but for the environment. DON said after I put in a year on 3-11, I can go to 7-3. (one of the Lpns will be starting an LPN- RN program next year so I can move in (LIKE A VULTURE!) on that spot. Although I did meet my coworker on the 3-11 already and I can tell we are going to get along really well. Maybe I won't want to move. Alot of people tell me I will miss time with my kids.. I know this sounds HORRIBLE and may put me up for worst mother of the year( I love it when I get home and my child is already SLEEPING, dishes are done and house is clean!) But I will make that sacrifice in a year. I will do it for the kids. Move to 7-3. AAH.. What we moms do for our children!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You need to stop focusing on getting your shift preference , and start analyzing the reason you were offered this job.

You have been out of nursing for 2 years, yet "surprisingly" you receive an offer at a ( bet the rent it's for profit) mental health facility. I have been there done that. The DON is a dictator that writes up /cans any employee for clocking in one minute late... and less.

No nurse can handle 99 psych patients, especially a new one without recent psych experience.

I don't see it lasting 3 months, befor dictator DON writes you up.

Keep looking.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have worked psych. I started off as an Lpn in 1997 in the military,and after, consistently until 2014 when i took 2 years off. I am definately not new as i have worked psych for 5 years before this! Thanks for the upbeat advice....lol. I also took job # 2, not the job with the DON dictator! But damn your advice is just so motivating. Must be lovely in person. :) Sending a smiley face to you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have worked psych. I started off as an Lpn in 1997 in the military,and after, consistently until 2014 when i took 2 years off. I am definately not new as i have worked psych for 5 years before this! Thanks for the upbeat advice....lol. I also took job # 2, not the job with the DON dictator! But damn your advice is just so motivating. Must be lovely in person. :) Sending a smiley face to you.

"Your experiences are definately wanted! If you have been in a position like mine, I'd love to hear from you."

Not all advice is going to be motivating. I do have experience in the same situation. I was sincerely trying to share a similar experience that was negative regarding job # 1, before you informed us you took the other position.

Sarcasm is not warranted here. Don't know if I am LOVELY in person..or not.. but I am a highly experienced nurse that is well respected here and the real world.

Get back to us in 3 months.

P.S. It's spelled "definitely".

Up Vote Up Vote ×
"Your experiences are definately wanted! If you have been in a position like mine, I'd love to hear from you."

Not all advice is going to be motivating. I do have experience in the same situation. I was sincerely trying to share a similar experience that was negative regarding job # 1, before you informed us you took the other position.

Sarcasm is not warranted here. Don't know if I am LOVELY in person..or not.. but I am a highly experienced nurse that is well respected here and the real world.

Get back to us in 3 months.

P.S. It's spelled "definitely".

Thanks for catching the misspelling. Math is more my thing.....

I appreciate you telling me it's not all peachy and rosy out there, didn't like the whole "surprising" I have been out of nursing and was offered a job. It's a bit insulting. I'm not a new nurse. Been working since 97.

Despite this, you have a lovely DAY!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Hang in there, Hx. Kind of a crappy thing for someone to say, basically, "Why would they want YOU?? Must be something wrong with them!"

Glad you chose #2, and it absolutely is NOT bad to sacrifice in the short-term for longterm family goals. We've all done it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I was sincerely trying to share a similar experience that was negative regarding job # 1, before you informed us you took the other position..

You may want to examine HOW you offer advice and words of wisdom. smh

And your post was posted several hours AFTER she informed us that she took the other job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion