Residency program vs Rehab job

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Hi guys! I'm a new grad nurse and just passed my boards in May (woo-hoo!!) and I have two offers on my plate for a first job. I do plan on relocating from where I live now in a little over a year so for my first job I'm looking for a good "resume booster" so it'll be easy to find a job when I move. I have an offer for a residency program at Massachusetts General Hospital on a general medical floor, it's full time, low pay ($13 an hour, it's a little insulting), and there's no guarantee of a job at the end of the 8 months but it's possible to be hired. My second offer is at a Rehabilitation Hospital (not a SNF, the rehab hospital does many of the things hospitals do but with less acute patients ie. blood transfusions, IV therapy, wound management) full time, decent pay and a guaranteed job for until I move.

What's your opinion on whether it would be better to do a residency program at a fantastic hospital and continue to build my skills but no guarantee of a job, or to have a real job where I'm on my own but it's at a Rehab facility.

Thanks in advance!

Jesus. I'm in a new grad fellowship... And I think i will make 60 cents less than a staff nurse... At a pretty amazing top 10 hospital that.

If it was a few weeks, I'd consider it. But 8 months at 13/hr!? I'm sure at some point you'll be functioning at the level of a staff nurse and this seems almost criminal...

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Take the Rehab Hospital position; Rehab Hospitals are considered Post-Acute positions, but are wonderful places to hone acute care skills; most want experienced nurses with acute care experience, so being offered this position is a plus.

Best wishes.

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Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

Being a fairly new grad myself, there is NO WAY I would take a nursing job for pay that low. I am a new grad in a residency program and sometimes the only thing that keeps me coming back to work is thinking of my paycheck. I am extremely stressed out almost all of the time when I'm at work. If I were faced with pay that low, I doubt I'd keep returning. I know people who make around $13 an hour at jobs way less stressful, with less responsibility. So, at that pay rate, I would choose to do something else entirely. That's just too low compensation for what I do everyday. I imagine you might feel the same once you see how much work and responsibility falls on you. That pay is absolutely insulting and I wouldn't want to work for an employer who would take advantage like that. JMO, obviously. And then to say there is no guarantee of a job? Nope. There is no way. It's exploitation.

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I would set the hospital on fire before taking $13/hr. Seriously. I made more than that as a cashier. Ten, no, fifteen years ago.

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Specializes in Intake, Home Care.

I'm in Boston, new grad RN with an ADN. I just got offered 29/hour out of the chute for PDN. Just FYI. I wouldn't do that for 8 months. I made more as a CNA at South Shore Hospital.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

Heck no.

I would not work at any place that would exploit and degrade a nurse with insulting low pay. And no guarantee job after eight months? What if you don't get something? You are screwed as you would be ineligible for most new grad jobs but wouldn't have a full year of nursing experience.

I would go with rehab, but it is up to you, obviously.

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I dont even see why this is a choice. I'd take the hospital rehab hands down. What kind of "fantastic" hospital system pays their new grads $13 an hour? Thats CNA pay with basically full liability and workload of a licensed nurse. You have the minimum amount of education to practice as a real nurse and get paid like a real nurse. Working rehab will still give you plenty of experience.

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Thank you everybody for your input! I decided to go with the rehab hospital ☺️

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