job offer but not until December

If your goal is to work in peds, it makes sense to wait for the peds position. Maybe you can do flu clinics in the meantime?

I agree with Wuzzie, the difference between an October and December start time is inconsequential. If you do pursue a temporary nursing position, you should verify that this will not exclude you from your residency, as some consider any RN employment an exclusion.

Congratulations on finding a job!

This is a difficult position to put you in.

Do you have it in writing that the job is yours to begin working in December?

What if you wait all fall, not making RN wages and at risk of becoming an "old new grad", and then the job falls through or they push the start date even further back?

Tough decision. I loved psych but also was curious about the ed. I was offered a psych position to start right away (May) or the ED residency to begin in December.

I took the psych job. But my heart was there. I also really, really, really needed the money as nursing school had wiped me out financially.

There is no wrong decision here. You will make the right one.

If you decided to wait, make sure you've signed a contract that states your start date. Otherwise they may change things, and you may be left with nothing. If it's a guaranteed job, I say wait. Better to start off where you want.

I would wait for peds and find something to supplement my income in the meantime- drive for Uber or Lyft, dog-sit, dog walk, wait tables, substitute teach.

I would wait for peds and find something to supplement my income in the meantime- drive for Uber or Lyft, dog-sit, dog walk, wait tables, substitute teach.

During my gap between my first degree and nursing school, I volunteered as a bartender at a party hostel in South America in return for a free bed. Since my housing was covered, I was able to live on about $5/day. If I had 4 months off again, I'd do that in a heartbeat. No kidding, you can look into interational travel by volunteering at hostels in return for room and board.

Short-term gigs like Home Health, private duty, etc. will keep your head in the game. Maybe work on some specialty certifications. Even tutoring RN students!

As long as you get it in writing, I would wait and work a non-nursing job until you start. Continue to read up on concepts to help prepare you for when you do start but getting a job as a nurse somewhere else will require that somewhere else to sink money into training you which isn't fair to them and you don't want to possibly pick up bad habits from them either. It may not seem like it now but getting a residency for peds icu at a level I trauma hospital would really "tee" you up for a peds burn unit IMHO.

Congratulations!!!