So do I go on the interview?

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I'm getting ready to graduate in May, and I have a bit of a dilemma. Here goes:

A few months ago, I took a job as a per diem nursing assistant at a major children's hospital in the city. This hospital is VERY hard to get into. I thought I wanted peds (eventually NICU) and the opportunity was there. I thought it would be a great opportunity to learn, but it wasn't -- the job was in the ICU and as such, the nurses (many of whom range from brand new grads to a couple of years out of school and feel they still need to prove themselves) didn't ask for a lot of help with the patients. This was understandable, but as much of my day tended to focus on supplies and cleaning equipment and stocking rooms, all of which is important, it wasn't what I was there for. Also, I live about an hour's drive away (an hour and a half by train) and the commute was killing me. On the days I worked, I wouldn't see my 6-year-old daughter at all since I was leaving the house at 5:30 a.m. and not getting home until 9 p.m. I found that the nursing culture there was harder to break into than in the hospitals closer to home -- perhaps related to this being a city hospital, perhaps related to the general age of the nurses in the unit (most about 15 years younger than me), perhaps related to me coming from a nursing program they'd never heard of...I don't know. Though all the nurses were generally friendly, I just didn't get that "we're glad you're here" and "thank you for your work" vibe that I have gotten when working at the smaller community hospitals (and a little thanks goes a long way). I know that ICU work is stressful and demanding for nurses in ANY hospital, and I don't expect accolades and roses thrown at my feet :) but I really felt anonymous there. Finally, I just wasn't getting a good vibe from nurse recruitment about my chances of getting into the hospital. There are a number of 4-year colleges local to that hospital with BSN programs, and many of their students do co-op at that hospital and others in the city. I attend an ASN program close to my home, so most of the nurses there haven't even heard of my school even though the program is tough and very good. The first time I talked to the nurse recruiter about opportunities, she sounded really annoyed with me -- as if I had some nerve to even ask about working there -- and the very first thing she said was, "Well, we have people who have worked here for years and paid their dues and..." blah blah blah. They also require rotating shifts (2 weeks days, 2 weeks nights) from their nurses, which I canNOT do b/c my husband works nights. Despite this being "the opportunity of a lifetime," as many people advised when I talked about leaving, I just wasn't getting a good feeling about my job, or about my chances of getting in after graduation.

So I left about a month ago and got a job as a per diem nursing assistant closer to home (30 minute drive, tops), in a hospital that serves mostly adults with the occasional emergency ped. I work ICU/CCU/stepdown. I figured that since most nurses (including the older ones at the peds hospital) recommended that I get the requisite year of med-surg under my belt anyway before specializing, and that's what we've been exposed to in clinical, it is more familiar than peds and it is a good option. The hospital I'm in now is one of the hospitals I had planned to apply to for a new grad position anyway, as a backup. It is a very good hospital, and since they know the nursing program I'm in, and I have done clinical there, most of the nurses I've met so far have been extremely welcoming. Their benefits are very good, and I am very impressed with their nursing education programs. I figure that even though it's not peds, it will be an EXCELLENT learning experience...if I can get in after graduation. Some departments require rotating shifts, but some don't...and if it turns out that I HAVE to do rotating shifts, I'd rather do them closer to home than over an hour away.

So a couple of days ago, the same nurse recruiter from the peds hospital called me to say that she is interested in interviewing me for an RN position! This, after everything I described above. My husband is ecstatic and says "go for it...the pay will be great..." and I'm thinking...have you forgotten about the looooong commute? the rotating shifts? etc.? And again, people are telling me that this is THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME...and I agree...but perhaps for a younger nurse with no spouse or children and a LOT more energy. it won't work if I burn out in the first few months with the long commute and the rotating shifts.

So do I even go on the interview? It would be good practice...but I don't want to end up wasting the recruiter's or my time, or committing to something that I most likely will NOT be able to do. This peds hospital has satellite offices and affiliations with other hospitals closer to my house, and my new goal is that perhaps in a few years, if I still want peds, I might get a nursing job at one of the satellites or affiliated hospitals. My daughter will be older too, so it might be easier. But what do I tell the recruiter? And am I crazy for not even trying? People in my class think I'm nuts because I ACTUALLY COULD HAVE AN INTERVIEW at this early stage, when many of them don't have any opportunities lined up yet.

Thanks -- sorry for the long post :)

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

As a RN student graduating in June, I say go. Keep your options open, see what they offer you and compare it too your local adult med-surg facility. I wouldn't pick the adult facility just because you know adult med-surg better (thanks to that being heavily emphasized in school). As a new grad, you are still eager to learn and I've no doubt you could easily learn peds.

Also, this isn't too early to be interviewing. Of my class graduating in June, 75% of us have job offers or contracts all ready.

Good luck with whatever you decide :redbeathe

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Interview and ask lots of questions.....

I have a feeling that your former coworkers said good things about you when the nurse recruiter was doing background on interviews....

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It never hurts to take an interview; if nothing else, it's good practice for interviewing! Go, with an open mind, ask lots of questions, and see what develops. It's a little early in the game to be limiting your options ... :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
It never hurts to take an interview; if nothing else, it's good practice for interviewing! Go, with an open mind, ask lots of questions, and see what develops. It's a little early in the game to be limiting your options

I agree if you've got the time to fit it in your schedule. Make sure you're prepared with clinical experiences, questions about the unit you're interviewing for, scheduling inquiries, etc.

I've already been on 2 interviews and the majority of my class is in the process of various stages of interviewing. I don't think it hurts to get started on this process early.

At the least, you can more easily determine if they've got something you truly want right now or for the future. You seem to have answered a lot of the reasons why this might not be a good fit at this time. You surely don't want to burn yourself out so early in your new career, and as someone who used to commute to our downtown area in my former worklife, I will tell you that it's no picnic. You may make more money, but the wear and tear on your vehicle, the cost of gas, and the time away from your family and home will most probably take a real toll on any extra $$$ you might make. The option of getting on with them locally in the future will still be there once you've obtained more local experience if that's the route you choose to take.

Best wishes as we embark on these new paths!! :redbeathe

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Thanks for all the replies. I haven't decided yet whether I will go on the interview or not but I think I am leaning towards going. It's hard to fit it into my schedule (plus parking fees in the city are HORRENDOUS) but it might be worth it.

About interviewing...we have a mix of people in our class who may or may not be interviewing for actual new grad positions. A lot of us are career changers and still have the jobs from our past lives, so these people will be starting off totally new. Others have worked in a particular hospital as an aide or whatever for a few years, so they might already have jobs lined up...I don't know. All I know is that when I've asked about new grad positions, the hospitals here have said something like "we don't have any new grad positions right now, wait until April or May to apply" or "the only new grad positions we have, we are still filling with the December 2007 grads...check back in May and see what is available then." This is the response I got from the hospital I am working in, although I do have a better chance (no guarantees) since I am internal. Are other soon-to-graduate students having this experience that you know of??? thanks...

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Since you have said yourself that local hospitals are not overflowing with new grad positions, you should definitely take the interview. You don't want to dismiss any job possibility at this point. As far as the commute goes, there could be ways that you could try to make that a better situation. Off hand, look for a rideshare situation. I've also known people who take a room or sleep at the hospital during their workdays and go home on their off days. I know you would be away from your family, but if you work 12 hr shifts for 3 days, it wouldn't be that bad. Maybe you could find a coworker who would be willing to let you sleep in her guest bedroom for a modest fee. Lots of people with long commutes do some version of this. Lots of luck with your choice. Hope you get several interviews and that you pick a job that works out well for you and your family.

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I've also known people who take a room or sleep at the hospital during their workdays and go home on their off days. I know you would be away from your family, but if you work 12 hr shifts for 3 days, it wouldn't be that bad. Maybe you could find a coworker who would be willing to let you sleep in her guest bedroom for a modest fee. Lots of people with long commutes do some version of this.

Any job that would require me to be COMPLETELY away from home for 3 days would be a huge no-no in my book. Family is a big priority, and I have a 6-year-old who does need her mommy. I want to be a nurse, not a vagrant...

I do agree with not limiting options though, I will at least see what it's all about. Thanks for the suggestions and the good wishes.

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