Started New Job, Just Got Called for Residency Interview

ShantheRN, BSN, RN · Sep 8, 2011

You seem to have answered your own question. But let's review!

current job: 40 minute commute (which could suck in the winter, depending on your location), you're enjoying it, you know the hospital, great pay.

potential job: bigger hospital (not necessarily a perk) and closer to home. You've got the X factor of not knowing whether you'll mesh with the culture and/or floor...and $5 less an hour. If you're full time, that's $9360 a year before taxes.

I don't know what kind of gas mileage you get, but that's a LOT of money to give up over 25 minutes. Unless you really KNOW this new hospital, you could be leaving your great job for something horrible...then you'll be stuck (and potentially tagged a job hopper if you left that place for another.) Or it could work out and you'd be working at Utopia Medical Center

If you feel your orientation is going well and you've got great support in your learning, you don't need an official residency program. Is 3 hours of extra commute per week worth $9000 to you? I know what I'd pick, but that's because I've got student loans to pay lol

It wouldn't hurt to go to the interview....just to make sure you've got all the facts before you make your decision. Good luck!

dudette10, MSN, RN · Sep 8, 2011

The grass isn't always greener just because there is "residency" in the title of the position.

The main difference, like the PP noted, is drive time and money. You already know that you like your current position. You already know you make more money in your current position and enough to cover the extra gas and wear/tear expenses. IMO, you would really be taking a chance accepting the residency position. You also have the little problem of jumping ship on your current employer before you've even left port.

I think you know what I would do. Good luck with whatever you decide.

poopprincess · Sep 9, 2011

If you are happy then stay where you are. 'Residency' is simply a catchy phrase. It usually comes with a contract too (and a pay cut in your case). You ever heard that saying "If it ain't broke, then don't fix it?"

nerkeynurse · Sep 15, 2011

thanks for your advice!! I'm staying :)

diprifan · Sep 15, 2011

This SAME thing happened to me. I started a job at a rural area hospital, about 150 beds, and an hour commute from my house. Then a larger hospital, about 860 beds, called the week I started at the small hospital.

I went back and forth for weeks weighing the pros and cons... less pay, better institution, more career opportunities, and a New Grad Residency program.

Do you know where I work now? ----> The bigger one. I do not regret that decision at all. I would have regretted staying at the small one, I have learned far more than a rural hospital could provide. I did go through the full orientation at the rural area hospital, and worked on the floor for about a month before starting at the other job.

The thing that sold me? Which institution could I advance in as an RN? Which one would help me advance my education? Which one looked good on a grad school application?

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Sep 15, 2011

I would look at your long term goals, where do you want to be in 5-10 years? With bigger systems come more opportunities to try different areas.

I know for me that the wear and tear on my car and the commute time would be more than enough for me to want to go to something closer to home.

Have you looked at the benefits package because some places pay less per hour but offer more in the package. One place I interviewed at paid $4 less then most in the area, but then invested 8% in the 401k which when doing the math it really adds up.

But I would go where you would be happy

AZMOMO2 · Sep 18, 2011

Well I would look at it this way it never hurts to interview. But.. after a year at your current place of being on your own you are no longer a new grad anyway. If its Med/Surg to Med/Surg whats the point of moving laterally for less money?

If after you have enjoyed the place you are currently working for a year plus and you feel like you want or need to move to the larger, closer to home position and location, you then have a much better resume in your favor right?