Stuck at a potential crossroads

[MassRN11]

Hi everyone,

I have a potential dilemma and just want your opinion on the following:

I recently accepted a job offer at Hospital A, verbally accepted. Paperwork not yet processed. That is scheduled to be done a couple short weeks.

The day after this happened I received a call for an interview at Hospital B, which is a place I have been striving to work at since I was in school. I had done my senior practicum at this hospital and really grew to love it there.

If an offer is extending from hospital B, it would be completely out of character for me to withdraw my acceptance to hospital A, but my gut tells me that's what I want. Is doing something like this unheard of? Should I not even consider such a thing?

Also-- I plan to let hospital B know of my alternate offer, so I can at least find out either way soon enough before I go to pre-employment for hospital A.

Let me know your thoughts!

[Keep_Calm]

I went through that. I ended up getting an interview at my current employer after I had accepted and done some of the paperwork at another facility. I hesitated to even go for the interview but I did, and I got an offer on the day I was supposed to start orientation at the other place. I called and told them I accepted a better offer and that I would not be coming to work there. Burned bridges? Yes, probably. Regret? No. It's business. And I felt the same way you did, but my mom reassured me that it does happen and is not unheard of. Others may disagree, but I say that if you REALLY want to work at Hospital B and you get an offer, withdraw your acceptance with A and go for B. I'd even try to push back your start date at A to see if you get an offer from B. Good luck!

[SarahJade4]

I agree with Keep_Calm - you have to do what is best for you! Honesty is a good policy too. Having been a hiring manager (not for nursing, but for a marketing company) for years, I always appreciate someone who is honest and just lets me know their situation and why they withdraw their acceptance. The sooner the better too, so they can fill the spot they may be holding for you. It also helps Hospital A know that there are better offers out there. If they hear that enough, they may strive to change a thing or two. Congratulations on the offers!! I hope you figure out what is best for you. :)

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

You don't have anything in writing from A, so you don't have the job there yet. We can all tell you sad stories about how that turns out sometimes.

If B gives you an offer in writing, take it. If you want to, at that point, you can call A and tell them that since you had not heard from them you are planning to accept B, and see what they say. However, it doesn't sound as if there'd be anything they could say that would keep you from going to B. You don't have to tell B you have a pending application at A.

But just remember-- you got nothin' from anyone until you have it in writing.