should i take job offer?

[smiley28]

Hi everyone, I'm a new Grad RN. And I recently got a job offer at a hospital for a telemetry floor. It sounds like an amazing opportunity to learn, however this hospital is a little over two hours commute by public transportation for me, which means I'd probably have to buy a car to get there (reducing commute to 1 hour) , which means more expenses from having a car, plus may i also mention that i'm not comfortable driving yet since i've never practiced driving after getting my license three years ago. i'd have to learn to drive again in a short amount of time if i do plan to work at this hospital. and the pay is not very competitive compared to the pay in the city NYC. Also, if i do accept this job offer, I'd have to sign commitment for minimum of two years.

On the other hand, I've been working as a volunteer at my dream hospital, I just transferred to volunteer in another unit which has given me the opportunity to meet and work with the Nurse manager who seems very nice, and I have heard that other three volunteers got recently hired through this manager. I spoke to the nurse manager, and she advised me to apply to this hospital and prepare my resume and cover letter, however, i'm sure i'd still have to volunteer for another 3-6 months before i even get a chance to get hired by the manager since i just started this volunteer position. The reasons why this is my dream hospital is because this hospital is a very short commute to me by public transportation (approx 40 minutes) and considerably more competitive pay. I am 100% sure that if i decide to stay volunteering here, I'll work really hard to impress the manager. I know this hospital hires a lot of new grads, and many former students from my school got their first RN job here at this hospital, including my best friend who just started, and will be able to recommend me in the future.

My third plan, if all of the above fail, I will end up working as a home health nurse, since I know someone who works for a home health agency and has already practically offered me the job if i want it. The pay would be about the same as the first hospital i mentioned, and the commute would just be 20-30 minutes by public transportation.

So my concern is: should i risk rejecting the offer from hospital #1 in the hopes of getting an offer from my dream hospital in the future?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Take the sure thing and get a paycheck or hold out for the dream facility and potentially not have any money? Not a hard choice for me...

[paragonimus]

Hi. The commute to hospital with offer sounds like too much and you would have to incur expenses. Volunteering is nice but what if things change and they stop hiring. I would stick with the home health nurse to get experience and income and Save up to buy a car. Thats what I would do. Hope I helped. Best of luck to you.

[amoLucia]

I'm having a hard time trying to understand why you are reluctant to accepting job offer #1 when the other 2 are so, so fraught with caveats.

You are NOT earning any money now by volunteering at Dream Hospital. Nor are you gaining any RN experience.IFyou were accepted to VOLUNTEER on the other unit (and there's NO guarantee that you will be hired), you'd still not be earning any money, nor gaining any valuable, 'golden' experience during a 'wait & see' period.

You would be throwing all your eggs into one basket thinking that you MIGHT, MAYBE, WHO KNOWS, PERHAPS, NO GUARANTEE that you will be hired. You're dangerously relying on the hope that Dream Hospital will continue hiring new grads (things can change for Dream Hospital) and that they WILL hire you. It is also not safe to hope that your friend turns out to be good employee from whom to get a referral.

And pretty soon, you'll be an 'OLD new graduate', one not eligible for any internships anywhere else.

Because of your driving issues, just know it can be extremely difficult to rely on public transportation for nursing jobs. How would you manage in home health? Wouldn't you be doing client visits in their homes??? And has that position ACTUALLY been offered?

You're in NY. They get snow up there too, so public transportation can most easily be disrupted. Might you consider a driver ed class like Triple A to help you overcome your jitters? You may have to buy a reliable car regardless of any job offer decision.

Job offer #1 may not be ideal. But you would have a commitment for a 2 year employment. That's something a lot of newbies & 'oldies" would give an arm & a leg for. Experience and earnings. A given with job offer #1. I don't see any other realistic choice.

JMHO and good luck.

PS - Be careful about delaying a response to job offer #1. They may not hold a job offer too long for you to make up your mind.

[TitusNoir]

Just want to say, during inclement weather in the city, public transport usually is the best option. Anyway, OP sounds like you have your mind made up even though you know option 1 sounds best (on paper anyway). Still, I wouldn't advise you to accept that job of you are going to be resentful of that choice everyday you have to go to work.

[smiley28]

Thank you all for your responses and advises!!!! I just accepted my job offer, and I really do feel very lucky to have been given this opportunity. So I guess this is really where I'll be for at least the next two years, and I'm excited yet a little scared to start my journey as a Registered Nurse and learn.