Two job offers but no official offer letters yet....

[Nursing2102]

Hi canigraduate,

I wanted to ask you a question regarding the situation I am in because I find that you give sound advice based on what you commented on one of my posts.

This Tuesday (7/28), I was offered a job from Hospital "A" over the phone. I accepted the offer via telephone and the recruiter said he will be sending me an offer e-mail which I can sign electronically. I was under the impression he was going to send it to me relatively quickly based on what he was saying. When I still didn't have it in my inbox at the end of the next day I called him asking when I should be expecting it. He said it is standard procedure for the job offer to pass through the CEO and then he will shoot me out the offer e-mail right away.

Yesterday (7/30) I received an offer from Hospital "B" (where I currently work as a PCA). I have been waiting to hear from them for a month and thought I didn't get the job and was surprised they called me. She didn't mention anything about an offer letter at all. She told me what the pay was and told me about orientation etc.... The offer from Hospital "A" was better and I decided to go with that offer, although as of right now I have not rejected the Hospital "B" job because I want to make 100% sure that the offer from Hospital "A" is valid.

Both hospital "A" and hospital "B" orientation begin the same day on Monday, August 17th. I need to give two weeks notice to my current employer (hospital "B"), and Monday is the last day I will be able to have 2 full weeks in between now and August 17th.

I can't rush/harass the recruiter from Hospital "A" for the offer letter as I already spoke to him about receiving it and told him I need to give 2 weeks notice to my current employer. What should I do? Should I accept the verbal offer as "official" enough for me to give my 2 weeks? Should I wait for this offer letter even though I technically don't know when i'll be receiving it exactly? The recruiter said it "shouldn't be long" but that as we know can mean anything....

Thanks so much for any advice!

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Until you have an official hiring letter. email or phone call telling you start date , I would not submit resignation to current facility. There are a myriad reasons why recruiters/HR at facilities do not promptly send out official offer. You don't want to be caught without a current salary.