Upcoming New Nurse Grad: Accepted First Job Offer, but isn't too 100% sure about it.

[mimi1317]

Hello all!

I am going to be graduating with a BSN this upcoming December. I will be a new nurse graduate and I have a couple of concerns. I recently had my interview with St. Joseph Regional Hospital in a town two hours away from my home although I did used to go to college there so I am quite familiar with the area. After the interview, they offer me a job and I accepted it verbally because I wasn't too if I decline it if I will be receiving more job offers afterwards. This job offer is a two year commitment though and if one leaves before the contract depending on the length of time, you'll have to pay back the training they invested in you and it's about 5,000. However, I recently had just a car accident so now I have another financial dilemma to think about because that means I don't have a working car right now. I am currently waiting to hear back from places in the Houston area where I am originally from and my plan was to live with my parents to pay off my loans, help them out, and now to get a working car. However, I know these hospitals in Houston take awhile back to get back to let one know if they are being considered for a job. The small hospital just recently sent me to sign the offer letter and I am feeling really hesitant to sign it because I think it's still too soon to make any decision and I know I still have the rest of November and December to hear back from the other hospitals. I also know if you sign the offer letter and then decline it, it looks really bad on you, and supposedly you can be DNR for ineligible for rehire?

I am honestly debating to email the HR recruiter if she can give me more time to think about it with my finances and my new finance dilemma with my car before I sign anything. The HR wants it by next week and I think I still need more time than that.

I need some advice in what I should do because I don't want to make a bad decision that could affect my hiring status in the future or regret the decision I should make. I am actually meeting up with a Professor this week so I'm going to ask her opinion.

This is really hard. Any advice or guidance is really appreciated.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Well, first thing to realize is that every major hospital system in Texas works with new grads under contract for any kind of residency or orientation process. You will be unlikely to find it differently elsewhere. A two year contract is standard and a $5000 repayment is the lowest I have heard of. Most are $10K and up. You also should know that getting any position in acute care in the DFW/Austin/Houston areas is challenging, as there is an overabundance of new grad nurses compared to how many slots are available. There is absolutely no guarantee you will get another offer. People are waiting in line hoping you do give up that job.

It sounds like you are concerned another offer would be "better" but you fail to identify in your post what about this offer you aren't sure about, other than the contract. Since the new grad contract is the norm in Texas, what else would make you hesitant to take this job? The transportation issue should be well resolved by then.

Know that if you contact them wanting more time to "think about it" you will likely lose the offer. It is just like dating a guy/girl - nobody wants to be a placeholder while you figure out if something better might come along and employers are no exception. They all want to hire people who want to be there. If you don't want this job, don't take it, but understand that will come with consequences, up to possibly winding up without an acute care job to go to at all. Asking them to hold the position for you isn't reasonable. You can sign the contract and decline to start the position. Happens all the time. Whether that will "black ball" you is hard to say but seems unlikely unless you do it with incredibly poor manners.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Look at it this way: you have a guaranteed job offer. You could take it, have a job, and get those dreaded (not really) first years of experience out of the way, after which, you will be considered a more experienced nurse and have a lot more power when it comes to the job hunt. The first job isn't necessarily where you'll be forever--it's just your first job.

Or you could pass on this job and hold out hope that you'll get another offer. But this would probably mean that this job offer will be off the table for good, as they'll likely offer it to the next person on their list--it's not as though they're struggling to fill it. And then who knows how long this next offer may take to come...if it comes at all. Or may it may come tomorrow right after you turn this position down. The problem is that you have no way of knowing for certain.

Asking HR for more time may result in them replying with, "we need to know soon because we need to fill this by X." It might buy you a couple of days of time. It won't buy you a week or two.

On the other hand, asking them for more time runs the risk of them saying, "you know what, we need to get this filled ASAP, so thanks but we think we'll go with another candidate after all. Best of luck." Just because they made you an offer doesn't mean they can't rescind it at any time as long as they're not rescinding it for any protected reason (because of race, gender, etc.).

Yes, you could accept the offer and decline it (break your contract) later. However, that is highly unprofessional of you to do. It could very well result in you being tagged a Do Not Rehire. It could also result in you being on the hook for any repayment that's part of your contract. Even if the hospital has a reputation for not pursuing the money from new grads who break their contracts, they are within their legal rights to decide to come after you for it should you decide to renege on the deal. Something else to consider, especially if you already have financial concerns.

IMO, you're in an area very competitive for new grads. Unless this job is truly hell on earth, I'd take it and get the new grad experience over with. After you finish your contract, if you want to move on, you'll be in a much stronger position to do so.

But then, I'm not you.

Best of luck whatever you decide.