What Should I Do? Please stop me from making a mistake!

Editorial Team / Admin · Oct 26, 2005

Ok, this is the deal. I am precepting in the PICU. I have talked to the nurse manager and she seems as if she is going to hire me. BUT.... she has yet to bring me the papers or make a formal offer. The 2 girls that are precepting in the NICU (different nurse manager) have already been hired. Yep, signed the papers, formal job offer... everything. This particular nurse manager (PICU) is also over Peds, and my classmate who is precepting on the Peds floor told me that our Nurse manager brought her up the papers WITH the pen, for her to sign them! I have 3 weeks left of precepting, and I don't know what to do. She has told me that she has talked to the staff, and everyone likes me and thinks that I will make a good PICU nurse, but she has just not made it official. Last week she made the comment to me that we need to discuss my salary, but then..... nothing! I am getting very antsy and nervous because my classmates are getting hired on in various places left and right.
Now here is the other thing. I had been going back and forth about deciding between the NICU and the PICU. I did this for a while and then made it known that I had decided on the PICU since that is where I have been precepting. Now that I feel like maybe the nurse manager of the PICU is not really valueing me, I am kind of considering the NICU again. I applied for both positions and the NICU manager has gotten in touch with me to schedule an interview. There will be a lot of new graduates and classmates of mine in the NICU, while there will be no one that I know on nights in the PICU. This is a positive for me about the NICU. I truly could work in either one and be fulfilled. If we float, we do so between PICU, NICU , and Peds, so that will not change no matter which unit I choose. What should I do? Should I go on the interview for the NICU and just see who offers me a job first? Do you think that the PICU nurse manager is just taking for granted that I have the job, and that's why she's being so slow to offer it to me? Please let me know what you guys think of my situation. I want to call both of these managers. Thanks.
Brina, BSN Graduate, Dec. 2005

Hi, brina, :nurse:

I think the PICU manager has plans to hire you. In the meantime, why not approach her again to get the ball rolling. Say something like, "Ms/Mrs./Miss so and so, I am ready to sign the papers for the PICU position. I am so excited to be on board here. This is a wonderful opportunity for me."

Will not hurt to give her a little nudge. IMHO. :coollook:

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Oct 26, 2005

Hi, brina,
I think the PICU manager has plans to hire you. In the meantime, why not approach her again to get the ball rolling. Say something like, "Ms/Mrs./Miss so and so, I am ready to sign the papers for the PICU position. I am so excited to be on board here. This is a wonderful opportunity for me."
Will not hurt to give her a little nudge. IMHO.

I agree, it seems like things are happening in 'real time' and just because she offered the one nurse a job doesn't mean she doesn't plan on offering you one in successive order.

Think about it from a manager's perspective - you want to line up the people that might waver, first. Since you have already made your intentions known, you might not be a higher immediate priority than trying to convince a fence sitter. But that is not the same as saying that you aren't a high priority.

I think it's completely realistic for a friendly, professional in-person followup. But whatever you do, don't go into it with a 'well you already signed so and so' attitude.

~faith,

Timothy.

brina · Oct 26, 2005

Thanks for replying so fast. I have called her office, but she has not been in. I am just feeling a sense of urgency because I have a sort of "edge" over other applicants that are not precepting at this particular facility because I am precepting there. However, if I do not interview for the position in the NICU I may be too late and she may hire people from outside the facility, and then my little "edge" will be worthless. As far as the PICU, I only know of one other new grad that interviewed there and she is also interviewing in the NICU. And she is NOT precepting at this facility. So you see, by me not showing interest in other positions, I may let others get hired over me, while I am waiting for the PICU manager to make her move. But, I will definitely keep calling her to kind of remind her that I have options, and would like to secure a position, soon.

Siri, what do you think about what I said about me not knowing anyone on the night shift in the PICU. One one shift on nights, the majority of them are men (which is not a problem ), and on the other night shift in the PI, they are all older women (which again is not a problem ). But in the NICU on nites, it will be at least 6 of us that are new grads, AND we were all classmates. A few of them are actually good friends of mine. I say this just to say that some of the scariness that we as new grads feel comes from not knowing anyone when we start working, and that would not be in the equation in the NICU for me because we would all know each other. How important do you think this is?

Editorial Team / Admin · Oct 26, 2005

Siri, what do you think about what I said about me not knowing anyone on the night shift in the PICU. One one shift on nights, the majority of them are men (which is not a problem ), and on the other night shift in the PI, they are all older women (which again is not a problem ). But in the NICU on nites, it will be at least 6 of us that are new grads, AND we were all classmates. A few of them are actually good friends of mine. I say this just to say that some of the scariness that we as new grads feel comes from not knowing anyone when we start working, and that would not be in the equation in the NICU for me because we would all know each other. How important do you think this is?

Hi, brina, :nurse:

I am of the firm belief that you need to be in an environment surrounded by the most experienced nurses when going into this type of speciality. The fact you will not have any of your grad friends is somewhat sad, but, you sound (cybersound) as if you can make friends easily.

I agree, stepping into any strange enviornment and not knowing anyone is scary, but, remember, you did not know any of these individuals before your nursing program. You will develop relationships with new people, too.

Again, IMHO.

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 26, 2005

While I would certainly be approaching the PICU manager and trying to move that process forward, I would be arranging the interview in the NICU. You never know ...

Tell the NICU manager that you are also considering PICU, but that nothing has been finalized there yet. You are very happy to have the opportunity to interview in both places. If she happens to offer you the NICU position on the spot, you can say ... "Gee, I am really honored ... but I think I have to at least take a day or two to think it through. Both the PICU and the NICU seem like wonderful places to work and I owe it both to myself and to you managers to make decision that will work out best in the long run. Can I get back to you in 48 hours with a final decision?"

There is nothing wrong with interviewing in both units and you shouldn't have to play games about it. If the PICU manager asks you about it, just tell her that you wanted to explore the other option so that you could be confident with your choice. Depending on how the conversation is going, you might also add, "particularly since nothing here in the PICU had been finalized yet."

Good luck,

llg

gr8rnpjt, RN · Oct 26, 2005

Hi, brina,
I am of the firm belief that you need to be in an environment surrounded by the most experienced nurses when going into this type of speciality.
:yeahthat:

Fiona59 · Oct 26, 2005

Follow up as suggested, and don't make other plans until you have a definite no.

Speaking form experience here. Interviewed for position I'd always wanted six weeks ago, two follow up phone calls and no rejection or response. Found out yesterday that I had the job, when I enquired about the wait, turns out the reference checks were the hold up. Had to withdraw from two interviews this week and have been congratulated by the people who were going to interview me! Turns out that the programme that hired me is very selective and a great place to work.

So after weeks of thinking I had some kind of problem that nobody thought to mention I don't.

Patience is a virtue and I guess I have to keep working on that..

suzanne4, RN · Oct 26, 2005

Six new grads in the NICU, on the same shift, and starting at the same time, is actually quite scary, unless it ia a huge unit. It takes about one year if not longer to feel comfortable taking care of the little ones. Things can happen very quickly and often do.

I personally do not like to see more than two new grads at a time being oriented in the NICU. Even if you add seasoned nurses into that from other units, there is so much to learn and feel comfortable with.

Just my two cents........the PICU sounds like a better option.

Good luck with whatever you chose.

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 26, 2005

Six new grads in the NICU, on the same shift, and starting at the same time, is actually quite scary, unless it ia a huge unit. .

If it is a large unit, however, 6 is nothing to worry about. Those 6 new grads will not all be working the same days of the week. For example, if they work three 12-hour shifts per week, then there will usually only be 2 or 3 there on any given day. And if there are 10, 15, 20, or even more experienced RN's on the same shift there should be no problems absorbing that relatively small number of new grads. If it's a small unit, however, then that's a different.

Also, are both units accustomed to orienting new grads? I've know both NICU's and PICU's that frequently hired new grads, were prepared to meet their needs, and did quite well with them. .... But I've also known other units that rarely hired new grads, were not prepared to meet their needs, and then struggled. In my mind, that's a more important consideration than the raw number in your cohort. However, it sounds in your original post as if both units hire new grads regularly: so, you might be in luck there either way.

Good luck,

llg

brina · Oct 26, 2005

llg- yes, both units are accustomed to orienting new grads. Both units take precepting 5th level students, who (usually) in turn tend to work there as new grads.

The NICU is a 40 bed level 3 NICU. This facility is in the process of starting a children's hospital, and has hired pediatric surgeons and the like. There is lots of construction going on and the NICU has already been renovated and will stay in its present location, but the PICU is in the process of expanding. Its about a 10 to 13 bed unit. (Functions best at 10, and when they have 12 pts. they usually are needing help from peds floor. When the new PICU unit opens I don't know how many beds it will have. They are expecting it to open in January which is when I will also start working as a RN.

Well, everyone. I called the NICU manager and told her that I was precepting in the PICU, and that I was calling to schedule an interview. I told her that no formal offer has been made to me in the PI and that I would love to work in either place. I told her that I did not want to wait to long to secure a job, and that I wanted to explore my options. She said of course, and that she understood, that she has pulled my application, etc. etc. She is really easy to talk to and seems to be a pleasant person to work for. So I will interview with her on Friday.

I really want to thank everyone for your comments and suggestions. Believe me I have taken you alls advice today, and I'm sure I will use some of what you guys said when I talk to her on Friday. I love ALLNURSES!!

Brina

brina · Oct 28, 2005

Just wanted to give you guys the update. I had the interview with the NICU nurse manager today..... and was offered the job on the spot. However, she told me that she did not want to snatch me away from the PICU nurse manager and that she was going to go and talk to her and let her know that if she didn't make a move and hire me soon, that she was going to hire me in the NICU. Well.... the PICU nurse manager officially offered me the job today, too. She brought the papers and everything. She told me that she had a lot going on the past 2 weeks, and was just not able to officially get with me, but that she really wanted me to work in that unit. So........ I accepted!! I am now OFFICIALLY hired in the PICU (which was always my 1st love). Although I would have loved working in the NICU too. I am excited, but I still kind of wonder in the back of mind if I made the right decision. Thanks again to everyone who responded to me in my original post.

Brina