Which is better for a new grad?

[beeker]

1. Medical/Renal Floor, nights, very high turnover on the floor but heavy patient load. Offered "as much orientation as I need, up to 6 months" Several positions on floor available, very hard time keeping staff. One of the busiest floors in the hospital. Former classmate told me most nurses there are putting in time so they can eventually transfer elsewhere in the hospital. Lot of learning opportunities, but always short techs and high patient loads.

2. Ortho floor small community hospital, night shift 6-12 weeks of orientation, but told me they have not hired a new grad in over 2 years, they have this opening because someone retired. They said it will be a learning process for training a newbie, but everyone seemed nice. I think it is a good sign they have few openings? Pay is lowest offered of all positions, but night shift diff helps. Short commute.

3. Ortho floor major downtown hospital. 3 weeks orientation and was told at interview that staff is not welcoming to newbies, but give them time. Several open positions both days and nights, but they recently elimited weekend baylor shift which caused a lot of people to quit. I fear that a short orientation paired with unsupportive coworkers will end badly. But it is the only day shift offered and the pay is much better being downtown. The commute would be tough, and would need to pay for parking.

4. Oncology floor, said training is 3-4 months. Night shift. They have a high tunrover rate amongst my classmates. About 50% have left after each orientation period. They say you either love it or hate it, and that it is empotionally very difficult. This could be a great opportunity, but I am afraid of it being too depressing in an already stressful situation of being new and learning

Basically I am hoping those of you with experience can point out things I may be missing, or things that should be part of this decision that I may have overlooked.

I want to take number 2. I want to set myself up for the best chance of success, but want to learn a lot as well. My family is pushing me for 3, due to the day shift and pay, but I do not want to be thrown to the wolves. 1 & 4 seem like good learning opportunities, but more risk of not being happy.

[Snowbird17]

The best advice I was given when I was job searching as a new grad was- You are only a new grad once. So pick the job that offers the best experience, training and opportunity. After that point, you are somewhat expected to hit the ground running.

Follow you gut! After you get a couple years experience, you can move to another role that pays more. High turnovers are typically a red flag! You don't want to get burnt out in your first role.

Make a chart with categories, like potential job satisfaction, commute, pay, orientation, turn-over, etc.... Then rate the four on a scale of 1 to 4 in each category. One or two are bound to stand out.

Try ruling out two choices, and then really evaluate the two that are the "best choice".

Good Luck!

[JessicaE]

A few thoughts of mine below. But first, I was a new grad back in 1999. Started in a busy trauma center ER, then CVICU after a year in the ER...since then, I've done NICU, PACU, case management, and now currently I write courses/blog for online nursing educational sites and do freelance editing for medical textbook publishers.

1) As a new grad, pick a job that will not make you feel so busy you feel you are unsafe. This advice could apply to any nurse, but some thrive on the hectic, and seem to do just fine. I am not one of those. That eliminates position #1 on the med/renal floor.

2) Friendly co-workers are INVALUABLE, whether you are new or not. You will enjoy the job and learn more if you are able to relax and laugh some during even the crazy shifts. Not to mention feeling at ease being able to ask whatever questions that come to mind, no matter how stupid they may sound. That eliminates #3.

3) Option #4: Oncology is one of those particular specialties that you can either handle, or you can't...it is truly a love or hate thing. I, for one, would not do well in oncology because several of my elderly relatives have died from cancer. BUT, I do VERY well in NICU, even when the infants die...and not everyone can do that. Only YOU can decide that for yourself. It could be a great job...but I suspect that a 50% turnover rate indicates more than just the emotional aspects of the job were hard...I suspect there is more to the story of that unit than just that.

So, I'm in agreement with your first instincts. Go with the slower-paced, friendlier, shorter-commute position. You may very well make up the pay difference just in the savings in gas costs, rather than driving up to downtown. Also, while you are a new grad, take every opportunity you can to hone your assessment skills...particularly of lung sounds, heart sounds, pedal pulses, etc. In addition, develop the valuable art of allowing the patient to feel in control of his/her healthcare, while keeping them from running you over and keeping them within the guidelines of the "standards of care." Openness and honesty with professionalism and tact will take you farther than any other skill. That and the ability to start IVs in scalp veins! lol ;-P

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

before i even read your last paragraph, i was rooting for you to take number 2! the orientation period seems to be adequate and your commute will be short. inadequate orientation and too-long commute seem to be the two biggest reasons new grads leave their first jobs. that and the fact that they really didn't want that job in the first place, but took it anyway . . . and that's another story altogether.

the medical renal floor sounds really interesting, but you've given a lot of red flags there. and oncology sounds great, too. oncology can be very difficult emotionally -- and it can be very uplifting. if you're not drawn to it, don't take it. i was drawn to it, and worked five years in oncology. i loved four of them . . . but became increasingly burned out over the fifth. (part of that was my own cancer diagnosis, so i might still be happy there if it hadn't been for that.)

whichever job you take, be prepared to stay for 1 1/2 to 2 years. you owe it to your employer after they trained you to stay and let them benefit from that training. and you owe it to yourself to start out your career -- and your resume -- right. good luck, and let us know which job you took.

[amber029]

I agree with the others, you need to follow your gut. Option 2 sounds like it is the best option for what you are looking for. I get more positive vibes from that job. Good luck!! I am a recent grad and am just starting to look for jobs mysellf, so stressful! That is great that you have so many options to choose from, I have heard new grad jobs in Colorado are few and far between.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

If it were me, I'd probably pick #2 because sounds like the best environment for a new grad to get started. #4 may be all right if you are interested in onco...but it's clear you aren't enthused about it. #1 may be a lot for a new grad to handle.

#3 does have the convenience of day shift, but is that worth enduring a bad commute and a hostile environment every time you go to work? Sure, the family may love the day shift, but will they love it when you come home from this job overwraught, stressed and more likely than not, late?

But only you know which one is best for you. Good luck whatever you decide!