Which would you choose IF you had to?

[BiologyNerd]

I'm starting college this August....and just looking into different hospitals right now....because several are offering student loan repayment.

I really want to work with babies (either in Labor and Delivery, post partum, or the NICU).

I either want to work for: Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, Capital Regional Medical Center, or South Georgia Medical Center. I am not sure if Capital Regional offers the student loan repayment... TMH offers $16,000 and South Georgia Medical offers I believe $12,000

I will lay out pros and cons of each...

TMH: Has a wonderful new women's pavillion that is in a seperate building than the main hospital. They have the typical mother baby care and a level 3 NICU. They have a security officer 24 hrs a day who is stationed at a desk as soon as you enter the front door. The pay is like $18.30 an hour. With the shift differentials being something along the lines of $1.83 for evening, $2.19 for night, and a weekend differential of something like 15%.

The building is wonderful, the nurses have seemed very friendly and happy. But the location will put me in a big city that I am unfamiliar with and an hour away from my family. But, they have a ton of affordable apartments...

Capital Regional: Nice, new hospital. The labor and delivery floor is nice. They have a well baby nursery, and good security. The pay is $20 an hour and 10% evening, 12% night, and 15% weekend differential. Its in Tallahassee also, so that puts me an hour away from family.... not my top choice...but its still a contender.

SGMC:About 45 minutes from family in a city that I will be familiar with the city.$17-$18 an hour. The shift differentials I believe are the same 10%, 12%, and 15%. I will do my clinicals at this hospital. The staff seem friendly and happy.

There is a hospital in my hometown that pays $19 an hour, 3.23 for evening and $4.25 for night.... but the staff are rude, they all come off as unhappy (the ones I've had to deal with...). NOT somewhere that I even desire to work at, even with the bay and convenience.

I'm just trying to get this figured out so I can go ahead and start talking to the hospitals about the student loan repayment. My heart is saying go with TMH. But, given what I've said, if you had to choose a hospital from this list, which would you choose? Or, any advice?

[TexasPediRN]

You already answered your own question.

Your heart lies with TMH.

An hour away is not very bad, and affordable apartments are a plus. You can always travel home for a day to visit.

Think about this as well: with loan repayment, you are required to stay at that facility for X number of years. You want to do this at a place you will be happy. You also want to be around people who enjoy their jobs.

Another thing to think about : this all may change in the 2-4 years before your graduate. I do think its good though to begin thinking about it and discussing it, but you wont be able to get the ball rolling just yet..

[BiologyNerd]

4 years left, lol. I'm thrilled to soon graduate high school.

When should I talk to TMH about the student loan repayment?

[GilaRRT]

I say, start school, focus on your studies, and get a feel for what you really want in nursing as you gain experience. Allot can change in four years. Both your goals and the hospital benefit programs and wages can change significantly.

[tiedied]

They (meaning any of those hospitals) probably won't even talk to you about this until you're a senior (of a four year program) or maybe junior year if you want to start an externship before you work there full time.

Things change so much over the years especially with the economy as it is and the new presidency. It is way too soon in your nursing career to be choosing hospitals based on salary.

Don't worry about choosing a specialty until you've completed different clinical rotations because you may find you are interested in something you had not considered before. Don't jump to a decision until you've let yourself experience different kinds of nursing.

Good luck with nursing school! :nuke:

[zimsaint]

Biology Nerd,

These are very low salaries for RNs; LPNs make more than that in Atlanta. Emory Hospital has a resident hall that they allows new nurses to live in as they assist you to relocate. They also offer scholarships for bright nursing students who commit to working for them for the number of years they received the money. Check it out......it's a viable option and the pay is MUCH better.

Job opportunities are so plentiful within their organization. Looks at hot jobs on Yahoo. Sometimes I feel sorry for them, they need help so bad. Atlanta is desperate for RNs.:bowingpur..............LOTS of travel contracts available for experienced (1yr) nurses.