Which should I choose - Preferred OB position in small town or Rehab job in dream town?

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Hi Nurse Beth,

I am graduating this month as an RN (associates)! I am finishing my 108 preceptorship in OB and I LOVE it! This is where I want to end up, and in the future become an NP in women's health or a CNM. My family (parents and sibling) live in Boise, while I live 2 hours away with my two kids and husband. Our family goal is to eventually live in Boise. The problem is the hospitals in Boise, don't offer positions to new grads in specialty units, like OB! Where I live they do. But I hate where I live! We travel to Boise whenever we can, and because it's a small town there is nothing to do with my small children, especially in Winter because it's so cold outside!

Anyways, the OB here is hiring, and I think I have a good shot at getting it since I am precepting here and they like me. I just got a job offer in Boise, for Rehabilitation. What do I do? Take the rehab job, do it for a couple years, and then switch to OB, and be where we want to live. OR... Do I do what I love in OB (although it's not a guarantee offer yet), hate where I live, and hope they would hire me a couple years from now in the OB unit in Boise.

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Dear Loves Boise and Hates Small Town,

Congratulations!! You did it, you are soon to be an RN :)

Cons for moving to Boise: Calculated-risk wise, you are best to stay in Small Town and gain acute OB experience. You already know you love OB, and you have a job opportunity. In the not-so-distant future, you can move to Boise, where you will be a marketable and experienced RN, well positioned to land a job.

Will you be working 12 hour shifts? if so, you have 4 days a week off to visit your family. Boise is only 2 hours away, you can even do day trips.

Pros for moving to Boise: If you feel very confident that you can land a job in OB in Boise in two years after doing Rehab...then move to Boise, where your family is, and where you want to be.

Best wishes in your decision,

Nurse Beth

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

My opinion — take the OB job if that is where you want to work. Time will pass and you can relocate to Boise with some leverage in the form of experience! If you take the rehab job in Boise, there is no guarantee that you will be hired into OB later. Congratulations on your achievement!

[lookingrn]

I was in a similar position, wanting to move back to Colorado, and also to be in oncology. I found it was really easy to move and find a job in my particular area once I had experience in that area. If you have a specialty that you're passionate about, get experience in it and then you'll have all kinds of options.

[Ashes172, BSN, RN]

I'd take the OB job where you currently are because it will be much easier to get a job in that unit in Boise after you have experience. If you move it could be a long time before you get your dream job, is that something you're okay with?

[RNinDM]

I agree with the posters who say to take the OB job. A year goes by in no time at all and then, with OB experience, it will be much easier to have the job you want in the city you want.

[janetpa]

Just another thought--how old are your children?? It may be easier for them to adjust before middle school--I know you didn't ask that we had to relocate and it did make a difference for my children.