Which job should I choose?!

[ebnrn, BSN]

Hello Everyone,

I am a new graduate nurse in the New England area. I have several job options, both I would have to relocate for. I am just having the hardest time trying to decide. Wherever I go will be for about one year because I want to join the usaf and need one year of experience before. The field I want to start in would be critical care. Here are the choices:

1.) 8 bed ICU at a 100 bed facility hospital in my hometown in Maine. I was introduced to the staff and I truly feel that I would learn a lot there and would not just be a number. I am a big family person and my whole (20+ people) family would be living within 10 mins of me. I have been away from home for the past 4 years while in nursing school. So this would have the best of both worlds with being in critical care while spending quality time with my family.

2.) 80 bed ICU at a hospital in Orlando, Florida. This facility is 10x larger compared to the hospital in Maine. Orientation is 12 weeks for both jobs. I do love the Orlando area and am a huge Disney fan, so that would be a plus. I am worried about being away from family since when I join the military I know I will not see them as much.

I currently reside in Boston, MA and will be moving in a few weeks. Just need to decide whether it will be to Maine or Florida....

Thank you everyone for all of your help!

--Emily

[NurseYoshi]

Honestly, I would personally choose the job in Maine. I'm a family person myself and as much as I love Disney, I don't think I could move to the Orlando area alone for a job, plus I'd be concerned about my safety in a big city like that. You can honestly learn the same stuff, regardless of what others might say, at either ICU unless the larger one is specialized. I chose to go with the smaller 15 minute commute hospital rather than a large hospital 2 hours away with a residency (in a somewhat unknown area to me which has higher crime rates than my current area). I also chose not to stay at the larger hospital where I worked as a tech because I wanted a shorter commute and a different type of patient population.

It's your choice to make, but trust yourself and figure out the pros and cons for each hospital/area before making a decision. I'm not one of those "try it and if it doesn't work out move back" kind of people.

Ps New England has TONS of great activities in that area, so if you stay there you'd be able to have fun with your family and friends too.