Which Job for the Long Road?

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Jun 15, 2020

If these are job offers, then take job #2 since it is the work schedule you want. Why would you take offer #1 and hope to get a job like #2 in the future?

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Jun 15, 2020

6 hours ago, Apple_Gel said:
Hello
I have a not so terrible situation but I am having some difficulty making a decision. This is also time restricted! I have two offers* both FT 40 hrs, 8 hr shifts, benefits, commute good but #2 better.
The difference is Job #1 is LTAC, e/o weekend, pt load 8-10, orientation 6 weeks, union+state. $41/hr
Job #2 is community based, CM, mostly administrative work with bank hours 9-5. Onboarding is more like learn as you go. $31.25/hr
My end goal is to have that 9-5, no weekends, nights, holidays - kind of office setting. Most of my experience 2.5 years has been community based and lacking acute/bedside exp. In my last post, I resigned from the float pool.
Job #2 sounds like what I’m looking for but I’m stuck on the standard “need at least 1 year bedside exp” and “pay my dues” to be a good nurse. I’ve been rejected many times before due to lack of experience.
I’m worried that I won't last in Job#1 and don’t want my resume to have two short clinical positions. Also I’ve applied to this position twice, was rejected, then suddenly offered a spot that opened up. But I’m wondering about the future for the job market. I could learn a lot with Job#1 and then find something similar to Job#2 later on.

Heck, I didn’t last in an LTAC even with my many years of experience!! Codes practically every other night! Vents and critical drips galore on more patients at that level of care than I could handle. The RTs were a lifesaver! I got out of there as fast as I could and never looked back!!

Apple_Gel · Jun 15, 2020

2 hours ago, NICU Guy said:
If these are job offers, then take job #2 since it is the work schedule you want. Why would you take offer #1 and hope to get a job like #2 in the future?

My thought process was that Job #1 could help me do a job like #2 better in terms of critical thinking or prioritization for the future. Be a more experienced nurse to refer to I guess.

Apple_Gel · Jun 15, 2020

18 minutes ago, BSNbeDONE said:
Heck, I didn’t last in an LTAC even with my many years of experience!! Codes practically every other night! Vents and critical drips galore on more patients at that level of care than I could handle. The RTs were a lifesaver! I got out of there as fast as I could and never looked back!!

I don't know many people who have LTAC experience, but I haven't heard anything positive yet! Mostly people leaving after 6 months or a year. I think this is also why I'm hesitant.

I already planned I would leave after 1 year if I took the LTAC position just to get that "required 1 year" for future job hunting. The pay is also 20k more than the CM but the work-life balance is important to me too.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 15, 2020

LTACH is a golden place for learning skills and developing critical thinking and time management. I'd say it that really "acute" LTACH is better in this sense than many ICUs. But if you do not want to became nurse clinician and value administrative side and lifestyle more than bedside sharpness, it is OK too. Running a code and an RR in parallel is definitely not everyone's cup of tea.

Apple_Gel · Jun 16, 2020

1 hour ago, KatieMI said:
LTACH is a golden place for learning skills and developing critical thinking and time management. I'd say it that really "acute" LTACH is better in this sense than many ICUs. But if you do not want to became nurse clinician and value administrative side and lifestyle more than bedside sharpness, it is OK too. Running a code and an RR in parallel is definitely not everyone's cup of tea.

Thank you, I feel that I am more fit for non-clinical positions although there is the stigma of "not a real nurse" if it's not bedside. Generally for LTAC, what would be good review or practice to be able to handle the acuity of the patients?

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 16, 2020

54 minutes ago, Apple_Gel said:
Thank you, I feel that I am more fit for non-clinical positions although there is the stigma of "not a real nurse" if it's not bedside. Generally for LTAC, what would be good review or practice to be able to handle the acuity of the patients?

Actually, just working there. One will need a review of full med/surg + wounds+ elements of ICU + respiratory, which is not realistic.

scribblz, BSN, CNA, LPN · Jun 16, 2020

11 hours ago, Apple_Gel said:
Hello
I have a not so terrible situation but I am having some difficulty making a decision. This is also time restricted! I have two offers* both FT 40 hrs, 8 hr shifts, benefits, commute good but #2 better.
The difference is Job #1 is LTAC, e/o weekend, pt load 8-10, orientation 6 weeks, union+state. $41/hr
Job #2 is community based, CM, mostly administrative work with bank hours 9-5. Onboarding is more like learn as you go. $31.25/hr
My end goal is to have that 9-5, no weekends, nights, holidays - kind of office setting. Most of my experience 2.5 years has been community based and lacking acute/bedside exp. In my last post, I resigned from the float pool.
Job #2 sounds like what I’m looking for but I’m stuck on the standard “need at least 1 year bedside exp” and “pay my dues” to be a good nurse. I’ve been rejected many times before due to lack of experience.
I’m worried that I won't last in Job#1 and don’t want my resume to have two short clinical positions. Also I’ve applied to this position twice, was rejected, then suddenly offered a spot that opened up. But I’m wondering about the future for the job market. I could learn a lot with Job#1 and then find something similar to Job#2 later on.

Be the type of nurse you want to be, not what you think you should want to be. You have to want job #1 to succeed at job #1. You clearly want job #2; you should take it while it's on the table.

Best of luck to you!