Which of these job options is the "most correct"?

[jpalise]

I'm looking for insight from what it's like after you're a new grad. Is anybody still struggling to find a job, despite having that coveted 1yr acute care experience? Does it matter where you get that experience? Or do people get pigeon-holed based on that first job?

I graduated in May '13 with a BSN in the Los Angeles area. I feel extremely fortunate to have options at this point, but I'm afraid to make the "wrong" choice... especially after reading so many horror stories of new grads at their first job. These are my options right now:

1) 6-month formal new grad position in Surgical ICU at a hospital with an outstanding reputation. Nurses and management on the floor appear to be VERY supportive. But it's across the country in NC. Family, friends, and boyfriend are all in CA.

2) 6-week "orientation" on DOU floor at a local hospital that I hear is mediocre. The nurse manager thinks I should be okay because I have LVN experience... per-diem in home health and telephone triage. A far cry from critical care! The nurses on the floor seem pretty nice, but the nurse manager seems to have a "you'll take what I give you" attitude because she knows new grads are desperate. Is a measly 6-weeks setting me up for failure? Or suck it up and do it for a year? Or will hiring managers assume I'm a mediocre nurse because I only have 1yr at a mediocre hospital??

3) 12-week unpaid nurse transition course at a respectable local hospital, mother-baby unit. This unfortunately is risky because it's not a guaranteed job afterward, but many students do receive offers upon completion. It pays much better. I don't want to focus on money, but it's hard to ignore a $13/h difference. If not offered employment, does anyone know if this does anything for the resume since it's basically a new grad program, but it's less than a year??

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! ICU too overwhelming for a rookie? Should I place more emphasis on management style or nursing floor? I've been mulling this over for too long and need to make a decision! Thanks in advance for any input!!

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

I would not work for free for three months for the chance to be hired. That's ridiculous. Options one and two sound about equal to me, though. I would probably try the local hospital and look out of state only if things didn't go well.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

Unless mother baby is your passion, why bother?

the jobs will ultimately go to those who really want it, and the "1 year acute care experience" clock won't start till after the 3 months. Mother baby experience counts, but not as much as experience in a higher acuity setting.

[PRNketamine]

If it were me, I would take the SICU position. I went into PICU right out of school and it was the best. I learned more than you could imagine.

[Nonetheless]

I am young, single, and free (and would be okay with leaving my family for a few years), so I would take the fancy SICU position.

If I had a serious boyfriend/husband who I needed to stick with, I would take the local hospital position.

I would not take the unpaid experience. If it doesn't guarantee a job, why waste 3 months of my time and energy that I could have spent actually job hunting?