Which job would you take?

[the smack]

Ok I've had two interviews this week after 7 months of applying. One is for an inpatient hospice unit in a hospital. It's not working directly for the hospital but for a hospice company that is located on a floor in the hospital. The other is for an outpatient oncology clinic. I'm pretty sure I got the job for the oncology clinic but will know by tomorrow. My interview at the hospice unit went really well also and they said I should know by the end of the week. I'm asking your opinions as to which job would benefit me more in the long run. In the hospice position I would be in the hospital which provides an advantage to me in the future if I want to move to a floor in the hospital. Plus they do have some patients in drips and also do continuous bladder irrigations, etc. As for oncology, that's a great specialty to get into. I'd like to hear what you all think. Thanks!

[bebbercorn]

Congratulations on finding something! I'm also on the hunt for several months, and have applied with a lot of staffing/travel agencies who are only willing to use me for ambulatory settings/health fairs/school nursing... I have repeatedly been given the impression that I've "been out too long" for a hospital setting... if it were me I would take the hospital setting for the transfer opportunity... best of luck to you!

[the smack]

Thanks bebbercorn! I hope one of these jobs comes through. I'm just asking on the off chance I actually get two offers. I think you're right. I'll probably take the hospice job but I'm worried that if the oncology one offers first, what will I say? I don't want to make them wait too long because it might slip out from under me. Crazy how I've gone from zero response to suddenly having two prospects at once!

[Marshall1]

With either one you can't really go wrong..the clinic position sounds like it will be a M-F deal..what about the hospital? If working holidays/weekends is ok w/you then you need to look at the shifts - are they 8 or 12? The pay? The benefits? Also, hospice is end of life care..where the clinic is life preserving..so that is something to think about as well.

Either position will allow you to move into other avenues in the future - including the hospital. Onco. clinics are much more specialized now so that works in your favor.

You are actually in a great position with both of these..if the clinic position offer comes first you can ask for a few days to consider the offer or if you don't think that is a good idea go ahead and accept it. If the hospice position comes through and is more along the lines of what you want then you can always go back to the onco. clinic and be honest that another position you didn't anticipate has come through and for your professional goals and personal responsibilities it works better. Another option would be to contact the hospice person you interviewed with - if you feel comfortable doing so - and simply ask what your status in the interview process is.

Good luck! Great jobs - both of them!

[the smack]

So first I got a call this morning from the hospice HR telling me to come in for a second interview with the PCA. I'm going in tomorrow morning. Then the oncology clinic called me telling me to come in Tuesday to shadow the nurse and get a feel for it then talk about the job after. I think if the hospice offers me a job tomorrow I'm going to take it. The pay is better and I like that it's in the hospital. Let's see how it goes tomorrow! I'm nervous!

[Marshall1]

Great! Good luck!!

[serenitylove14]

I did a clinical in outpatient oncology, I LOVED IT!!! All the nurses/ facility staff and patients were AWESOME! It was like a family in there and they really get to know their patients. Good Luck on selecting.