Which position would you choose?

Hello All.

I have had a couple interviews at a couple different places the past couple weeks and I would like your input on the different places and where you would go. Just a note that I dont have any specific specialty I want to work in and that this will be my first new grad position as a BSN RN. Assume you have recieved offers from all of the places listed. Thanx!

1. Local Area Hospital
   

• 12 week program rotating through various med-surg floors with a preceptor. At the 10 week mark you can interview with some of the open med-surg floors and POSSIBLY get a job. This program does not gurantee you a position after its completion. Could be night shift or day shift depending on your preceptor. Pilate Program.
  

2. Local Area Hospital

• Night Shift Medical Surgical Position. Every other weekend required, but the manager told you that you wont have to worry about working alot of weekends because they have weekend contracts with several employees. 6 patients per nurse.
  

3. Local State Mental Health Facility

• Night Shift, Every Other Weekend, Non Self Schedule, Patient load varies, Great tuition reimbursement and no contract required, High Turn Over Rate.
  

4. Local State Rehab Facility

• 8 to 430pm job. Working with mentally impaired individuals in physical rehabilitation and vocation rehabilitation services. Same tuition reimbursement as the mental health facility.
  

Thank you all again.

Wow...unique choices. Unless you really like mental health or rehab, I would not push for #3 or 4. As to option 1...no guarantee after 3 months wouldn't appeal to me. That leaves option 2. I would talk to nurses who work there because most facilities rotate weekends and you should know if they wind up working more often than not on the weekends. Option 2 gives you a guaranteed job and opportunity to grow. Once your feet are firmly on the ground, you can start considering floating to other areas of the hospital and get some experience. Good luck.

I have worked in a position similar to #4 in a non-nursing and a nursing position, very limited experience. #2 would be your best bet as it gives you guaranteed hours and acute care experience, which is pretty much all that matters.

Thank you for your answers so far! They are really helping me with my decision.

#1-no job guarantee at the end of 12 weeks? Not a good choice...what if you don't get picked? Then you have to look for another job!

#2-probably the most reasonably hospital job. Alternating weekends is not unreasonable. Night shift is typical for a new grad. Med-surg is a good starting point for a new grad; you can always move on later.

#3-ok if want mental health, but I'd ask why the turnover rate is high!

#4-is rehab what you want to do? Sounds nonclinical; so you might be limited later if you decide to try for a hospital job later.

It's great that you have so many choices. Also consider the tuition reinbursement; its nice, but how long do you have to commit for how much money? Good Luck!

dah doh

#1 and #2 offer 5200 dollars a year after 6 months with a 2 year work agreement

#3 and #4 offer one 3 or 4 credit hour class per semester paid in full after 6 months work with no work agreement.

Thank you for the response!