Winthrop vs. St. Francis

[Nurse-Julie]

Hi Everyone,

I have an important question to pose to you all. Does anyone have an opinion about whether it is better to be a new nurse at St. Francis or Winthrop? If I was asked this question a few months ago I would have had no doubt in my mind and I would have said Winthrop. However, at my follow up interview with a 'high-up-there' person at Winthrop they mentioned casually that they had just let go of one of their new grad hires on Unit X and that they would like to put me in that person's spot. I think this is wonderful to be offered a position, but it worries me that they let this new grad go. I have a strong academic background, but regardless of this I am a new grad. They also mentioned to me that they were having a hard time finding preceptors for their new hires. Does anyone have any insight on this?

In addition, one hospital has a 3 month orientation program and the other has a 2 month orientation program. One offer is for a med-surg floor and the other offer is for a critical care floor. These are both great hospitals so I am really at a loss. My ultimate concern is to have a supportive environment for a new grad. I am intelligent and hard working, but if I have a preceptor who doesn't really want to precept I feel that may be a rough learning environment.

Any advice would be wonderful. Thank you!

Julie, RN

[RNJENNY]

Hello Nurse-Julie,

Since it has been a few months since your post, I was wondering what hospital you ended up accepting the offer from. Also, did you get any feedback on the pros and cons of each? I feel as if St. Francis may have nurses that are more willing to teach new graduates as they volunteer and are trained to become preceptors, but I worry that the orientation is much shorter than that of Winthrop. Other than that, I've heard both good and bad things about each hospital.

Thanks for any information you can provide =]

Jennifer