job dilemma (kinda long)

[andysgirl07]

Hey guys, I need some input. You may remember I went for a job interview at UAB Hospital to work in the newborn ICU. It seemed promising - they couldn't hire students but told me to call after I had gotten my certification (which will happen in May). But the other night while I was at clinicals, one of the women mentioned that another girl had applied for the job, so I decided to call the director and talk to her about what my status was. She said she had two positions available. She's not hurrying to fill them, and she hopes one is still open after I get my certification, but she can't guarantee there will be a position (which I totally understand).

So I was getting worried b/c I love that place, but after I graduate I get kicked off my mom and stepdad's insurance, my biological father stops paying me (court-ordered check), and plus wedding expenses will be coming up since it'll be a little less than a year away. And Andrew's not a big saver. So I really need a job.

Then today, the instructor of my program sent me an email and told me that another hospital was hiring and the director had called and asked him for referrals. So he thought of me and wanted me to have first dibs on the job. This job would be in adult care (which I don't mind doing, I just really want to work with newborns for the majority of my career). I can get hired on now as a student (a definite plus), but he didn't know the pay (which is $18/hour at the UAB - but only after graduation). I've done some clinicals at this hospital (HH) and they were all really nice and I enjoyed it, but here's my dilemma --

If I take the job now, how will it look if UAB can hire me after graduation and I quit after like 3 months at HH? And should I take the risk of passing up this job (which isn't guaranteed, but I may be more likely to get) in hopes of getting the other one in the NICU, and then that not happening? Thanks for ya'll's help!

[LaceyinPgh]

You take the job that is offered to you. A job is better than no job. If you find something else in the future that is more your liking or has better pay or other perks that you like then you quit your job and take the new one. Nursing has a high turnover rate. I have never known a nurse who didn't move around a lot in the first few years of their career. You will need the money for day to day expenses, wedding, emergency, life in general. Also, you cannot go without health insurance, especially if you have the oppurtunity to get it.

[Kacie_bride]

I think you should take the job. If you do get hired at the other hospital after graduation I don't think it will look bad on a future resume or anything as long as you don't job hop a lot. When you get a future interview you should just explain why you took that path. This way you would be more secured in case you do not get the other job at the hospital you want. Last semester I took a course called undergraduate seminar and we learned that the average time a person stays in their first "career job" after graduating from college is 7 months. Most people just take the first thing they can get and then look for something else and I think employers understand that.

[rainbowtreat]

I agree with the others. I would take the job and for the same reasons the others stated. If you get the job you want after you graduate good for you and who knows, maybe newborn is what you want now but the other may be just as rewarding. Ya never know unless you try it. And most employees would never look down on your for you going for a better job to better your career. Godd luck with what ever you choose.

[Jenn060306]

I think you should take it. It will get you the work you need, but also look good for experience. If the job in the NICU comes up when you are finished school you can tell the people you are working for now that you found a job more suited to yourself. Alot of people understand that.
Good Luck!

[CarlosHoney]

Go for it!! You can get some experience and pay in the meantime... and when you graduate, you can find a job with the babies! :bbmrgreen:

[brewsells]

I agree with everyone else.. Even if it's not the job you want right now, that doesn't mean you can't get it later.

[andysgirl07]

I had the meeting with my instructor yesterday - and good news!! He called and talked to the director at UAB. The other girl that applied didn't get the job AND the director told him that she will be holding the position open for me! She obviously couldn't tell me and wasn't supposed to tell him, but when he told her that I was thinking of applying somewhere else, she didn't want me to take another job!

I also asked him about moving from HH to UAB in three months (before he talked to her) and he said it would look bad. And if I ever wanted to go back to HH, they probably wouldn't hire me again if I did that. Plus, I really don't enjoy adult care (I would only take it as a last resort) - because all we do is give breathing treatments four times a day (I'm in respiratory therapy), unless we can get in a unit (which I wouldn't be able to starting out).

I'm so happy now - I was getting worried that I wouldn't be able to get a job ANYwhere after I graduated!

[Jenn060306]

I'm so glad to hear that they are going to hold a position for you! It must be so good to know that you have a job when you are done school.
Congratulations!

[brewsells]

That is awesome! See, they always work out. Congrats!!

[Kacie_bride]

Wonderfull. I am so happy for you!

[usahgrad]

Well, that'll teach me not to surf....Oh well, here's my post anyways :) Congrats on having the job held for you...that's awesome!

Ok, I kind of surfed through some of the posts, but here's my input, being without health insurance right now and working on trying to have any money left over after all the expenses (squeezing little wedding things out of everywhere). Take the job. You can always quit, even if it three months down the line. There's no guarantees with the other job and that's hard. I graduated college last May and lost my health insurance benefits the end of the year. I don't have any job possibilities; I work as a long-term temp in a job I really love, but the lady I replaced had worked there two years and wasn't hired. There are no guarantees! If you have an offer take it. Of course, as a nurse, you'll have a million more opportunities than I ever will have, but still; seize the opportunities you're given and if you get something better, then move on. You're working your way up remember? Good luck and congrats on your upcoming graduation. By the way, welcome to the real world...it sucks! :)

[andysgirl07]

Thanks for ya'll's input. By the way guys: I'm a respiratory therapist - not a nurse ;) . But, I've decided I'm definitely not going to take the HH job. The director at UAB did tell my professor that she was holding the job for me, and I trust that she wasn't lying. Plus I've watched all my family members be in jobs that they absolutely hated, and I never saw the point in being miserable like that. And I know I would definitely be happy at UAB. I understand money issues and stuff for staying in a job, but since that's not a factor for me right now, I'm going to hold out for the UAB job. Thanks for your support everybody!! :D :D

[ikkin510]

Ashely, I agree, why work in a job you hate? If you have the oppertunity to do something you know you will like, do it! Best of luck!