Please help need advice...Take the job offer??

Hi everyone,

I am hoping I can get some advice.I am in CA. Been an LVN for about 10 years. I am a new grad RN and got a job offer at an urgent care. First, I tried to apply for their part time position and went to the interview. They called me back for another interview and said they can't offer me the part time position because they don't want a new grad on one of the days scheduled to work so they interviewed me for the per diem position. Today I get a call from Human Resource and they made me an offer. She said its for the part time position. I told her, I am confused, I thought they didnt want a new grad for the part time and it was a per diem position they wanted me for. She said no its for the part time, that is what the supervisor told her. Then she said starting rate will be $25/hr...In my mind I went 25?? really...At my last job I was making 27 as an LVN and currently I have an RN per diem job at a subacute making 32. I did ask her is that the norm rate and she said well you are a new grad and we usually base our rate mostly on tenure. My husband was He said first they change their minds twice about what position to give you then they want to pay you that?! He advised me to refuse it...but I just dont know. My ultimate goal is to get some experience as an RN to someday maybe get a Hospital job. I've tried to apply to many hospitals but its is very hard to get in right now. I think some experience is better than nothing but hubby says to look elsewhere....Please need advice...would love to hear what you guys advise ...take the job? or not?

Thanks everyone for your time and thoughts!! Last edit by AngRN6726 on Aug 30, '11 : Reason: forgot something
I would take it as expereince is experience, nobody says you have to stay commited to them. Could work part time and keep your per diem job right?Do they look at your LPN experience at all, I have heard some places will count it has half years expereince so your 10 as an LPN would be 5 on the experince pay scale, but in this economy employers can offer what they want and people need jobs so down the wages go

Speak to the manager of the unit for clarification of the position.

Thanks merlee and love,@ merlee, i was thinking of doing just that tomm morning. Calling her up and clarifying the position. thanks@ lovemybug, thanks. It is good experience. I am keeping my per diem so I can do either with the urgent care per diem or part time. The nursing supervisor did mention during the interview that maybe they would take my LVN experience into consideration ,but you are right. They know I am desperate for experience and with the economy they can can offer anything. Oh well. Its funny ,my husband says he knows me and says I am too nice and will work my butt off and stay with them over time even with the pay. He is right but I still think the experience is worth it.

You starting pay an hour is nearly 5$ more than here in Texas, but of course CA has higher standards of living. I started out in ICU as an RN making 20$ for new grad, I work nights so I get 4$ shift diff, I worked for 1 year as an LPN/LVN and they gave me a .50 raise considering that experience.

Yeah...We all have to start somewhereI guess I over freaked a little...When I started out in nursing a few years ago as a CNA I made 7.50/hr took a paycut from cashier salary of 11.00. But I didn't mind then because I knew that is what I had to do to get the experience. I gotta start from the bottom again. But thats ok, experience is experience.

Why not call the person you interviewed with to clarify if it's the part time or PRN position? HR is going by what they are given...go to the source.As far as the pay, I can't comment re" CA but I can tell you in Ga. an urgent care is not going to pay like a hospital and certainly not pay a new grad experienced RN pay. Take the job - you will gain experience and like others have said, you do not have to stay there.

Clinics tend to pay the least of everyone. That salary doesnt surprise me

That is what I thought too Nicki, I worked for a big company clinic as an LVN years ago and even then I was surprised how much they paid me compared to my subacute

That is really LOW pay for Ca. Where in Ca are you? I started at $22 an hour in 1990 in the Bay Area. If you are desperate for a job, I would take it for 6 months to get experience then move on to higher pay!!

I felt it was little low too. Im in orange county. But now Ive got another dilemma. I was accepted into a new grad training program course and I already have a per diem job and Im going to school online. Now I really dont know what I should do...this training program will give me exactly the experience I need for a hospital job but it is only 4 months and does not guarantee a job but its really really good experience..I was very lucky to get in! Now I dont know whether I should keep the urgent care per diem or not. I am afraid of wearing myself too thin especially since I am a mother of a 4 month old.