Need advice! Contract or travel to work??

Kind of lengthy but need advice FAST please !

I just recently passed my NCLEX about a month ago and have a job offer to a level 2 trauma center in ER observation. My goal is to be an ER nurse at a local level 1 trauma center. so I feel like this is a good step to get to where I want to be. My only doubt is that the hospital I got the offer from is 45min-1hour away in another county. I have another position that I'll most likely get (but haven't been offered yet) but I have to sign a 2 year contract and pay upwards of up to $10,000 if I break it (the longer I stay the less I have to payback) BUT it's across the street from my house (no traveling!!) as a new nurse should I stick with the traveling job or the contract hospital?? I'm taking gas, time driving, the contract, my ultimate goal into consideration this is why I'm confused. They both offer good qualities and same pay. I don't want to miss out on a job especially my very first because of a stupid mistake or anything. Advice from personal experiences or just opinions would be wonderful!!
Take the one you have to commute to. Commuting sucks, but it's more relevant to your area of interest, and if you decide you hate it, you can get out easily.
Take the level 2 ED if you are confident that you are competent and tough enough to soak up the training and roll with it. The training you will get will further you along in your ultimate goal. Do you have a family depending on you? Any concrete benefits to being so close to home? Moving across the street might be better if you have little children depending on you. If they pay/benefits are the same, and you don't need to be close to home, the experience you will get at the level 2 is worth it. IMO. Great problem to have!
A commute of 45-60 minutes is no big deal, IMO. I'd go with what you know you want, unless there is a reason (like small children / childcare issues / lack of dependable transportation) compelling you to work across the street from home.
Quote from LakeEmeraldTake the level 2 ED if you are confident that you are competent and tough enough to soak up the training and roll with it. The training you will get will further you along in your ultimate goal. Do you have a family depending on you? Any concrete benefits to being so close to home? Moving across the street might be better if you have little children depending on you. If they pay/benefits are the same, and you don't need to be close to home, the experience you will get at the level 2 is worth it. IMO. Great problem to have!
Thanks !!
Two hours a day of driving, versus living across the street and walking to work, is going to have a big effect on your quality of life, especially in the Winter. Being a commuter is no fun after a 12 to 13 hour shift. Is the local job also an ED residency?
I would say commute for the experience. I drive over 70 miles to work (one way) to a hospital that is more tailored to my interests than the one 5 miles from my house. I definitely wouldn't sign a contract somewhere that I wasn't interested in to begin with... Across the street or not, you could really luck out in that situation. If the other job doesn't work out then you can always go to the hospital nearby, not the other way around. Good luck!
Quote from icuRNmaggieTwo hours a day of driving, versus living across the street and walking to work, is going to have a big effect on your quality of life, especially in the Winter. Being a commuter is no fun after a 12 to 13 hour shift. Is the local job also an ED residency?
Quote from lovesongajpI would say commute for the experience. I drive over 70 miles to work (one way) to a hospital that is more tailored to my interests than the one 5 miles from my house. I definitely wouldn't sign a contract somewhere that I wasn't interested in to begin with... Across the street or not, you could really luck out in that situation. If the other job doesn't work out then you can always go to the hospital nearby, not the other way around. Good luck!
It's a more reputable facility, higher pay, more varied experience, and I felt like it would look better on my resume overall. I definitely don't regret my decision so far