I need advice about switching jobs as a New Grad

Nurses New Nurse

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Hi everyone,

I am a new grad that graduated in May 2016. I got a job at a local hospital in a med surg unit. I am out of orientation and have been on my own for several weeks. Although I love my job, I am not happy working for the facility I am currently at due to various reasons. I have been offered a position at Sharp Memorial. I feel like I will be a lot happier there because I will have more room to grow as a nurse and be exposed to more learning opportunities. I am a little hesitant due to the imminent strike there. I am not too familiar with Sharp yet but I have heard great things about it from others. Should I take a risk and go to Sharp or Is it a bad time to go to Sharp? Do they really go out of patient to nurse ratio? Any one who currently works at Sharp or others with any advice please let me know what you think. I only have one year in health care and I am still learning to navigate my way through all this. Thanks!

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New employment that is tied to strike timing often turns out to be problematic, as in not materializing at all. I would be very careful about taking this new position during a time of unrest.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

Never mind the potential strike; switching jobs in your first year of nursing means it's that much longer before you learn and become comfortable with your job, before you become competent. If you can tolerate your job, stay at it for a year. Then look around for other opportunities. Even if you HATE your job, stick it out for a year.

If you actually love your job, you're crazy to consider leaving and going somewhere else, regardless of the dangers of taking a new job right before a strike.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

You say you love your job ... but are thinking of leaving it for an opportunity to go to a place where the nurses are so unhappy that they are on the verge of a strike. That sounds VERY unwise. Enjoy the job you love for a while longer -- work there for at least a year, preferably 2. You won't be ready to take full advantage of any opportunity for growth/advancement for another year or two anyway. You also don't want to walk into the middle of a mess.

So stay where you are for a while longer and be happy. Then, once you are ready for a little development/advancement ... look around a find a nice environment to work in. Maybe Sharp will be a nice place to work then, maybe not. But you will be in a better position to find a good job in a good hospital.

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Specializes in critical care ICU.

I just wanted to suggest that perhaps using the specific name of the hospital wouldn't be a good idea. Maybe I'm just paranoid. Your username is anonymous enough, but even so...

I agree with the previous posters as well. I would suggest getting a good year or two under your belt. I'm glad you love your job though!

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How do you LOVE your job.. but are not happy? Why would you move to a facility where the nurses are ready to strike??? You would be out of a job from day one.

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Specializes in critical care ICU.
How do you LOVE your job.. but are not happy? Why would you move to a facility where the nurses are ready to strike??? You would be out of a job from day one.

The way I interpreted it is that she loves nursing, but not where she works.

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