Confessions of a Job hopper

Nurses General Nursing

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My name is OnlybyhisgraceRN and I am a job hopper. Sigh. I started working at the age of 14 years old, I've had probably 20 different jobs over the past 10 years. My job history goes as follows:

Age 14- Mcdonald's for a year or so. I gained weight off of big macs, fries, and shakes. So I decided to quit.

Age 15- I worked as a dietary aide in a small community hospital. I left after a year for very stupid reasons.

Age 16- A shoe store. I quit a year later.

Age 17- I worked four different jobs. I worked at best buy for 3 months but was fired for letting a friend use my family discount. Then, I worked at marshalls for 3 weeks and quit due it being super chaotic and dealing with crazy customers. Next, I worked at michaels for 2 days... I honestly don't remember why I quit that job. My fourth job was as a student aid, I quit after 3 months because I became a CNA and wanted to work as such.

Age-18 I worked as a school health aide, and lasted 2.5 years. I loved the job so much that I planned on staying as a nurse. However, everyone stated" No, go get your clinical experience". And so I did. After I received my LPN license I left the school system. In addition to the school job I worked for 2 nursing agencies as a float CNA/Sitter.

Age-20 I worked as a LPN in an ALF. After a year I left, it was a new day on hell every single day.

Age-21 I worked in a LTC, which I loved. I left after a year due to schedule conflict with school and they did not allow PRN.

Age 22- I worked in subacute/LTC facility, another ALF, methadone clinic. The subacute and ALF were hell holes. I loved the Methadone clinic but I was PRN and they never had any hours. I also worked for 2 peds HH agency. I hated it because I felt like an over paid babysitter. My last job for this year was a PRN school nurse job for an agency that I'm currently employed.

Age-23- I worked at a subacute facilty , I quit after three months when I received my RN license to pursue the "almighty" hospital experience. I then got hired into a CVICU. I lasted 7 months there( that is a thread all by itself, literally).

Now I'm 24 years old and I find myself starting another job next week. All I can say is that I'm tired of job hopping. My long term goal is to find my home in nursing and stay there until I retire. Why is that so hard for me to do??? I feel so pathetic.

Hopefully this year will be different, and I'll find my self at the same place by the end of the year.

Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

I really wouldn't say that you have jumped around so much. Why do I say this? Because A). Yes, you job hopped in high school, but t that's not atypical for high schoolers, and you were young then. High school doesn't really count once college is over anyway.

And, your experience is not atypical for nurses. Many nurses work for a year or a few years and then move on to something new, and usually for good reason. Unsafe staffing is usually a number 1 reason. Number 2 is burn-out d/t odd hours worked, time away from family, friends. Number 3: is burn-out d/t reaching their peak in a certain area, and wanting a change to learn something new.

You're still working in the same PRN job, so that's good there. And, you left other jobs for unsafe staffing, and not being able to go to school. You wanted to stay in one of your jobs, but if they couldn't work with your school schedule, well, you needed to advance your education, and I don't blame you there, so....really, the CVICU job is your only short stint, and you discovered it wasn't a good fit for you. Tried your best, I imagine, to make it work. I would advise you now, though, to not make any quick decisions, and get a job and stay there for at least 2 years. Hopefully your new job is something you'll enjoy. What is your new job?

I worked for a year in a job I had in a rehab hospital and left so that I could learn more. Liked who I worked with, but wanted acute care experience. So, you're not alone :). We do what's best for ourselves and our families in the cases where that's applicable. I've been in the ICU for almost a year and a half now and counting. My philosophy is to give an employer a year at least (if a job is not unsafe) so that it's not a waste that they hired me regardless of my like or dislike for a job, but to each his own. You discovered your previous job wasn't the best fit, so that's different, and I know that must have stunk initially, but I'm sure you're feeling relieved now since you never really liked it anyway. Best of luck to you!

Specializes in LTC and School Health.

Thanks for all the encouragement. I have to admit. I'm not overly excited with starting in the ED next week, however I have to work somewhere to keep my skills up.

This too shall pass. I'll do my very, very best. Although, I know it won't be easy.

Specializes in critical care, Med-Surg.
My name is OnlybyhisgraceRN and I am a job hopper. Sigh. I started working at the age of 14 years old, I've had probably 20 different jobs over the past 10 years. My job history goes as follows:

Age 14- Mcdonald's for a year or so. I gained weight off of big macs, fries, and shakes. So I decided to quit.

Age 15- I worked as a dietary aide in a small community hospital. I left after a year for very stupid reasons.

Age 16- A shoe store. I quit a year later.

Age 17- I worked four different jobs. I worked at best buy for 3 months but was fired for letting a friend use my family discount. Then, I worked at marshalls for 3 weeks and quit due it being super chaotic and dealing with crazy customers. Next, I worked at michaels for 2 days... I honestly don't remember why I quit that job. My fourth job was as a student aid, I quit after 3 months because I became a CNA and wanted to work as such.

Age-18 I worked as a school health aide, and lasted 2.5 years. I loved the job so much that I planned on staying as a nurse. However, everyone stated" No, go get your clinical experience". And so I did. After I received my LPN license I left the school system. In addition to the school job I worked for 2 nursing agencies as a float CNA/Sitter.

Age-20 I worked as a LPN in an ALF. After a year I left, it was a new day on hell every single day.

Age-21 I worked in a LTC, which I loved. I left after a year due to schedule conflict with school and they did not allow PRN.

Age 22- I worked in subacute/LTC facility, another ALF, methadone clinic. The subacute and ALF were hell holes. I loved the Methadone clinic but I was PRN and they never had any hours. I also worked for 2 peds HH agency. I hated it because I felt like an over paid babysitter. My last job for this year was a PRN school nurse job for an agency that I'm currently employed.

Age-23- I worked at a subacute facilty , I quit after three months when I received my RN license to pursue the "almighty" hospital experience. I then got hired into a CVICU. I lasted 7 months there( that is a thread all by itself, literally).

Now I'm 24 years old and I find myself starting another job next week. All I can say is that I'm tired of job hopping. My long term goal is to find my home in nursing and stay there until I retire. Why is that so hard for me to do??? I feel so pathetic.

Hopefully this year will be different, and I'll find my self at the same place by the end of the year.

Child, really? (I say this with love, as someone old enough to be your mother.)

When I read your post, my only thought was "What a go-getter!"

You have worked CONSISTENTLY from a very young age. I only hope my own children are as hard working! I live to instill that kind of work ethic in them !

You have a long work record, and have pursued education along the way. YOU ARE VERY YOUNG. No shame in your game. Work + education + self evaluation = success.

Don't worry, you are doing a fine "job" of finding your path! :-) How much have you learned from all that?

The PATH is not always so evident, take it from me. But keep looking, it is there. It twists, it turns, and sometimes it is darn right indiscernible, but keep looking...

Best,

Cheryl

Specializes in Home Care.

I'm 51 and the longest I've worked for any one company is 5 years. I've been a nurse for 3.5 years and I've had 3 very different jobs. Even now I'm looking for something new, my current job is great but I'm looking for a union position with pension (I'm in Canada)

You're young, you've got your life ahead of you. Don't box yourself in to finding that "dream" job to retire from. Give yourself opportunities for learning and growth. You'll go through many stages in life and might just end up changing careers later in life.

Life is a journey full of twists and turns, enjoy it.

Yes, don't put all that on your resume. Nobody has the time to read all that unrelated stuff. Just state what relates to nursing/medical and leave it at that. If you were at a job short term, do not feel the need to place that on a resume also.

Having said that, sometimes the resume is not read, but only scanned over, so it doesn't matter as much to a prospective employer as it might to you. There are places that can help you write the optimal resume if that is really your concern.

Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

Sounds fine to me- high school and college jobs don't really count (I literally had 20 of those), and you had a few since

your nursing career started a few years back. You're allowed to try things out and make mistakes- remind yourself that you

are only 24. Most of the nurses entering the profession these days are in their 30s and 40s (at least where I live).

Thank you for your post. I am a job hopper as well. Guidance I've received has been to stop running away from bad jobs into whatever you get, but to only take a job that I really truly think will be a good fit.

After college: 1 year internship, a few years of temp positions, then went to nursing school: 1 year ALF, 1 year in a lab, then after graduating: 1.5 years in ER, then left for pharma job...awful and stressful 6 months, left for a high paying contract job 8 months..awful, then worked a research job for 1 year 8 months, left for a higher paying job. now working somewhere that I also don't like, its been 3 months and I want out. I know part of it must be me, but I've had a lot of fellow co-workers who have had this same bad luck as me. Just looking for my nitch. Everywhere I've moved ends up having high turnover and lots of stress. I'm a hardworker and exhausted from moving around constantly. I had no trouble explaining my job hopping to get my current position...but now...after only 3 months...its a little harder. Hoping to make it to a year and transfer within.

Thanks onlybyhisgrace...nice to know i'm not the only one. Wishing you the best of luck!

This is one of the reasons I enjoy the Float pool, the ability to go to different floors/specialties keeps me from getting bored

Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

I think it is almost expected of new nurses to have to hop around a bit in order to find a "home" and "settle down." I hopped after 1.5 years to an ICU, thought it was bliss until the hospital nearly went out of business and so I moved to follow the money. Well that wasn't great but I lasted almost 3 years. Now I'm back down to 1 job instead of 2, and in an ICU that I like, that does seem to be consistently busy in a hospital that is also almost always busy. It ain't all good, but my boss is a decent person and the workload is doable. Considering that I'm in my 40's and staring at the prospect of autoimmune disease, it's a godsend of a job because it's doable even when I'm hurting, and when I'm feeling good there is usually overtime available.

Don't be embarrassed to hop around a little. Find something you can live with and hang onto it, though. Even if it's float pool, if it's a job that suits you, count your blessings.

Specializes in geriatrics.

Jobs held prior to college really don't count for much. You've only held a few nursing related positions and you're 24. Now is the time to get serious about your career choices, but you're certainly not a job hopper. I've been working since I was 15 and I'm 40. I've held many jobs in 25 years, but only a select few show up on my resume, as in the relevant and related jobs, which are few.

I completely agree joanna73...you’re only 24 and you’re still young! Explore! And also be thankful that you have had such job experiences , somehow those jobs lets you realized what career would you really want to pursue as it lead you to the path of nursing! Just be patient because there will a lot of opportunities which will knock on your door...Good luck to you

Don't be so hard on yourself, it sounds like you have been searching for a job that fulfills you, and those take time to find. Plus, you're young. The good news is that you've had a taste of not only what you don't want to do, but what you do want to do. With that in mind, you can start to really focus on what makes you happy and plan out how to get there. Don't lose faith in yourself, and keep plugging along!

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