What's considered "Job-Hopping" in nursing?

Nurses Professionalism

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.... Would you say that nursing has a highe tolerance for Job-Hopping? Is there a higher acceptance of this when it comes to new grad nurses, as they are 'finding their niche'??

Just wondering, bc I work with a few people who have stuck it out at this (not that great) job for years, while a few others move on and then move on again.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 20,908 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

In this current job market...longevity is better.

nynursey_

642 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.

​I'd tend to agree with Esme. Since prospective employers are likely to look for experience in a particular setting, whether that be LTC or a speciality, longevity is more appreciated than the number of positions one acquires.

Specializes in CVICU.

I would say it is perfectly acceptable to change jobs every couple of years. In this job market I certainly wouldn't quit a job until I had the next on in the bag though. For the first 10 years of my career I changed jobs about every 2 years. Main reason was to be trained for something new, however with every job change brought an increase in salary. Much more than I would have gotten had I stayed with a single employer the whole time. Until you really know what you want to do I don't advocate staying in one place too long for the reason that you get too embedded there and might not leave should a good opportunity come along. What I mean by embedded is that the longer you stay somewhere the more perks you build up. The sad fact is that when you start a new position with a new employer you start at the bottom benefits wise, ie vacation. It is much more difficult to leave a job where you have 4 weeks of vacation and go somewhere else and go back to 2, even if you make more money. So if you make a job change after 2 years you really don't lose anything in that regard.

2 years is certainly fufilling any obligation you have with your current employer. Just remember to leave professionally and on good terms. I feel pretty comfortable that I could have gone back to any job I left at any time had I chose to do so.

tarotale

453 Posts

I quit my first job after 6 months to move to bigger city job. Now I am close to giving 6 months to this new job, then plan to quit to get into non-floor job. I hate it so much that I would just quit, but like above poster says, it didn't seem like a good plan to quit before I at least have a job in hand.

Ruby Vee, BSN

17 Articles; 14,030 Posts

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I would say it is perfectly acceptable to change jobs every couple of years. In this job market I certainly wouldn't quit a job until I had the next on in the bag though. For the first 10 years of my career I changed jobs about every 2 years. Main reason was to be trained for something new, however with every job change brought an increase in salary. Much more than I would have gotten had I stayed with a single employer the whole time. Until you really know what you want to do I don't advocate staying in one place too long for the reason that you get too embedded there and might not leave should a good opportunity come along. What I mean by embedded is that the longer you stay somewhere the more perks you build up. The sad fact is that when you start a new position with a new employer you start at the bottom benefits wise, ie vacation. It is much more difficult to leave a job where you have 4 weeks of vacation and go somewhere else and go back to 2, even if you make more money. So if you make a job change after 2 years you really don't lose anything in that regard.

2 years is certainly fufilling any obligation you have with your current employer. Just remember to leave professionally and on good terms. I feel pretty comfortable that I could have gone back to any job I left at any time had I chose to do so.

If you change jobs every two years it's going to take you a really long time to get that four weeks of vacation! You won't get it until you stop job hopping and stay in one place!

Ruby Vee, BSN

17 Articles; 14,030 Posts

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I quit my first job after 6 months to move to bigger city job. Now I am close to giving 6 months to this new job, then plan to quit to get into non-floor job. I hate it so much that I would just quit, but like above poster says, it didn't seem like a good plan to quit before I at least have a job in hand.

This. This is job hopping.

joanna73, BSN, RN

4,767 Posts

Specializes in geriatrics.

The longer you stay with a position, the better it is. Two to three years would be ideal, although for various reasons this is not always possible.

Changing jobs every year would be considered job hopping, especially since management invests months of training into new hires.

tarotale

453 Posts

This. This is job hopping.

hahaha... I don't like hopping either, but I really want to a job where I can say I at least somewhat enjoy what I do and feel somewhat fulfilled in what I do. Even if I do find my most loving job, I won't probably stay for more than couple yrs though since I love new things and versatility, and therefore move to new specialty just to learn different things.

RNdynamic

528 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, Float Pool Nursing.
The longer you stay with a position, the better it is. Two to three years would be ideal, although for various reasons this is not always possible.

Changing jobs every year would be considered job hopping, especially since management invests months of training into new hires.

Job hopping occurs due to poor job satisfaction, which stems from various reasons. I've worked in three departments in my current hospital over the last few years because the department I really want to work in has not hired me with my current experience. If they did, I wouldn't be job hopping.

Ruby Vee, BSN

17 Articles; 14,030 Posts

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Job hopping occurs due to poor job satisfaction, which stems from various reasons. I've worked in three departments in my current hospital over the last few years because the department I really want to work in has not hired me with my current experience. If they did, I wouldn't be job hopping.

It seems that these days one can always find an excuse for job hopping. People get their "dreeeaaaaam jobs" and find out that they don't really like it as much as they thought they would or that the grass looks greener somewhere else.

Part of the key to finding happiness and fulfillment at work -- as well as in life -- is to want what you have. Enjoy the job you have now for the things you like about it, and learn to tolerate the parts you don't like. Otherwise you could be chasing happiness and new jobs for the rest of your life.

tarotale

453 Posts

It seems that these days one can always find an excuse for job hopping. People get their "dreeeaaaaam jobs" and find out that they don't really like it as much as they thought they would or that the grass looks greener somewhere else.

Part of the key to finding happiness and fulfillment at work -- as well as in life -- is to want what you have. Enjoy the job you have now for the things you like about it, and learn to tolerate the parts you don't like. Otherwise you could be chasing happiness and new jobs for the rest of your life.

I know you have a lot of experience behind your back, so I respect you and your seniority, and I would also like to present a question. what departments have you worked and working? I am by no means trying to put down your statement, but it seems that you are suggesting people to continue doing something that they absolutely abhor and in my opinion, that is physically, emotionally, and spiritually very unhealthy thing to do. I have a notion that you are basically saying "suck it up and just do that you hate." I am sure life is not that simple and not everyone has family to support that they have to suck up and do what they hate (although I don't think that should be an excuse to find what you like). If an unfortunate fate wind you up in some job that you really have no hopes and absolutely hate to the point that other parts of your life is affected by it, would you continue doing it? You might find any kind of nursing somewhat enjoyable to its own degree, but not everyone feels that way. I know plenty of nurses migrating away from jobs they hate, and end up doing what they love. I don't know why you would have low opinion about others looking to become happier through finding what fits them.

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