Opinion of length of time at job

U.S.A. Minnesota

Published

I'm new to this forum and soo happy to be here!!

I have been a geriatric nurse for a little over 2 years and was a CNA for 6 in LTC prior to that and I love it! My experience as a nurse has mostly been in management. At my previous job when they were hiring to replace me due to relocation, my supervisor looked closely at the length that the applicant was at their previous jobs. Short length did not sit so well.

My spouse has to move frequently for career, and my average job length has been anywhere from 6 months to 1 1/2 years since becoming a nurse. I love moving and trying new facilities and I love being able to bring things that I have learned that worked from my past facilities to my new one.

My question is do you think a short length of employment, especially in LTC where many nurses stay at the same facility for sometimes 20 years +, is going to be looked at in a negative way throughout my career or do you think different experiences help?

Any opinions and thoughts would be very much appreciated! Thanks!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

No problem at all. My hubby was military and I moved frequently too - was at my last job 10 years though and my current one I'm leaving after 16 months.

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

Absolutely no problem! I had 6 different nursing jobs in the first 2 years or so I was a nurse and all I had to do was tell people I had not found my niche and that was accepted....that you are relocating with your husband is even a better reason... no one will hold it against you.

Good luck!

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

I think leaving jobs to relocate with your husband will make a huge difference. There might be a few places that might not hire you because they know you won't be there long-term, but probably not many. I don't think many people consider changing jobs due to relocation to be the same thing as job-hopping.

Many LTC facilities have difficulty getting nurses so would probably be thrilled to have you.

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I got asked during a job interview one time if I was a job hopper. The thought had never occurred to me. I was going to school full time and was taking low end jobs in an area that is not known for an abundance of employment. Upon further thought, it occurred to me that the person asking the question was belittling the fact that I was taking CNA jobs in LTC facilities while attending nursing school. I was applying for a job at a LTC facility. I suppose, in a round about way, she was asking if I was a bad employee. Just goes to show, you can't always anticipate what they will ask during an interview.

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Thank you all for your responses! I appreciate the feedback! Thanks again!!!

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