Leaving a job too soon?

[veriteblesse]

I'm a new nurse who graduated last December and started working at the end of April at a hospital. This was the only place I got an interview despite sending out hundreds of applications, and I was very fortunate that the director of my floor was interested in hiring new grads because of our eager-to-work attitude and lack of burnout (her words). I know I'm very lucky to have a job at all. It's an ortho floor on the night shift (7p to 7a), and I'm already kind of eager to try something else. Ortho is fine, but just not very interesting, and the night shift is making me tired and lazy in other areas of my life. I never want to cook or do anything, and I'm tired of my days off consisting of me waking up at 4 pm and then staying tired all night because of the weird schedule I'm on. And I'd never work the floor on day shift--too much management, family, stress, and it's just a whole different ballgame in terms of your daily tasks and patient care. Plus I can't afford the pay cut!

So I'm putting out feelers to move into our OR or ER departments. I could be on the day shift, off the floor, in a more fast paced environment, and learning something different. I loved both the ER and OR rotations in school and I've always known I want to spend time on those units anyway.

The problem is that I feel a little guilty looking to leave so soon. I feel loyal to my director because she was the only one who gave me a chance, and after they put 12 weeks into training me I feel like maybe I owe them more time. On the other hand I feel like I should do what's best for my happiness, and since it's unlikely I'll get another position right now anyway since I have less than one year experience, it's no harm in looking.

I'm also a little unsure how to handle it--I mentioned to my director that I was interested in the OR, and she did mention to me an internship they have next year, but I emailed the OR director and the ER director without talking to her further about it. I just don't want to seem like I'm going behind her back.

What do you think, does it look bad for me to be looking for other positions so soon? Should I be talking to my director more about wanting to try a different unit? Or am I totally over thinking this?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Yes, it looks bad for you to be looking for other positions so soon. You owe your current manager at least a year starting from the time you finished orientation. You're a brand new nurse and you still have an awful lot to learn. If orthopedics isn't holding your interest at this point, you're not doing it correctly. You cannot possibly have learned all there is to learn about the specialty in eight months, so you're obviously not going to work with the attitude of learning. You may be doing your tasks and passing your meds, but not thinking about the whole picture.

The harm in looking for a new job now is that you're sending the message that you're willing to job hop. Are you sure that's a message you want your current manager and potential new managers to get?

[caliotter3]

You know, a way to look at it in perspective is that you are at the beginning of your career. What is it going to hurt if you stay in your present situation for a year, or even two, before you attempt to make the first switch? I would put a damper on my enthusiasm to leave, keeping in mind, that the longer I stay on good terms with this supervisor, the better my chances of retaining her as a long term good reference. Of course, if a good opportunity presents itself, it wouldn't hurt to pursue that opportunity either. Best wishes.

[schnookimz]

I see nothing wrong with looking for new positions, especially if you are transferring within your hospital. They'll still get their monies worth. If you want to experience burn out, then keep on doing something you don't want to do.

However, if you can't afford to move to day shift on your current floor then how could you do day shift on some other unit?