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.

I don't care about 4weeks vacation. I would rather have a job I'm happy with.

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Specializes in family practice and school nursing.

First RN job for 1 year, next one for 15 yrs, current job 13 th year now. No plans to leave. I couldn't imagine changing jobs every couple of years.

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Bell..that's because you found a job you like!!!

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Life really IS that simple. You have no control over what happens to you in life, but you do have control over how you react to it. If you want to be happy, simply make up your mind to be happy, and then CHOOSE happiness at every possible opportunity.

My DH used to work in the oil fields in southern Louisiana before he went to nursing school. Sun up to sun down on a barge in a pest-infested swamp, back-breakingly hard labor with no chance to even go home between days. The guys were housed in a dorm in the middle of the swamp and only went home on weekends. When he later landed a nursing job that really was a miserable job, he was happy because he got to work indoors all day, got a much better wage and could go home at night.

The point is, there's always something worse than the job that you abhor, and few nursing jobs are so abhorrent that there is nothing to like about them. If you absolutely hate your job and it's affecting other parts of your life, the first thing to change is your attitude. You can't control the job, but you CAN control your attitude.

Once you change your attitude, you may find that your job isn't so awful after all.

My low opinion is of folks who are always chasing happiness -- always have to have that dream job in another hospital or another unit or another department so they can finally be happy. Always have to have just a bit more money so they can finally be happy. Always have to have that new outfit, fabulous shoes or a Dooney bag so that they can finally be happy. Always have to have a new boyfriend or an engagement ring or the perfect wedding so they can finally be happy. Guess what: most folks are exactly as happy as they make up their minds they're going to be. Nothing external is going to make you happy, including your job. You just have to make up your mind to BE happy. Job hopping gets you nothing but a suspect resume, a poor reputation and never vested in a retirement plan.

And this is another piece of wisdom. Some people take their unhappiness with them everywhere they go. I have changed jobs in the past, and every time I started a new job, I found out that I had taken myself with me. Move 1000 miles and take a new job, and your life isn't completely changed -- you've brought yourself with you.

so... if you believe what you, why did you not say the same to your DH (don't know what that means) when he decided to pursue better career option in nursing? You should have told him to find his happiness where he was and change his attitude towards his job in the sun baking heat with wonders of petroleum and threats of life everyday; I get what you're saying, yes there are jobs far worse than mine that I hold, that I know and admit. Then should that be a reason enough for me to hold on and change my attitude? It's a bit of stretch, but the same goes to African boys and girls who moved here beating the odds to study and become successful, or the entrepreneurs who beat the odds to cultivate better lives and opportunities. I know you have wisdom, but you sound too much like those administrators whose sole focus is their own profit. Contradiction has been detected... proposal rejected, but thank you.

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Life really IS that simple. You have no control over what happens to you in life, but you do have control over how you react to it. If you want to be happy, simply make up your mind to be happy, and then CHOOSE happiness at every possible opportunity.

My DH used to work in the oil fields in southern Louisiana before he went to nursing school. Sun up to sun down on a barge in a pest-infested swamp, back-breakingly hard labor with no chance to even go home between days. The guys were housed in a dorm in the middle of the swamp and only went home on weekends. When he later landed a nursing job that really was a miserable job, he was happy because he got to work indoors all day, got a much better wage and could go home at night.

The point is, there's always something worse than the job that you abhor, and few nursing jobs are so abhorrent that there is nothing to like about them. If you absolutely hate your job and it's affecting other parts of your life, the first thing to change is your attitude. You can't control the job, but you CAN control your attitude.

Once you change your attitude, you may find that your job isn't so awful after all.

My low opinion is of folks who are always chasing happiness -- always have to have that dream job in another hospital or another unit or another department so they can finally be happy. Always have to have just a bit more money so they can finally be happy. Always have to have that new outfit, fabulous shoes or a Dooney bag so that they can finally be happy. Always have to have a new boyfriend or an engagement ring or the perfect wedding so they can finally be happy. Guess what: most folks are exactly as happy as they make up their minds they're going to be. Nothing external is going to make you happy, including your job. You just have to make up your mind to BE happy. Job hopping gets you nothing but a suspect resume, a poor reputation and never vested in a retirement plan.

And this is another piece of wisdom. Some people take their unhappiness with them everywhere they go. I have changed jobs in the past, and every time I started a new job, I found out that I had taken myself with me. Move 1000 miles and take a new job, and your life isn't completely changed -- you've brought yourself with you.

"go home at night"

not if you're a new grad!

new grads go home at sunrise!

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Specializes in ER.

There are so many factors involved that it is near impossible to have a blanket situation. If you want to get into a specialty, sometimes it is better to try and get in earlier than waiting. I have seen people complain that they are unable to get into the ICU or ER because they do not have experience in ER or ICU but they know those departments are hiring new grads.

I may be job hopping because I am unhappy in my current department and because I want to return to the ER. If I wait too long, my previous experience as a paramedic in an ER may not be enough and I am no longer on a fire department due to living too far away from a department.

Is there a tolerance? Yes in a way. Nursing has been branded as the possibility of doing it all. I know a friend's mom who has done a variety of roles throughout her nursing career from ER, cath lab, house supervisor, labor and delivery, etc within the same hospital system. She has so much experience that she could really go anywhere.

Ultimately, there is a fine line of what I will put up with. I have worked horrible jobs because I had to and now that I have a license, I don't want to be treated like crap anymore by my employer. I put up with it as an EMT back in the day and I won't do it again.

As for why I would like to return to the ER, I was truly happy but I realized I would not be able to find work full-time there due to the new hiring practices of hiring part-time. About 15-20 people were hired part-time to fill holes. That is about 5 people who would be more "senior" in terms of working as an RN than I would be even though my hire date was before. Plus the ER is a different world and I like it better. There are some things I don't like seeing a mark on a child that is an "allergic" reaction.

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Specializes in family practice and school nursing.
Bell..that's because you found a job you like!!!

You are right. Most days anyway :)

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
so... if you believe what you, why did you not say the same to your DH (don't know what that means) when he decided to pursue better career option in nursing? You should have told him to find his happiness where he was and change his attitude towards his job in the sun baking heat with wonders of petroleum and threats of life everyday; I get what you're saying, yes there are jobs far worse than mine that I hold, that I know and admit. Then should that be a reason enough for me to hold on and change my attitude? It's a bit of stretch, but the same goes to African boys and girls who moved here beating the odds to study and become successful, or the entrepreneurs who beat the odds to cultivate better lives and opportunities. I know you have wisdom, but you sound too much like those administrators whose sole focus is their own profit. Contradiction has been detected... proposal rejected, but thank you.

And then there are those folks who make up their minds to be UNhappy.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
"go home at night"

not if you're a new grad!

new grads go home at sunrise!

My DH and I go home at sunrise as well. It's not JUST a new grad thing, and some of us even LIKE it.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
First RN job for 1 year, next one for 15 yrs, current job 13 th year now. No plans to leave. I couldn't imagine changing jobs every couple of years.

And I can't imagine staying in the same job for more than 4 or 5 years! It takes all kinds. :)

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I changed jobs in Nursing when I first start out after about 1 to 2 years, due to a better opportunity to learn and gain more Nursing skills. That has helped me most of all by being able to do many different jobs. The past 12 years I have been more stable as I have gotten older, but I am still a chance taker. Should the right job come along I would consider leaving the job I have now. I make a good salary, but there is not much educational opportunities available. My brain is getting dull!

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I will say that it's different for everyone. I dont think its a problem in the beginning when you are trying to find your niche.Different strokes for different folks. I know a lot of nurses who have different experiences over the years and on the other side I know a lot who have stayed exactly where they are for years and years, but for them I noticed it was because they get used to it or do not like change. Ive seen a lot of charge nurses at the hospital like this. There is nothing wrong with changing if it betters you or for advancement. However, on the flip side, I found myself dissatisfied with something at all my jobs. I've been an lpn for 16 years and have learned to put those things aside and focus on what I like. IF the problems are too overwhelming then yes its time to change.You have to realize every job will have something wrong with it. I have had four jobs in 16 years. The first I worked for a nursing home for two year. I liked it but I was 2 hours from home and didnt like working weekends but liked my 7-3 shift. We moved back home so I had to leave. I then got job in private practice and loved it but couldnt stand the doctor I worked for, he was degrading.I was there for a year and went to the hospital for the experience. I hated shift work and floating, I worked there two years and transferred to the hospital based clinics.THere I found my niche. I loved it, loved my hours, loved my co-workers. There were ups and downs, stesses, one person that I didnt really like working with but I chalked it up to " I could be doing shift work". So "job-hopping" is all in the opinion of the person hiring you next.Staying in one place for a long time isnt always for eveyone.

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