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Discussion

Changing positions after only a few months

Hi all,

In March I started a new position as a float pool nurse, after being on the same med/surg floor for 3 years. It's with the same system, but in a larger facility. I've had a really hard time with the float pool position and think it may not be for me. It's been hard to adjust to going somewhere new every day. I have met wonderful people, everyone's been so helpful, but I just don't think it's for me.

I am interviewing today for another position within the same organization. My concern is that it will reflect poorly on me for being in one position for such a short time. The take I have on it is that it's good that I know so soon that it's not a good fit. I can avoid having the department I am currently with have to pay orientation for another 2 months just to have me leave after that. If questioned during the interview, I plan on stating just that fact. And I was with my former department for 3 years. Is that a good enough reason? Will they need something more? I really don't have anything else to "defend" myself with, just the truth. If I already know I'm unhappy, shouldn't I cut my losses, as well as my department's losses earlier rather that later? Or should I just stay where I am for a certain length of time and suck it up? The job I am applying for is with the Surgical Center and it doesn't come open very often. It's a monday-friday job w/ no holidays and I am AFRAID to let this opportunity pass me by!

Any ideas, thoughts, suggestions?

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I work for a large hospital and when we transfer we have to stay a minimum of six months. Have you checked to ensure that you can leave so soon? Good luck - my rule of thumb is that life is too short to be miserable.

Go for it. If you present yourself as a stable individual who has learned from your recent experience then you stand a good chance of success in the interview. I would make a list of things you do not like about your current position and assess them to see how much was due to environment and how much was due to your perception (versus reality) of the duties required. External vs. Interval factors. You don't want to share the list with the interviewer, but you might be more prepared when they ask you questions about why you want to leave your current position. Good luck.

As you said the position you're applying for doesn't have vacancies quite often, so I would take my chances and give it a try. If you didn't get the position, then at least you know you've tried. And I strongly agree with the previous post.. life is too short to be miserable. You don't deserve to sulk it up. Your 3 yrs med-surg experience is not a bad one in your resume. And one more thing...they should be thankful that despite your being unhappy with your current position you still didn't think of leaving the establishment.

yeah-sounds like you have realized you do your best work in a more stable working environment. I do not feel this reflects badly on you; this is just your temperment and it's good that you recognize that. If you made a habit of job-hopping that would be different.

If I were an employer judging the situation, I don't think that I would hold it against you. Especially since you were in one position for three years just previous to this one. And I would also appreciate the fact that you were being honest.

I have had a similar experience but with changing shifts. I started out with day shift, then evening/day rotations and then more recently, I started on nights all within a 2 month period. I was also out of orientation when the changes occurred and the evening/day rotation was what I was due to work after I was finished.

I also worried about how I would be perceived for changing things so rapidly, but my NM bent over backwards to make me happy and fit me in. I also did a little back-bending and worked some extra shifts for her, but it worked out for the best both ways.

If you have a good NM who will listen to your needs, then I would almost assume she would do whatever it takes to make you happy. And because you can explain the idea of "it just isn't for me" you will sound more like an investment than a problem. They should work to fit you best where you will want to stay and work long term.

JacelRN

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