Did you leave soon after your "One Year"?

Nurses New Nurse

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Hello everyone:

I wanted to read the experiences of any nurses who left their jobs after getting that one year of experience? Was it easy finding another job? Did it take long to find the next job? Has your one year passed, and you are still looking for that dream job you didn't get the first time around? Thanks in advance!

Specializes in ER, Prehospital, Flight.

Yes, I have 15 years experience as a nurse. Every different unit I have worked on has taken at least one year to get comfortable on and sometimes more. As I said, there may certainly be valid reasons for leaving prior to one year, but I merely suggested make sure it is one that an employer would see as viable so they are not in danger of wasting budget to train a new nurse to see them leave shortly after orientation?

Liking a position or not may have nothing to do with safety or staffing. What may seem unsafe or toxic to a new grad may actually be the norm and acceptable. I fully understand how nursing can seem overwhelming especially on a unit that is unfamiliar. As a new grad aren't they all. An overwhelmed nurse is not the same as toxic, unsafe or understaffed. It may be one that just needs more time on the unit. OR, maybe they are unsafe, toxic, or understaffed, and they should leave. I am saying just be able to explain that to a future employer. It is a serious decision, that all I am saying. Can you concede some may not think it through?

BTW, I am very welcoming to new grads, students and those that are generally just new to the job. I love precepting and have precepted tons or nurses and paramedics. Every year there is a new batch. How did I present otherwise?

OH, BTW, I ain't giving them a hug, not in todays world;)

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

as a second career person i always paid attention to the big picture of the floor. i observed my co-workers, the turnover rate, the other new grads, the staffing ratio, the acuity, equipment availability, etc. plus the mission and vision of the floor compared with how it was run (ok, i also have an mba so i cannot help it...). from this i was able to quickly ascertain if i was merely overwhelmed or if the floor as just badly managed. i know others do not think in this detail, but it is not necessary. a toxic environment is unsupportive. a toxic environment is not filled with nurses who tell the new grad that he/she will make it… rather it includes mean gossips, bullying, games that harm the safety of the patient to prove a point to the nurse, etc. so i do not think new nurses without life experience will be confused. i think they too can figure out that he/she needs to leave.

can you concede some may not think it through?......oh, btw, i ain't giving them a hug, not in todays world;)

i know what you mean on both accounts!!!:up: and yes, i am sure that there are some who did not give an environment a chance. for example, i have read posts where a few new nurses landed a job and left soon after due to a dream job offer! this scenarios is unfair to the hiring mangers, the budget of the floor, and any other new grad who wanted the job.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

I was at my first job for about a year and three months, (was pregnant for 6 months of that) and went out on disability. I had liked most of my coworkers, and I liked the high acuity patients, but it seemed that there really wasn't enough help for the level of patients, and that unless you were open heart trained, most of the patients had bad outcomes instead of good outcomes. They paid well, but the building, maintenance, and equipment seemed to suffer as a result. I thought I would just put my feelers out there to see what else I could get prior to my maternity leave ending.

In the end, I got a job with a hospital with a fantastic reputation, we are well staffed, sometimes over staffed. I've hardly ever gotten out late, they don't tolerate the late arrivals all the time like my other job did. We have techs, which are fantastic and can alleviate a lot of stress. The education benefits are better, they actually reward you for continuing your education unlike my other job. The one caveat: I took a paycut, not large, and my benefits cost more. Some can't afford it, I looked on it as I couldn't afford to be unhappy as an RN when I am the sole income provider.

Sometimes, it works out great. :)

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Does anyone here know if CNA experience helps a new RN grad with the job hunting process? If my resume shows 3 years of experience as a CNA at the same facility ( no job hopping) even if it was in another state then the hospital I am applying for, does that help? Also, I have been volunteering and will shadow a CNM for a day. Do I put those on a resume to help my case? I also am QMAP certified before going to nursing school as I also worked as a PCP for a year. I am HORRIBLR at writing resumes! :(

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Specializes in Peds.

My goal is to stay 2 years, which I will reach in December of this year. The problem here is: I don't hate it here, but I don't love it. I have made some great friends on this unit, and when they are working the same shift, the shifts aren't as bad, even with the many mishaps that I seem to have (i.e. a patient deciding to projectile vomit just as soon as I sit down to FINALLY eat my lunch that I planned to eat hours before). The issue here is mainly management, but also lately we've been understaffed, and the kids here are getting older and heavier. This isn;t a LTC facility, but we have many patient who have been here for months and need special care. It just seems as the days get crazier and busier, esp on day shift (I rotate days and nights). Not sure if I'll look elsewhere when I reach the 2 year mark, or seek elsewhere to find my niche. I wanna love going to work, and I rarely have days like that here.

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Does anyone here know if CNA experience helps a new RN grad with the job hunting process? If my resume shows 3 years of experience as a CNA at the same facility ( no job hopping) even if it was in another state then the hospital I am applying for, does that help? Also, I have been volunteering and will shadow a CNM for a day. Do I put those on a resume to help my case? I also am QMAP certified before going to nursing school as I also worked as a PCP for a year. I am HORRIBLR at writing resumes! :(

I would think it would look very ggod on your resume. First of all, your three years shows continuity in your job and having CNA experience will help you immeasurably as you advance to RN.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

hello! i held my first nursing job for about eight months. during that time i developed a relationship with my bf who lived four hours away. i hated to be away from him so eventually i moved in with him. i didn't enjoy the four hour commute to work so i resigned. i worked what i could until i found a job down here. it took me about two and a half months to find a full time job. but i am happy now that i am down here with my boyfriend! :)

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

I'm about 16 months into my first gig.

While there are a lot of reasons to look into moving on, I'm of the opinion that leaving earlier than 30-36 months is both poisoning the well for the new grads that might be considered in the future and looks kind of bad to prospective employers.

What I'm hoping to demonstrate is dependability (e.g. I've called in sick only once and never been even 1 minute late), professional growth (garnering certifications, building skills), and a positive attitude (aeb references, good reviews, and my willingness to float).

While it's sometimes hard not to look around, when I finally do, I should be a very strong candidate.

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I have a question...

I graduate with an ADN in December of this year. I just got a job as a Nurse Intern, which I plan to work with through graduation. I was told that if there was a job for a new grad RN, then I would be promoted into that position (assuming that I do a good job). I would then stay for about a year to gain some more experience. I do have plans to move out of state after that one year of experience as a new grad RN and about 9 months as a nurse intern. The previous job I had before school, I was with the same employer for 7 years. Does this show continuity? Is this a good idea? I don't really want to be stuck in this area for another 2 years....

Thanks for your opinions.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
I have a question...

I graduate with an ADN in December of this year. I just got a job as a Nurse Intern, which I plan to work with through graduation. I was told that if there was a job for a new grad RN, then I would be promoted into that position (assuming that I do a good job). I would then stay for about a year to gain some more experience. I do have plans to move out of state after that one year of experience as a new grad RN and about 9 months as a nurse intern. The previous job I had before school, I was with the same employer for 7 years. Does this show continuity? Is this a good idea? I don't really want to be stuck in this area for another 2 years....

Thanks for your opinions.

The 7 years does show continuity and if you can make a case *why* you want to relocate, that's good. The 9 months as an intern doesn't really count for anything in terms of continuity/stability.

If you're going to bail out so quickly on your current employer, though, I'd want to be really confident that I could stay put at the next place for a solid 3-5 years.

Obviously you should do what you think is best for you but the "one-and-done" mentality really isn't good for anybody (which is not to say that I haven't done it... I have).

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The 7 years does show continuity and if you can make a case *why* you want to relocate, that's good. The 9 months as an intern doesn't really count for anything in terms of continuity/stability.

If you're going to bail out so quickly on your current employer, though, I'd want to be really confident that I could stay put at the next place for a solid 3-5 years.

Obviously you should do what you think is best for you but the "one-and-done" mentality really isn't good for anybody (which is not to say that I haven't done it... I have).

Why wouldn't the 9 months count if it's with the same employer? I am doing everything a new grad would be doing except meds and a few other small things. So...I would be with the same employer for 1 year and 9 months prior to moving. I know that the 1 and done is not a great thing but I can't wait to move. I wouldn't move without landing a new job first and do plan on staying there for many years. In fact, I think I can probably transfer within my hospital system....I will look into that.

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Specializes in acute care.

I have never been so unhappy in my life. How I lasted this long, I have no clue.

I keep thinking that I will wake up and realize that this was all a nightmare.

I started sending my resume out and got some calls. I really hope one of them leads to a new job. There has got to be something better than this.

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