Boomerang Coworkers

Nurses General Nursing

Published

  • Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

My work wife Eleanor and I were discussing coworkers who had left only to return, the so-called "Boomerang Employees".

I specifically noted three relatively new nurses who began their nursing career at Wrongway Regional Medical Center (WRMC) left due to higher pay, better conditions, or a rise in status and returned about a year later. I believe all three found the grass was not greener elsewhere.

The thing that I noticed that was common in all three was that they seemed to be less caring or empathetic toward their jobs and patients upon their return to WRMC. Eleanor attributed this to knowing them as fresh new nurses and seeing them again after the newness wore off.

I disagree. I have a tendency to think that they became more apathetic due to the expenditure of psyche energy as a result of their disappointment.

Or something like that.

What do you think? What are your experiences with Boomerang Coworkers? Have you ever been a Boomerang Employee?

Elfriede

258 Posts

Specializes in ambulant care.

Yeah !

We have the same phenomenon at our

"Sozialstation Rungholt". I would like to

keep the door closed after them, but the

"skilled employees lack" ...

You just have to employ everyone, who has

the grace to work.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.

My friend introduced me to the "Stale Bread" theory of boyfriends. Basically, if you're dating someone, and it doesn't work out, he's stale bread. It's not going to be better if you try to go back.

People leave workplaces for many reasons. But, unless those reasons are out of their control (move, illness), they're probably confronted with all the reasons they left. I'd figure they'd be itching to move on again, ASAP.

On the other side, perhaps they're just crushed that their new job didn't pan out. They're devastated that nursing isn't what they hoped.

I've sorta boomeranged when a transfer to another unit just didn't work out after a few weeks. I came back, tail between my legs, felt pretty defeated and essentially trapped. I didn't hate where I was, but I also didn't feel like I could progress there, and I had no more options.

Specializes in psych.

Would someone who left the unit for another, but picks up shifts once in a while to help the former unit out be a boomerang coworker? We've had a couple of people leave, but they come back once in a while to pick up for extra hours/extra $$, but are not coming back permanently. I'm genuinely curious about this as I have never heard of this term until I read this thread.

cleback

1,381 Posts

I've left and came back to the same facility, different position, a year later. Yes, the novelty wore off the first time and never quite came back in full force. Yes, there were reasons I had left but didn't consider others for staying... the grass wasn't greener. I'm not sure if that epiphany made me salty or just realistic, more grounded... hopefully, the former and not the latter. I did enjoy working with the ol' coworkers again, but you'd have to ask them what my disposition was I guess lol.

I've since left again... it was especially difficult to leave again, knowing that my perception of a "better position " could be totally skewed. It was a source of lots of anxiety, pro/con lists for a while. But so far so good...

Emergent, RN

4,242 Posts

Specializes in ER.

I left my current job, staying Per Diem. I went to my Per Diem job. I returned after realizing I preferred my current job as my main gig.

My attitude is definitely more positive.

Specializes in ED, psych.

I left, but came back to my psych job per diem (1-2x/week). I find that learning the grass isn't always greener made my attitude toward my former job much more positive.

Things aren't as bad as I thought they were.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN

1 Article; 2,675 Posts

Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

Once upon a time, there was a bog where frogs were living happily.

All frogs except one, that's it.

That one frog was deeply and permanently dissatisfied with everything and everybody.

"That's just terrible"- was she musing on and over again. "The bog is so cold, the flies are tasteless, and other frogs - they are just ridiculous creatures. I surely deserve better!"

So, when once a flock of geese landed in that bog, the frog asked them to take her with them. Two geese took a stick in their beaks and the frog got hold on the stick. And off they went - geeze with the frog flying with them.

That was continued for a while, but one day the frog accidentally let the stick go. She fell, tumbling and flapping in the air, and finally landed in a bog.

The bog seemed to be so warm! The first fly she caught was tender and juicy!

"Oh, my God!" - exclaimed the frog. "What a wonder - a marvelous bog, and wonderful frogs inhabiting it!"

"What the heck happened with her so she became so nice?" - wondered other frogs.

In that bog, nobody knew that the Earth is a round thing.

ponymom

385 Posts

I've never been a boomerang employee, however I've had three boomerang bosses. Two in manufacturing, one in nursing.

Both the bosses who returned to the plant were highly respected and much-liked before they left. They remain the same today we'll after they've returned.

The nursing boss was a pig before she left, and was no better well after she returned....

amzyRN

1,142 Posts

Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

Never been a boomerang employee, but that doesn't mean I won't be one in the future. There's one job I left that I should have tried harder to stay in and I knew it. Most of my other reason, the cons outweighed the pros and it would not be appropriate to ask to go back.

How do you ask to go back to a job that you left? This has got me thinking...

Specializes in ED, psych.
Never been a boomerang employee, but that doesn't mean I won't be one in the future. There's one job I left that I should have tried harder to stay in and I knew it. Most of my other reason, the cons outweighed the pros and it would not be appropriate to ask to go back.

How do you ask to go back to a job that you left? This has got me thinking...

I had/have a good relationship w/my NM, and I emailed her to see if there were still openings. She responded quickly to have me call her, and the rest is history.

Basically, I had me a piece of humble pie.

I think it's more common than you think. If you were a good employee, most NM are happy to have you back.

djh123

1,101 Posts

Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

At my previous job, yeah, there were numerous boomerang employees. I don't remember noticing that they were more apathetic, though.

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