How long did you stay at your first job?

Julesmama28 · Jul 18, 2016

11 months.

NurseRose84 · Jul 18, 2016

I stayed just over 7 months at my first job and transferred to a higher acuity unit in the same hospital system.

DesertSky, BSN · Jul 18, 2016

Just shy of 2 years...

quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN · Jul 18, 2016

Just shy of one year

MA Nurse · Jul 18, 2016

16 years!! I knew I wanted to be in the NICU!

CelticGoddess, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2016

My first job was LTC and I lasted just under 2 years before I got my first acute care job. I was there for 18mos. I have been at my current position for 2 years now and have no plans to leave at this time. If I need a change, I'll just go somewhere else in the system. I get retirement at this job so, I think it's a good idea.

klone, MSN, RN · Jul 18, 2016

Your answers don't make sense. You wrote "3 years or less" and the next answer was "5 years or more". therefore, I did not answer.

I was at my first job for almost exactly 4 years. I would most likely still be there (6+ years later) if we had not relocated to a much larger city.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jul 18, 2016

1 year 3 months. And I never looked back

BonnieSc · Jul 18, 2016

What's magic about one year? Usually I hear about "getting in my two years". Neither one nor two is "magic" regarding moving into a different branch of nursing, if that's what you're thinking about--just a word of warning.

FurBabyMom, MSN, RN · Jul 18, 2016

Non-healthcare (my first job): 6 years during high school and college.

As an assistant (PCA): 14 months.

First RN job: 4 months.

Second RN job: 7 months (relocated for an offer received by my current employer)

Current employer: 4 years (almost a year in this specific job title).

I can't tell you what to do - it depends on your market and what you want. Moving around *will* let your salary grow more than the annual raises a facility *may* offer. Ours has offered raises each year, but the only time I got a substantial raise was when I was promoted to a different job class. I could go elsewhere but the benefits overall in our system are keeping me here for now.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2016

I just reached the magic "1 year" a few weeks ago and am wondering how long everyone stayed at their first job?

I remained at my first nursing job a whopping six weeks. After only one 8-hour shift of orientation and incivility from coworkers, there was no reason for me to commit to that workplace long-term.

I remained at my second nursing job for exactly two years.