How long do I need to do first time med surg job

Nurses General Nursing

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So I am a new grad and recently started a job on a med surg unit at a small hospital. I love it there. However, the pay is a less than other hospitals in the area and they are the one hospital that keeps having low census. Financially, I can't afford to stay at the smaller hospital. The other hospitals have plently of opprtunities to work full time and pick up bonus shifts.

My question is how long do I stay a part time position at my first time job before I try to switch on call so I can get a better paying job? I do not want to burn any bridges and I want to in the least stay on call there. But financially I am eventually going to have to look at the bigger hospitals. How long should you stay at a first job in med surg to look decent on a resume?

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

I would say, if you can afford to stay at this job somehow... at least a year looks

best on a resume. However, after about six months perhaps this hospital will

allow you to switch to an on call position. Heck, they might let you switch to

just an on call position right now, have you asked? How long have you been

there exactly?

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Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.

I would think they would be eager to allow you to go to on call as they would not have to give you benefits. The only reason I know off that hospitals like having full time nurses is for staffing but if your unit is often low census I bet they are not as concerned about staffing. Then maybe you could work on call at your current job and find another full or part time position with better pay/more stable hours. Good luck!

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

I would tell my nurse manager that I was having trouble making ends meet with my current hours. Give her the opportunity to help you come up with a solution. She may have a way to increase your hours, or may advocate you take a different job but work on call for your present employer. She may have no magic to offer, but at least give her the chance to sort something out that you might not have thought of.

At least if you do have to leave that job, you'll have given them an appropriate heads up and it won't be a burned bridge.

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