How long to work in one place?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi AllNurses,

I am hoping to get opinions on if there is any recommended amount of time to work in one facility. I have older coworkers who have worked at our hospital for 20, 30, even 40 years and I am hoping to do so as well due to good benefits, good retirement plan and truly wonderful, supportive coworkers. It is a county hospital so some of the patients we deal with can be difficult and the pay is lower than the private hospitals in the area (SF Bay Area). It is also a 176 bed hospital without Peds and without cardiac or neuro surgeries but I still see a variety of conditions. Some younger friends have stated it is better to get experience at a variety of facilities to keep learning new things and have an impressive resume. In my opinion you can learn new things no matter how long you work in one place due to advances in medicine/nursing and I also think finding a supportive environment is really special. Any thoughts or experiences you are willing to share? Thanks everyone!

Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I got my dream job 5 years ago. It is at a teaching hospital and we get the sickest of the sick and some really interesting cases. I will never stop learning at this place. I love it!! I work with people that have been there 30+ years! I think if you find the right place, you never stop learning

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Specializes in Pedi.

Conventional wisdom says you should change jobs roughly every 3 years.

You Should Plan On Switching Jobs Every Three Years For The Rest Of Yo

Headhunters Say: You Should Change Jobs Every Three Years

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I agree with this. I think it's a sign of a high achiever and a person who is willing to take risks and push themselves. Inertia is comfortable and easy.

Although, I would say 4-5 years is better than 3, from a resume perspective.

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The trouble with the conventional idea of job switching is that it is industry specific.

What applies in tech, does not necessarily work in nursing.

Individual goals in life differ too.

Inertia, comfort and ease are not always bad things. I live a very comfortable and easy life, so I have remained in a very satisfying job for almost 20 years.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Inertia, comfort and ease are not always bad things. I live a very comfortable and easy life, so I have remained in a very satisfying job for almost 20 years.

No, it's absolutely not a bad thing. I apologize if I gave that impression from my words. It was meant to be more a defense for switching jobs every 3-5 years - that should not be looked upon as a bad thing either.

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Stay where you are if it works for you. My staying at the same facility for 18 years turned into a huge blessing when I had to retire unexpectedly last year from MS complications. The retirement plan my employer offered now pays me a monthly check. It would be very difficult to survive without that money.

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Whatever you decide to do, keep in mind that it takes time to become vested in any company match that the hospital offers, whether it's a pension plan or 401(k) match. If you decide to move, wait until you're vested (usually 3-5 years) and put whatever you can away for retirement. Otherwise, you are literally throwing away free money. You work hard and you deserve to keep whatever you can take advantage of. Also consider returning to school if you're interested in furthering your education down the line.

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

Thanks for your reply and I definitely think the accumulated benefits are a pro for staying somewhere long term. I'm sorry to here about your complications and glad to hear you are able to get payments each month. I would think health complications seem stressful enough without the added financial stress

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