How detrimental do you think this is?

[TerpGal02, ASN]

I'm starting to worry I'm going to be considered a "job hopper". Before nursing, I tended to stay with jobs a while. I worked at the same restaurant for 3 years during my BA, I worked at a large auto insurer for 3.5 years. Since I have become a nurse, I've had 2 jobs. The first I started May 2012 and left Mar 2013. I have been at my present job since Mar and I'm looking again. All in psych. I have actually quite liked both jobs. The first in the community I loved, miss my old coworkers and patients on occasion. I love my current job. Sure little complaints here and there but I have never had a day where I dreaded going to work. I have done a good job both places, never burned any bridges. I AM actually still in contact with my old boss from time to time.

I left the first job to get acute care psych experience before I got "stuck" in the community. This time, our census has been low, budget cuts are being made and furloughs are becoming very frequent. Stand alone only psych doesn't pay as well either. My husbands pay was just cut almost 30% and he is the primary breadwinner. I need guaranteed hours and more money. One position I interviewed for is a psych position in the ED and another is a charge position at a different psych inpt facility.

So, how much will this hurt me in the long run? Am I a job hopper?

[brithoover]

I went through 4 jobs in my first 2 years. I now found a place where I love and the "job hopping" never came up at any interviews.

I don't look at it as job hopping. You need to find something you like

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Your reasons are understandable and combined with good references I think you would do fine, but will need to stick at the next one for a while if possible.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Why not stay at the place you really like, and take a prn job elsewhere to make up the extra income? You won't be labeled a job-hopper, and when your present place has an uptick, you'll still be there...with more seniority,

[TerpGal02, ASN]

Why not stay at the place you really like, and take a prn job elsewhere to make up the extra income? You won't be labeled a job-hopper, and when your present place has an uptick, you'll still be there...with more seniority,

I have given that a lot of thought actually. If I worked 12s at my current job, picking up a PRN elsewhere would be no problem. But I work 8s now with usually only 1 day between shifts. With my current schedule working a PRN somewhere else would just make my living/sleeping/working hours way too erratic. I do plan on staying on PRN if they allow it, and I imagine they would. All our current PRNs are former full timers, and almost all have other full time jobs (the other jobs I'm applying for are 12s.

[ukjenn231]

I am a job hopper, I get bored easily at work and I would be looking for a new place to go after 6-8 months even if it was a great unit.

I started doing travel nursing and now I do float pool for a large hospital system that enables me to constantly change my work environment but it is seen as an asset - "flexibility, adaptability" instead of a bad thing. This may not be for you, but I just wanted to illustrate that any situation can work in your favor if you go at it the right way.