How Long Did You stay at Your First Job as a Nurse?

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 2, 2005

I stayed for 2 years in my first job as a staff nurse. By the end of the first year, I was starting to be the Charge Nurse for the shift and had become active in some of the unit committees. That second year was great experience because it gave me that "first level leadership experience" that is so crucial for successful career advancement.

After working in that first job for 2 years, I quit to move away to attend graduate school. After another 2 years in graduate school and armed with my MSN, I got a job as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (with a significant increase in pay and much better hours.)

llg

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Feb 2, 2005

I worked a med/surge floor for 1 year immediately following nursing school. I love nursing, but the nurse/patient ratio was not good (1 nurse to 11 pts.) It was way too much for a beginner to handle. So I left and got a job as a school nurse and I have been here for 14 years. Love it a lot.

dolphinRN · Feb 2, 2005

I've been at the same hospital for almost 17 years, just different Med/Surg units and "desk" jobs since my foot won't hold up to the pounding I gave it on the floors anymore. Yes, this place has its ups and downs, but all facilities do. :rolleyes:

LPN1974, LPN · Feb 2, 2005

I worked at a hospital in Long Beach, CA, for a year after I graduated.

Then we moved out of state, my husband had itchy feet and couldn't stay in one place very long. {We are now divorced, and I've been able to stay on my current job almost 25 years, when I get in my 28 I can retire.} I wouldn't have any kind of retirment if I were still married to him. But I miss that job at that hospital. I loved it.

mattsmom81 · Feb 2, 2005

My first and second jobs were 5 yrs and 7 respectively.(70's and 80's) After that, I found myself unable to stay that long, as by this time things were going south due to managed care/DRG's and I had trouble adapting to the poor working conditions I was seeing as a result. It hasn't gotten any better, unfortunately.

I try to stay a year to avoid a bad reputation as a 'job hopper' but it is tough to stay in some of the bad places I've seen for that long.

fluffwad · Feb 5, 2005

I stayed on my fist job 3 1/2 years and left for better pay / and to broaden my experience. Since then, I've noticed that I average about 3.5 years on a job.......we've moved state to state a couple of times but I've also changed jobs out of boredom, disgust with mangement / coworkers, and to get off of night shift. I've been at my current job 4 years and am waiting to see if management can pull this place back together after a recent meltdown.

tylerlvn · Feb 6, 2005

I am working at my first nursing job. I started in Aug. - I love it!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2005

Exactly one year and then moved to Florida. My boyfriend at the time moved to Florida after nine months into my job. I wanted to get the one year in before moving. So I moved to Florida chasing a man and we broke up six months later.

I'm still at my second job over 13 years. :)

BAtoLPN · Feb 6, 2005

I worked a med/surge floor for 1 year immediately following nursing school. I love nursing, but the nurse/patient ratio was not good (1 nurse to 11 pts.) It was way too much for a beginner to handle. So I left and got a job as a school nurse and I have been here for 14 years. Love it a lot.

You are a school nurse with an LPN? How did you manage that? Where do you live? I would LOOOOVE to do that, but I thought it was almost impossible unless you were an RN, and in some cases a BSN.

DelightRN · Feb 6, 2005

I stayed at my first RN job for a measly 9 months. Luckily I didn't have a contract or a sign on bonus to repay.

DelightRN · Feb 6, 2005

I try to stay a year to avoid a bad reputation as a 'job hopper' but it is tough to stay in some of the bad places I've seen for that long.

I stayed at one job for 5 weeks. Yes, you read that correctly. This place was so completely unsafe that I was in fear for my license every day I was there. I was so stressed that it was not uncommon for me to puke before and/or after my shift. After one particularly bad day, I handed in my badge to the nursing sup and never went back.

careerdejour · Feb 6, 2005

I am working at my first nursing job. I started in Aug. - I love it!

I just wanted to know what atera of nursing you are employed in, since you love it. Plus, in what area of Texas are you located? I am in the Houston area.