How long did you stay at your first job out of nursing school?

mom of twins · Jul 19, 2007

Hi. I am a 2nd semester nursing student and I need your help. I am writing a research paper on the effectiveness of new nursing graduate residency programs and job retention. I need data from all nurses - new nurses and veterans too.
What year did you graduate?
What was your first job out of nursing school?
How long did you stay there?
Why did you leave?
Did you have adequate orientation to your new job?
Was there a nursing residency program available?
If there was a nursing residency program, how long was it?
Thanks for helping me with this information.

I graduated in 2005

My first job was in the ICU

I stayed for 8 months

Left because two days after starting the job, I found out that I was pregnant-----with twins

I feel like I had a good orientation--not great, but good

Not a residency program available at this facility

Hope this helps with your report, good luck!

rnsrgr8t · Jul 19, 2007

Hi. I am a 2nd semester nursing student and I need your help. I am writing a research paper on the effectiveness of new nursing graduate residency programs and job retention. I need data from all nurses - new nurses and veterans too.
What year did you graduate?
What was your first job out of nursing school?
How long did you stay there?
Why did you leave?
Did you have adequate orientation to your new job?
Was there a nursing residency program available?
If there was a nursing residency program, how long was it?
Thanks for helping me with this information.

I graduated in 1998

My first job was in pediatric hematology/oncology

I stayed 15 months

I left due to high stress and poor work enviroment.

I had a 4 month (I think, been a long time) orientation and I was a already a pediatric nurse extern in school.

There was not a specific nurse residency program but I was hired with a lot of new grads (7 I think) at the time.

georgiagalRN · Jul 19, 2007

Hi. I am a 2nd semester nursing student and I need your help. I am writing a research paper on the effectiveness of new nursing graduate residency programs and job retention. I need data from all nurses - new nurses and veterans too.
What year did you graduate?
What was your first job out of nursing school?
How long did you stay there?
Why did you leave?
Did you have adequate orientation to your new job?
Was there a nursing residency program available?
If there was a nursing residency program, how long was it?
Thanks for helping me with this information.

Hey there...first off...good luck in nursing school!!!

I graduated in 1999 and I'm still in my first job out of school. I knew that NICU is where I belonged and I still love it today. I know that one day, I'll probably leave but only to go to another NICU. One reason I choose to stay is the admiration I have for our doctors. We have 2 of the best neonatologists in the world. And of course, I love the people I work with. The longer you are at a certain place, I have found that it is harder to leave. You are invested in friendships and have so many memories that keep you there. For our NICU, we do 12wk orientations, especially for new grads. There is the availibility to do a nursing externship, but I was unable to do it because I worked there as an assistant all through nursing school. But working there made my orientation much easier because I knew everyone and knew alot of the policies and paperwork. So I don't feel like I really missed out on anything because of working there.

Hope this helps for your research paper!! GOOD LUCK!!

JailRN · Jul 19, 2007

I also wish you luck in school:yeah:

I graduated in 1973, worked night shift charge in a nursing home-had NO orientation (except for the location of the nurses bathroom and linen closet.) I stayed 2 months and left because I got married and moved 3,000 miles away.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Jul 20, 2007

What year did you graduate?

2001

What was your first job out of nursing school?

general surgery/ortho/neuro

How long did you stay there?

9 mo fulltime; almost 2 years PRN

Why did you leave?

Left fulltime because a job that I really wanted became available to me. Left PRN because I was very pregnant and very tired.

Did you have adequate orientation to your new job?

So-so. I didn't feel COMPLETELY unprepared, but I would've like a couple more weeks. I still had people around after orientation that I could ask for help.

Was there a nursing residency program available? Yes.

If there was a nursing residency program, how long was it? 10 weeks. 2 weeks spent in each of 5 areas

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Jul 21, 2007

I graduated in 2005

I stayed in the NICU for 2 years after graduation

My orientation was sufficient at 8 weeks (or so I thought ;>P)

I left to attend grad school 800 miles away while working at a much bigger, more acute care NICU.

jamonit · Jul 21, 2007

i graduated in 2007

i stayed in my first job for 3 months

i had a 6 week orientation in the PICU and felt like it was not safe for me to be there.

i left because orientation was not as promised, i felt that we weren't prepared to care *safely* for our patients. i left because management did not respect my desire to stay on orientation for a couple more weeks. I never regret leaving.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jul 21, 2007

What year did you graduate? 1975 as an LPN
What was your first job out of nursing school? Med Nurse
How long did you stay there? 1 year
Why did you leave? Moved out of state
Did you have adequate orientation to your new job? Yes
Was there a nursing residency program available? No
If there was a nursing residency program, how long was it?
What year did you graduate? 2000 as an RN
What was your first job out of nursing school? Floor nurse acute care med/surg telemetry unit.
How long did you stay there? 6 long years
Why did you leave? Burn Out
Did you have adequate orientation to your new job? Yes
Was there a nursing residency program available? Yes
How long was it? 6 wks for experienced nurses, 12 wks for new grads, some required 16 wks. I had 6 wks.

Best of luck to you!

leslie :-D · Jul 21, 2007

Hi. I am a 2nd semester nursing student and I need your help. I am writing a research paper on the effectiveness of new nursing graduate residency programs and job retention. I need data from all nurses - new nurses and veterans too.
What year did you graduate?
What was your first job out of nursing school?
How long did you stay there?
Why did you leave?
Did you have adequate orientation to your new job?
Was there a nursing residency program available?
If there was a nursing residency program, how long was it?
Thanks for helping me with this information.

1996

inpatient hospice

left for approx 1 yr. then returned

couldn't handle intensity.

yes.

no.

good luck w/your project!

leslie

EmmaG, RN · Jul 22, 2007

hi. i am a 2nd semester nursing student and i need your help. i am writing a research paper on the effectiveness of new nursing graduate residency programs and job retention. i need data from all nurses - new nurses and veterans too.

what year did you graduate? 1983 lpn, 1988 rn

what was your first job out of nursing school? heme/onc unit for both lpn and rn

how long did you stay there? nearly three years as an lpn; 17 years as an rn, with the exception of about a year and a half on a dm/chf/renal floor. (i left oncology and returned to the same unit)

why did you leave? as an lpn, i moved out of state to attend rn school. as an rn, long story. very poor manager.

did you have adequate orientation to your new job? i suppose lol. been so long i barely remember. the orientation i received at the other hospital during my brief break from oncology was superb. i actually thought it was a bit too long.

was there a nursing residency program available? nope

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2007

what year did you graduate?1992

what was your first job out of nursing school?general mecial floor at duke university medical center

how long did you stay there?1 year

why did you leave?i fell in love and followed a man to florida

did you have adequate orientation to your new job?yes

was there a nursing residency program available?it was called "nurse internship"

if there was a nursing residency program, how long was it?one year

as a side note, i've had my second job for 15 years. :)