How long did you stay at your 1st job?

intermediateRN · Jan 10, 2012

I left after 6 mos. First time I have ever done that, yes I felt unprofessional, but I was working an hour from home, 12 hr. night shift, etc. I left on a good note and have no regrets. There are a lot of threads about when to leave your first crappy nursing job...it's so individual...you know if you need to leave or not, just follow your gut.

AshleelRenee · Jan 10, 2012

I'm still at my first job going on three years and I love it. I don't think it's unprofessional after one year especially if your a new grad. Most new grads will use their first job as a stepping stone to where they want to be.

awheat · Jan 10, 2012

Two years, honoring the contract I agreed to (to the day).

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Jan 10, 2012

Depends on what you call my 1st nursing job. My 1st job was flu shot clinics, then I was hired for peds home health, I only stayed for 5 months, mainly because I wasn't getting the hours, I was hired to work in a SNF/Vent and was there for 8 months, transferred to another SNF within the company closer to home and for 12 hour shifts.

Then left that job after 4 months when the on-call job I had offered me a position which is LTC/SNF pediatrics, so I jumped on that.

I have felt bad leaving the jobs so quickly because before I became a nurse I had a pretty stable job history, my 1st job I was there for 8 years, then 2 years and 3 years, so leaving after a few months felt wrong, but I had to go where I thought would be best for me. I would like to work in acute care pediatrics and eventually NICU and so working in the peds LTC gives me some peds expereince which I can only hope help me out with my long term career goals.

I posted not to long ago with concerns regarding my unstable job history, because a Kasier facility had called me for an interview and I wasn't sure if I should have followed up and have an interview because of my unstable history, I decided I was happy with the peds place and I should stay put for at least a year to improve the resume.

allnurses Guide · Jan 10, 2012

I stayed at my first RN job for three years. My work history since then hasn't been the most stable. =( I've still had a tendency to

stick with a job for at least a year and a half, though.

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2012

Just under 6 months. Yes, it felt unprofessional and on one hand I hated doing it, but on the other hand that job was seriously affecting my health and wellbeing and I had to get out. I am still at nursing job #2.

Biffbradford · Jan 10, 2012

12 years.

2nd job - 2 months.

Lesson learned - the grass is not always greener.

Sugarcoma, RN · Jan 10, 2012

12 years.2nd job - 2 months.Lesson learned - the grass is not always greener.

Ugh, I learned this same lesson myself! Currently looking for job #3 after 4 months at job 2. Really disappointed considering the research I put into the move. Lasted 2 years at job 1. I do not think it will be unprofessional for me to leave before 1 year, or at least not anymore unprofessional than them breaking every promise they made in writing to me. I would leave right now if I didn't absolutely need to have another job lined up.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jan 10, 2012

i stayed two years. and in the absence of extenuating circumstances, it is unprofessional to leave after only a year. (extenuating circumstances -- your husband's job just transferred him to alaska, your mom died and you have to move back home to take care of your younger siblings or a volcano wiped out your hospital.)

MaryAnn_RN · Jan 10, 2012

I've moved about within the same hospital so have had two jobs there in the 13 years since I qualified

Flo., BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2012

I left after 2. After the way my last employer treated me though I would say stay as long as you care to. If they are being unprofessional then leave and don't worry about it.