Hi all, curious about how many times most nurses have switched jobs over their careers. I know millennials are considered to be "job hoppers" who switch jobs about every 1-3 years, looking to try new things or for opportunities to move up, better pay, etc. I noticed most of my older nursing colleagues have stayed in the same job for their whole career or had few jobs. The older nurses at the county hospital set themselves up well for retirement because they earn a pension and lifetime health benefits. They deal with the stress and bureaucracy because it's worth it for them.
I left the county before I was vested in my pension because I felt it was destroying my mental health. That is also something I frequently here my fellow millennials say, whereas some older colleagues had more "suck it up" mentality. Maybe it is a relatively new thing all the discussion about mental health and "putting yourself first." I don't feel I put myself first because I have "sold out" and work for a high paying nonprofit now rather than a community clinic or county hospital where I felt better about my contributions to the world, but I am doing it to provide for my partner and future adopted kids. We couldn't survive in the Bay Area if I kept working at more "charitable" organizations = ( How many jobs have you all had throughout your careers, and what was the rationale behind changing jobs? Thanks!
I will say, I am a Millenial. I don't intentionally job hop, but I won't stay anywhere where I am miserable. Work/life balance is super important to me after having cancer at 22 and also having a debilitating autoimmune disease. I've endured too much already to be miserable another day.
Same. I am a millennial and believe in being dedicated to a job. But not to the point that I am miserable. I will be more than happy to jump ship to make my life better. I have lived with a genetic condition all my life and have no interest in being unhappy just because of a job. Life is too short and there are too many options available.
Specializes in Case Management (CCM), Hospice, Psychiatric, OB.
In 43 years of nursing I've had a lot of jobs. A few I had to take because they were smaller hospitals and no choices. Even the ones I didn't think I would like, I grew to like them. We moved about every 4 - 6 years for my husband's job so that meant I had to find another job.
I've worked medical/surgical, OB, Psych, Hospice, clinics, instructor at Community College, utilization review and since 1999 have worked at home doing catastrophic and work comp case management. Still working part-time.
I've really enjoyed my nursing career and have never regretted going into it. I have never been fired but I did quit a couple because as "they" say it was not a good fit. No BSN and that has never stopped me getting hired. I did get a BA in Psychology/Sociology because I felt it would allow more job choice if I ever decided to get out of nursing.
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.
7 hours ago, RNWCCCM said:
In 43 years of nursing I've had a lot of jobs. A few I had to take because they were smaller hospitals and no choices. Even the ones I didn't think I would like, I grew to like them. We moved about every 4 - 6 years for my husband's job so that meant I had to find another job.
I've worked medical/surgical, OB, Psych, Hospice, clinics, instructor at Community College, utilization review and since 1999 have worked at home doing catastrophic and work comp case management. Still working part-time.
I've really enjoyed my nursing career and have never regretted going into it. I have never been fired but I did quit a couple because as "they" say it was not a good fit. No BSN and that has never stopped me getting hired. I did get a BA in Psychology/Sociology because I felt it would allow more job choice if I ever decided to get out of nursing.
That is such an amazing wide variety of experience! I hope not to switch jobs too many more times, but every 4-6 years definitely sounds reasonable, and I would love to try as many specialties as you have. You must have a lot of knowledge to share!
Have an ADN Degree in Nursing. At 65 my Nursing career has been varied. First started in Long Term Care as a Staff Nurse. Left after 2 years. Went to the work in the Hospital. Worked 11 years as an ER Nurse. Gained so many additional skills while working in the ER. Stayed supplemental in the ER and left to work as a full time school Nurse at an boarding school for Academically Gifted Students. Worked there for 5 years. Left there to become a College Health Nurse while still working supplemental in the ER. Worked there 14 years. Ended up retiring from there. Get offers even with no BSN degree due to the experience and skills I have. Always obtain additional skills and classes to further my education and ability for patient care. Good Luck to all Nurses as they work this rewarding job providing care and helping patients to stay healthy.
Med Surg 500 bed teaching hospital (2.5 years moved for family reasons ) Long term care 1.5 years left for Internal Medicine & ObGYN (needed steady day job as a young widow). In the clinic 2 years and I left as I needed a less toxic environment. Moved to Home Care for 5 years and then to school nursing, where I found my passion. I've been here for 27 years will retire form here. I have also done part time gigs in Summer camps, and family planning, per diem in LTC .I worked part time in a family practice for 17 years and with in in that role have provided travel services (yellow fever, JE, and hepatitis vaccinations for folks traveling.
Sounds like a rewarding career you are having as a Nurse. Like you, working part time or supplemental helped me financially as well as additional skills and opportunities they offered.
Good luck to you as you move towards retirement in the future. I just retired in September 2020. Loving it so far but know eventually I will want to work part time somewhere. Volunteer now at the Homeless Shelter providing medical care, meals, clothes and referrals to help the less fortunate is rewarding also. I also volunteer with Special Olympics providing Medical Coverage for their events. When they start back up I hope to be volunteering again with Special Olympics.
So far, just 1 job, but I'm only a tender 2ish years in. I really like my neuro floor thus far no plans to leave, it has it's days of course & the 1st year was rough for me working nights full time with small kids. I wanted to leave. What I did rather than leaving when I found myself with a surprise newborn babe was I went down to part time, my job is great in that it offers benefits & retirement to even part timers. The work/life balance going part time was a game changer & made me love my job. Maybe in future when kids are much older, Ill go back to full time or pick up a 2nd job. But I got a good gig & staying put, I'm pushing 40 so have to get serious about my retirement plan, my job has a good one. They got me.
If I'm honest, I would definitely classify myself as a serial 'job hopper'. To that, I say "so what"! That label doesn't make me somehow less competent or able although it may make some feel superior for applying it to others. I've quit jobs for a myriad of reasons, but in the end, I chose me, plain and simple!
Before coming an RN, I worked at the same job for 10 years, I got too comfortable. I finally decided to go back to school and get my RN License.
-My first job was a organ transplant coordinator for 6 months, left because my hospital closed. Despite offers to go with the same doctors to a new location, I opted out to go work on the floor for 12hrs shifts instead of 8hr shifts. I wanted flexibility.
-2nd job was a Medsurge/Telemetry nurse 8 months. Left because I felt like I wanted to learn more and wanted more hands on.
-3rd job ICU, which I love, but I just recently received an amazing offer in a magnet hospital with great benefits, pay and retirement pension. I plan to stay in ICU per diem and do my new job full-time. I am eager to learn in this new field.
Obtaining my BSN has opened endless opportunities for me. I am always open to career advancement and hands-on experience. For that reason, I don't believe in settling. I am out to find the best job I can possibly get and feel like I don't live to work, but work to live.
I have 10 years of experience and have worked 6 FT jobs plus a few months with a company that did corporate and industrial flu shot clinics, a brief and awful travel job, and a semester and a half teaching a clinical. Of my FT jobs, 1 I left after 5 months (I started in a peds ED and went to a community ED to get adult experience and realized I hate adults) and the others I did about 2 years each at (1 I was per diem at for 2 years prior to going FT). My current job I’ve been at for 2 years now and while I might switch roles or units at some point I plan to stay here until I retire (I like the hospital a lot plus we have an actual pension here which is amazing).
I think I have a kickass resume and have not had any issues with my work history and think in a world of stagnating wages and decreased retirement benefits long term loyalty is an unreasonable expectation to have. So much of the criticism of millennials is based on our reaction to the economic market we have found ourselves in and if job shopping is how we find better wages and worklife, welp. You can’t, as a wider political economy, wage a decades long war against labor and expect us not to react.
speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P
544 Posts
Same. I am a millennial and believe in being dedicated to a job. But not to the point that I am miserable. I will be more than happy to jump ship to make my life better. I have lived with a genetic condition all my life and have no interest in being unhappy just because of a job. Life is too short and there are too many options available.