How many jobs have you had in your career?

Nurses General Nursing

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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! 

Specializes in Peds ED.

Oh I forgot to say why I left LOL. First job I’d just moved and the commute was longer than I anticipated. Second job because I missed peds and decided the commute was worth it. Third job because I had two babies and had the opportunity to work closer to home on dayshift hours (at a huge paycut). Fourth job because the paycut ended up being financially disasterous and I was told with the new job I’d have the opportunity to shape the building of their expanded peds ED. Fifth job I left because we moved back to my hometown but I was also super dissatisfied with management and the promise to be part of the peds ED expansion never materialized.

The flu clinic was just short term and per diem. The travel job had me taking 10-15 patients at a time in a peds ED and I was legit scared for my license. The clinical instructor job I left because they wanted us to create and execute a virtual clinical with a few days notice and a. I didn’t want to put in that much work for a 6 hour a week job and b. didn’t think virtual clinical was the way to handle COVID restrictions.

The only job I see as hoppy was the travel job- I worked 11 shifts and then quit. It was just so unsafe, I couldn’t get anything done for my patients in a timely manner because of the patient load, and although the money was great I just wasn’t going to pay for that short term gain with my career.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

I had several varied jobs and one previous career as a cosmetologist before I switched to healthcare. My last job doing hair my employer closed up shop and emptied the salon overnight without even informing staff. It was in a local mall, she told security she was taking out equipment to clean the floors. The two stylists scheduled the next morning showed up to work with no idea none of us had a job anymore! 

As a result I was an unemployed young mom and needed a job.  I was hired by a SNF as a CNA, they put me through the training. I stayed there as first a CNA then an RN  for 25 years. 

I'm in my second job as a nurse, working dialysis now for just over 1 year. Planning on staying here hopefully until I retire in about 7-10 years. 

On 4/12/2021 at 4:15 AM, CalicoKitty said:

Yeah, I have my WOCN. Actually, the day I passed my "OC" (Ostomy/Continence) exams, I texted my current coworker who told me to go work with her! ?  And here I am!  Vacs are cool, I am not the superexpert yet, but working on it. And many days I feel like we are just chasing our tail, so need more follow-ups.. but, it is cool and I get to learn a lot!

Hi there,

I plan to take WOCN courses and become a certification of WOCN nurse. Please advise which online course is good. Do you have any tip about how to pass the exam. my email: [email protected]

Thank you!

Lilly 

Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.
1 minute ago, lliu said:

Hi there,

I plan to take WOCN courses and become a certification of WOCN nurse. Please advise which online course is good. Do you have any tip about how to pass the exam. my email: [email protected]

 Thank you!

Lilly 

I used WebWOC. It takes 3 weeks for each "program" (wounds, ostomy, continence), it includes recorded lectures and powerpoints, weekly quizzes and a final exam. Then you need clinical hours for each scope (40? each). You'll get a list of potential preceptors, but you gotta work it out. You have a certain amount of time to complete the hours. Then the exam. I used the WOCNCB "flashcard" on my phone a lot, and reviewed my exams.  Many of my coworkers have used Emory and liked it.

4 minutes ago, CalicoKitty said:

I used WebWOC. It takes 3 weeks for each "program" (wounds, ostomy, continence), it includes recorded lectures and powerpoints, weekly quizzes and a final exam. Then you need clinical hours for each scope (40? each). You'll get a list of potential preceptors, but you gotta work it out. You have a certain amount of time to complete the hours. Then the exam. I used the WOCNCB "flashcard" on my phone a lot, and reviewed my exams.  Many of my coworkers have used Emory and liked it.

Thank you very much Kitty for your reply. I don't have placement for clinical hour yet. Do you mind send me some tip of how to study and taking exam. Is you co-work still with Emory, please connect me with her. Many appreciations. 

Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

I like what Davey did. Here’s mine. 
 

2017-2018 Child psych crisis unit. Quit after one year because of toxic coworkers and boss.

2018 - 2020 ACT team. Furloughed because of COVID which was just the last of many stupid administrative decisions. Kept the job under furloughed status and tried all of the following work situations:

State psych hospital as a COVID nurse through an agency. Terrible work. Great wages. Picked my own schedule. Worked off and on from 4/2020 to 6/2021

Another ACT job in a big city. Quit after 8 days because it was a total S-Show.

Nurse auditor for group homes. Liked the idea of the job but the place was a disaster with no respect for nursing and I felt like a patsy. Did it for 5 months.

Travel Crisis nurse in a big city. Liked it a lot and it paid insanely well. That hospital was just using us to pass an inspection by the DOH that they didn’t deserve to pass after they had 2 completed suicides and 2 fires. Supposed to be a 13 week commitment, ended abruptly after 3 weeks. In the meantime, was called back from my furlough and said no to that. 
 

Just last month I started a nurse manager position for children’s group homes. Lots of nurses, well staffed, nurses in senior management, and I have a nice office and  a medical secretary. Pays a comfortable salary. We’ll see how I like management. 
 

It’s  been a roller coaster of a year.

 

 

Specializes in RN.

CNA before being an RN:

First place for a year in LTC

Second place hospital CNA 3 years

LPN at facility for 1 year per diem while finishing my RN (I think I had like 2 others jobs along with this one at the time)

as RN:

1 + years med/surg

4 years in ER

2+ years in management (never again)- severance pay, they don’t like people who don’t play the political game, it’s all a game

next place, Dialysis company for 2 years. Like dialysis, hated the facility, region, most toxic environment imaginable, from the management right through the floor staff it was a sh*thole- let go for 1, yes 1 missed medication. They also don’t like people who call them out on their sh*t

currently; back in LTC for 1 year- I’ve learned a few things, hope to stay and retire in 5ish years

 

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Just short of 25 years:

4 hospitals (one of these was due to a move across country---2 I worked in at the same time, both PRN)

1 doctor's office

1 LTC

1 Dialysis company but several positions within the company from management, to float to staff nurse

1 Oncology (out patient)

Not too bad for 25 years.

Specializes in Cardiac.

New grad into a small community hospital in med/peds/onc for 4 years then their ICU for 6 years- last day was my 10 year anniversary. (Last year there I was also working agency in nearby big city hospital. Moved 4 hours away (stayed occasional for about a year) have worked in a medium sized hospital in med/surg ICU and CICU for 20 years. Also took occasional position at the competition for 13 months to supplement income when $$ were much needed after baby #9. 

Specializes in Cardiac.
On 4/19/2021 at 3:21 AM, HiddencatBSN said:

in a world of stagnating wages and decreased retirement benefits long term loyalty is an unreasonable expectation to have.

I agree with this point. If employers aren’t willing to reward loyalty with pensions/bonuses/wages why would anyone want to stay. So many toxic environments in Healthcare. I stay b/c my schedule is quite flexible so that I have been able to coach gymnastics for 10+ years. Unfortunately I have sacrificed much family time for making a buck—but did have to keep a roof overhead and food on the table (and pay gym/competition fees). Have done tons of OT… it’s always available in my unit and throughout the facility if I wanted to work another unit,too. 

Specializes in ICU, hospice, MS/tele, ED, corrections.

I am a Gen-X'er and nursing is my 3rd career. I count food service as a career - I did it for 15 years and loved it. Maybe I am even on my 4th career, if you count babysitting, which, at age 12, I couldn't wait to enter the workforce, so I marketed myself (I put flyers in neighbors's mailboxes) and babysat for about 5 different families until I was old enough to get a "real job," haha!

My second career was as a Chemical Dependency Professional, which I did for about 5 years. All along, though, I had wanted to be a nurse; I just didn't believe in myself. Being a Chemical Dependency Professional gave me confidence and taught me that I have a knack for connecting with people from alllll walks of life. 

So here I am, have been a nurse for 11+ years. Lessee...

1) Worked in correctional nursing for 3.5 years as an LPN; left as I wanted to do hospice and work a little closer to home; left on good terms

2) Worked in a unit that did both LTAC and hospice for 2 yrs, 9 months, first as LPN; earned my RN along the way; left as it was no longer a "good fit," and I wanted to try home hospice; this departure was very stressful and emotionally difficult for me

3) Worked in home hospice for 9 months and was so burned out I was becoming physically ill; no days off and not paid for OT! I left on neutral terms, ie "I'm out!" Haha

4) Started work in an inpatient hospice unit over 4 years ago, but have been PRN for most of that time (learned that I can no longer do hospice full-time and that I want to become as versatile a nurse as possible!); am still employed at this job

5) Worked in an ED for 6 months and actually loved it but made a stupid decision to try to go PRN too early - you'd think I'd know better! First they said yes to transitioning to PRN then no, but I did leave on good terms

6) Worked at an acute care hospital in tele (during the pandemic we were a COVID unit) for 1.5 years; left to work for another hospital in the same health system; left on good terms. This hospital was very small and the commute sucked, so I was thrilled to land a job at a sister hospital, that was closer and had tons of opportunities to learn.

7) Worked at that sister hospital I mentioned for 3 months, and was terminated! I loved that job so much and wanted to stay there the rest of my career. I didn't make any mistakes, I had perfect attendance, a great attitude....I'm not saying I was perfect, but literally they gave me no reason except for a very vague "you're not cutting it," which I have to say I disagree with them completely! Haha I say that as I sit here, unemployed ?

Thankfully I still have my PRN job! So that's 7 jobs in 11 years (with some overlap) - I guess I'm a job-hopper to some, but it seems like after I got my RN (after being an LPN for 6 years), I have just been trying to figure out how to build a career that allows me to continually grow and that helps me be as versatile as possible. I am thinking that public health/humanitarian nursing might be the right fit for me, because I can travel, public health nurses serve many different roles, and I have always been drawn to helping marginalized people. 

☺️

 

 

Specializes in ICU, hospice, MS/tele, ED, corrections.
52 minutes ago, Granuaile said:
Quote

5) Worked in an ED for 6 months and actually loved it but made a stupid decision to try to go PRN too early - you'd think I'd know better! First they said yes to transitioning to PRN then no, but I did leave on good terms

I forgot to say the reason I asked to go PRN at the ED was so I could have the flexibility to work more hours at my other job (inpatient hospice)... it's hard to explain, but I was PRN at the hospice, but was offered a full-time position after being there 10 months. I knew there would always be a ton of hours avilable at the ED, while in contrast, even full-timers at the hospice rarely get all their hours because of low census. So, in my mind, the only thing really changing was which job would be providing me benefits, and the benefits at the hospice job were a lot better. So good intentions, yeah? If only people would see things my way, lololol!

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