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 Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.
On 4/10/2021 at 12:18 PM, Hannahbanana said:
You can expect to have at least 5 careers (not just positions!) in your working life according to recent research. People who stay with one employer forever now are vanishingly rare. Never be afraid to move around PRN... no experience is ever wasted, you’ll find you get more flexible as you move along. Have some fun c it!
ICYMI: Don’t expect that your first, or second, or third job will be “the one,” because it won’t. Remember, an open mind is more likely to have something drop into it! You can have a path in mind, and be following it, and still keep your peripheral vision looking at those interesting detours.
But I also view my job as a job. It’s where I go 36 hours a week to make money to live my life. That’s it. I don’t need to feel some altruistic feeling when I leave. I don’t need to feel fulfilled when I leave every night. When I’m at work, I give it 100%, but when I click out, I’m done.
I have decent benefits and while I wish I made more on my hourly rate, I can pay my bills.
Lovinglife123 - I'm with you on THIS. I always tell people I'll never be rich where I'm at but I'll retire at a decent age, I pay my bills, get a bunch of vacations and my staff is great. I work to live, not live to work.
Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN
1,265 Posts
ICYMI: Don’t expect that your first, or second, or third job will be “the one,” because it won’t. Remember, an open mind is more likely to have something drop into it! You can have a path in mind, and be following it, and still keep your peripheral vision looking at those interesting detours.