How many new grads changed jobs within 1 year

Published

Specializes in ICU (med/surgical/transplant/neuro/ent).

I am finding myself in an interesting situation. I am have be seriously contemplating leaving my first RN job. I graduated in Aug '08 started my job in Sept (ICU) (I've been working 7 months). I am a second degree nurse (previous job in research). The environment at my current job is becoming too much (the structure, lack of organization, some people are actually trying to get rid of me, etc). For those and other reasons I think that hospital nursing is not for me. I understand that being a new nurse is hard and that coming from knowing alot in my previous job and going back to being novice is difficult. I never like to quit anything or run away from things but I have to draw the line when my work is completely destroying my spirit and physical causing me problems. Also I am afraid that I will be asked to leave or change floors (finding myself one of those nurses eating young victims) before I have chance to make that decision myself.

Ideally I would like to get into clinical research (and I have been looking) but there are no jobs in my area at this time. I believe that returning to research, but with my RN would be an excellent fit and better use of my previous experience and my new experiences. I've also looked into office nursing and have an interview (no guarantees, but hey they've given me interview!).

I posted some of this is other posts, but I wanted to hear from any other nurses who may have found themselves having to leave or contemplating leaving their first nursing job before that magically "1 year mark" (particular those that left the hospital environment). Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, TELE,CM, clinica[ documentation.

I changed jobs within my first year from tele to mother/baby ( thought it was my dream job but hated it) then back to a med/surg floor. I have been on the med/surg floor almost 3 years now. My advice--do what works for you and makes you happy. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I graduated in May '08 and accepted a position in the local hospital's ortho/neuro/surgical unit. I lasted only as long as the orientation. I was completely overwhelmed, unsupervised and dumped upon. I hated it! In the 3 months I was there, I met my supervisor once - to quit. I also came from a previous career. I spent 20 years in the dental field and enjoyed it - I just needed a change/challenge/pay raise. ;) I now work in an ambulatory surgical center. I enjoy it but, I'm still thinking about going back to my previous job in dental but as a nurse. I would basically be a surgical assistant with a nurse's pay. Sometimes, I think that would be a step backward, but really it's not. I would be working in the environment I like with the people I love. And using all my new found knowledge in dealing with patients' treatments and education. Kind of sounds like your situation, too. I say: if you know what you want make it work for you. That's what is supposed to be so awesome about nursing: it encompasses so much for all of us. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

I graduated in May '08 and ended up switching jobs in Feb '09.

I was becoming more and more unhappy, stressed out, hating nursing and was seriously thinking about going into another field altogether! And this was a unit that I had worked on as a tech for a year before I graduated, I thought I knew what I was getting into. My co-workers were great, but that wasn't enough to keep me.

I'm now in a residential treatment center for teen males who are sexual offenders with psych problems (schizoaffective, bipolar, etc) and I LOVE it! I work for a hospital but it's not in a hospital (we have out own separate building) and we only see the Dr (who is great) about 2-3 times a week, the nurses run the unit and we also have therapists, etc. I never though that psych nursing would be for me, but I've found that it is.

So long story short, I am VERY GLAD I left the hospital, have no regrets at all about it! I think nursing research, especially with your background, will be so cool.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in High-risk OB.

I graduated in May '08 and will be moving to a new hospital/new area within the month. I currently work on a very busy med-surg unit, but our unit is undergoing quite a few changes that have made the nurses very unhappy and no one seems to be listening to what we have to say. And the staffing has become ridiculous.

I'll hit my 10 month mark in two weeks and will then be working in L&D. I'm looking forward to it as I've always wanted to work L&D; but wanted to get the med-surg experience first.

Whatever you decide, good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in neurology.

I graduated with my BSN in May '08 too, and started orientation on a med surg floor of a nearby magnet hospital. In retrospect, I felt well supported, I had constant access to more experienced nurses for help, and my supervisor was a sweetheart.

However, I hated med-surg when I was in nursing school and I hated it while working. I lasted 3 months before it was "suggested" to me that hospital nursing was not for me. Hmm, maybe the fact that I was constantly gagging, crying, and shaking with fear made them say that. Still, I felt like I was kicked out, although officially I resigned, and I got several lovely recommendation letters.

I immediately found a job in a doctor's office in an outpatient neurology department. I'm doing phone triage and giving an occasional shot. I love it. Monday through Friday, 9-5p, no nights or weekends. No nasty smells, no worrying I'm going to accidentally kill someone, and I can sit down, go pee, and eat whenever I darn well feel like it - which is so important to me now that I'm pregnant. My baby is due this summer and I will be leaving full time work and after a few months I will try to find something that lets me work one day a week (preferably a weekend day when DH can babysit). It will probably be in a clinic or doctor's office somewhere.

My advice is do whatever you want. Life is too short to be miserable.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med-surg.
I graduated with my BSN in May '08 too, and started orientation on a med surg floor of a nearby magnet hospital. In retrospect, I felt well supported, I had constant access to more experienced nurses for help, and my supervisor was a sweetheart.

However, I hated med-surg when I was in nursing school and I hated it while working. I lasted 3 months before it was "suggested" to me that hospital nursing was not for me. Hmm, maybe the fact that I was constantly gagging, crying, and shaking with fear made them say that. Still, I felt like I was kicked out, although officially I resigned, and I got several lovely recommendation letters.

I immediately found a job in a doctor's office in an outpatient neurology department. I'm doing phone triage and giving an occasional shot. I love it. Monday through Friday, 9-5p, no nights or weekends. No nasty smells, no worrying I'm going to accidentally kill someone, and I can sit down, go pee, and eat whenever I darn well feel like it - which is so important to me now that I'm pregnant. My baby is due this summer and I will be leaving full time work and after a few months I will try to find something that lets me work one day a week (preferably a weekend day when DH can babysit). It will probably be in a clinic or doctor's office somewhere.

My advice is do whatever you want. Life is too short to be miserable.

I hear you girl! I graduated in May and only lasted 3 months as well. I have yet to find another job though. It seems like it is an unwritten rule that new nurses should do med-surg. Well, I hate it and dont want to. To do so is a diservice to me and the patients. You are an inspiration to me that I too may find a job like yours. I can only dream..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D, PACU.

I went straight into Labor and Delivery after school. I'm an older 'new' nurse. I thought L&D was my 'calling'. Nope. After 7 months I left and went to an ambulatory surgical center doing PACU. Love it. I've been there a year, and have no plans to leave.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology, Research.

I left my first job after 9 months. I actually loved working on my floor. I had good relationships with the other RNs, the docs and the patients. While I felt competent, the patient assignments were bordering on dangerous. I found a research job and have been a study coordinator for the past 4 years now. I feel like I have found my niche and hope to continue in this field for the remainder of my career. Best of luck to you. Hopefully you will find a good fit soon.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU (med/surgical/transplant/neuro/ent).
I left my first job after 9 months. I actually loved working on my floor. I had good relationships with the other RNs, the docs and the patients. While I felt competent, the patient assignments were bordering on dangerous. I found a research job and have been a study coordinator for the past 4 years now. I feel like I have found my niche and hope to continue in this field for the remainder of my career. Best of luck to you. Hopefully you will find a good fit soon.

Thanks! I actually am very interested in being a study coordinator since my background is in research. However I haven't been able to find any available positions at this time. Can you tell me a little bit about what you do? Do you work for a university or private company, etc?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I started out in an ICU and it was too overwhelming for me, having zero nursing experience to start. It hurt my pride a bit, but I moved to a more med surg type floor and have really grown. Was the best move I could have made. Now I have the challenge of figuring out where to go from here -- I am too curious now about other types of nursing to stay, but it's been a good experience to do floor nursing. I seem to be able to handle most days and most bad behavior/smells, etc. I think I just needed a less demanding group to work with.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion