How many times did you switch jobs as a RN?

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I am curious to know how many times as an RN did you change jobs in order to ultimately find your niche in nursing?

I ask this because I am now having regrets for starting as a RN in adult cardiology...I think I like it much better in pediatrics.

Specializes in OB/peds (after gen surgery for 3 yrs).

1. First job as RN, surgical unit, county hospital 2 and a half years.

2. Same hospital, high risk ob 1 and a half years

3. moved across country, high risk ob, 2 and a half years

4. got married, wanted day shift, worked in a doc's office almost one year

5. Public Health Nurse, 2 years, my husband hated it....too many drug addicts/ people with tb to find, bad areas

6. OB/PP/Nursery 3 years, county hospital

7. Moved across country again, Visiting Nurse 6 & 1/2 years

8. Current position, Health Manager, Daycare/Preschool/ Head Start, 9 and a half years.

I think that most of my job changes had more to do with my lifestyle than liking/disliking the job itself. When I was divorced and became the single mom, needed a (more) flexible job like I've had for the past 16 years.

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8 jobs, 5 hospitals, 6 years. :)

Pretty happy in my current position, finally.

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Specializes in RN- Med/surg.

If you're not happy.....look for another job. The sooner you start the job you're happy in...the sooner you start building seniority THERE...where you want to be.

Good luck in your search!

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Graduated in May, on my second job. First was adult oncology. Loved the patients but hated the load, and the 12-hr shifts 30-min away from home was hard on my school-age kids. I talked w/ a friend about her occupational health work and she said if I was really interested, I should apply. I didn't have the minimum experience preferred but came from 20 years in industry from a prior career, so I was able to talk them into hiring me. I work no weekends, no holidays and the company I work for shuts down from Chistmas Eve through Jan. 2. :D And it's five minutes away from my house. And I make more money. :chuckle I will admit I miss the clinical setting, but until hospitals figure out than lower ratios are better all around, I'll stick with this. I, too, am a little long in the tooth to be in a job that's not right for me.

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Specializes in ER.

I've worked 6 hospitals, and all but one of the switches were because of unsupportive administration or coworkers. Some I stayed a year(or less) and knew it wasn't going to work. Others I'd stay many years and finally give up and go elsewhere. I did fine with every patient group except psych, but it's your coworkers who make or break you, IMO. If you find a job with great coworkers, hang on to it.

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Specializes in Did the job hop, now in MS. Not Bad!!!!!.
Hi. I have only been a RN since July and moved to work at a particular facility. Now after 5 months, I am moving onto a different job at a different facility. I was not even suppossed to get this new job(didn't meet their posted education or experience requirements), but through persistence I got the job and start at the beginning of the year. I think most managers understand wanting to find something that suits you. I am still getting calls from hospitals for interviews and it was perfectly clear on my resume I have only been in my current job for 5 months...not even 5 months yet. So, get out there and start applying. You never know what can happen unless you try. Good luck.

What hopeful news Tatarn!

I'm searching as a new grad after not even 3 mos in Onc/Renal/Hospice; excuse the pun, but it was deadly and almost killed me too! Lots of health probs as a result and now uninsured and scared. I keep finding help wanted online and in paper that all demand experience.

I can't even get a recruiter to return my calls.. What's your secret?

I think I strayed fr my original thanks to you. You do give me hope to keep up the chase. Thanks!

Chloe

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Tntc!!!

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Specializes in ICU, OR.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - 6 jobs in 8 years as an RN. And one of those was agency so it was at various hospitals. One job was 4 years but the rest were random shorter intervals. And looking for a new job or two right now. Still haven't found the niche, but hoping to soon. ;)

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I left my first job to move here with my ex, so that really doesn't count.

I've always been in med-surg and I've left my positions 3 times within the same hospital where I've been employed for 13 years. I started surgical, they turned our unit into a trauma unit and I later left to work neuro when I was tired of being the charge nurse. They made me charge in neuro after three months when 4 RNs quit in a matter of a few weeks to do other things. When I tired of that I went to medical telemetry and was put in charge the first day (which wasn't our agreement), so after a year I left to work the floor on my old trauma unit. Two years later I'm the day charge nurse again, by default when two charge nurses quit and I was put in the position "temporarily", so I took the job and and the money and I'm back to doing charge.

I've come to accept being a charge nurse is my niche and my gift and I'll make the best of it for now. I hope to get a Masters in Nursing Education and teach part time and eventually full time when I move towards retirement.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg.

This is why I am excited about entering the nursing field! It's great to know that there are so many options for those who are dissatisfied with their current positions. Thanks to all those who replied to the OP!

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.

I am LUCKY! The hospital I chose to work orignally as a CNA in a Step Down Unit has turned out to be a remarkable good fit; now I am a telemetry nurse and I still enjoy going to work to be with all my buddies. Really, after almost 6 years working at this hospital I am still content with learning new skills, practicing the art of nursing and entertaining sidebars and getting paid for it all in one!

However....in the planning...house is sold and I will begrudgingly ,however happy with the new choice of area, Portland...be looking for work. Wish us luck!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Psych..

Job #1= in Canada as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse for 2 yrs

then I graduated from RN program

Job #2= as a RN for 1 year in Canada, I was in the process of moving to USA

Job #3= in Nothern Cali as RN for 2 yrs. Moved to So Cal after my contract is over.

Job#4= Still working....I wish I could change it...but the pay is unbeatable ;)

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