The title says it all. Since May I have not had a stable job. Prior I held two nursing positions a year each. Prior to becoming a nurse I worked as CNA and had two jobs. One job I kept for 3 years the other 2 years.
So I know have the potential to be stable, until I get into a specialty.
In May I burnt a bridge at a nursing facility, left without notice due to retaliation from my employer.
In August I burnt a bridge with this one ped hh job I was working. I didn't quit the agency but I did give up all my clients due to my school schedule and one client was not the right fit. I did let the agency know 3 weeks prior that I would have to give up my cases though.
So now I'm faced with a problem. I'm supposed to start orienting for a another peds hh case tomorrow for weekend option ( I strongly dislike peds hh, so keep that in mind)
However, I was just offered a PRN with possible full time at a facility that I would rather work at than ped hh.
I also have another interview lined up tomorrow with a 3rd employer. Since I don't want the peds hh case should I just tell them now or work the case until something permanent comes along? Or should I just not bother with the peds hh and just keep looking and atleast I will have a PRN job.
Thanks for your advice in advance. I promise I will get it together.
I have several friends who are managers and definitely pass over hiring anyone who doesn't stay in previous positions at least 2 years. This can catch up with you when you're looking for an RN position. Pick one job and stick with it before it's too late!
I have several friends who are managers and definitely pass over hiring anyone who doesn't stay in previous positions at least 2 years. This can catch up with you when you're looking for an RN position. Pick one job and stick with it before it's too late!
You need to make careful decisions about balancing your work schedule with school. Choose the job you feel is best, but then stick with it. Job hopping continuously looks unprofessional.
Trust me...I used to hire and train when I worked in hotel mgmt. People who move around often are perceived as unreliable to many managers. Don't make this a pattern. You could be a great nurse who ends up not even considered for a position you badly want in the future because of it.
The biggest problem is juggling work and school. Which is why I look forward to graduating in 3 months. Its hard to maintain work when my schedule changes every 7 weeks.
I really understand what you mean about burning bridges. I've been a cna/gna for 2.5 years, and in that time I've had 4 jobs. One I'm still currently at, one that I kept for a year (and left under somewhat bad terms), and the other two I kept for a mere two months each. I'm going to be eligible to sit for my NCLEX-PN in about 5 months, and when it comes time to job hunt, I wonder will my past work history keep me from obtaining a job. I'm really miserable at my current job, but I don't think it would be wise to look for another CNA job since I won't be one too much longer. I guess my advice to you (and to me, as well lol) would be try & stick it out @ your current job? At this stage in your career, I think it's best to try and maintain a good professional relationship with your current employers, so when it comes time to job hunt as an RN, you'll have positive references to use. Good luck !!
the biggest problem is juggling work and school. which is why i look forward to graduating in 3 months. its hard to maintain work when my schedule changes every 7 weeks.
please keep this in mind when you apply for jobs.... many places rotate shifts a lot more often than that... don't set yourself up for more bumpy track records :)
I understand that its hard to study and work. I did it too through 4 years of school. However, it's up to you to decide how much you can and want to work, and stick to something. Your future employers won't care about that reasoning if what they notice is a pattern of changing jobs. Many, many of us had to work through school. It's tough, but doable.
If you strongly dislike peds hh, don't take the position.
You are not the right fit for the child and their family.
Children are vulnerable enough when they are sick and in need of care.
I couldn't agree more. I do this line of work and it is painfully obvious to me and the poor family if you dislike this line of work. These kids and their families have enough to deal with without having a nurse who can't stand being there. I'd search for that job you really want and would actually like to do and let this one go.
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
The title says it all. Since May I have not had a stable job. Prior I held two nursing positions a year each. Prior to becoming a nurse I worked as CNA and had two jobs. One job I kept for 3 years the other 2 years.
So I know have the potential to be stable, until I get into a specialty.
There is a school of belief that the personality is a genetic template that we as individuals act and react within the realms of this template.
Think of the genetic template as a pinball machine or a computer program. There are a multitude of variables that may occur. However the pinball machine isn't going to vend you a snack and the computer program isn't going to do anything outside of the realms of its abilities. So it is with us and our personalities.
This concept has aided me in dealing with circumstances not unlike yours, NurseLoveJoy. For one reason or another, I worked a multitude of positions and burned many bridges behind me. Usually they were instances of someone putting personalities before principles. I have my limitations on the extent of what I will do and what I won't and that's that. It's one of the many reasons I became a Nurse: I get to pick and choose were I will and won't work.
Now, please don't get me wrong- if you are working on bettering yourself and growing and not being such a flibberty gibbert, I'm all for that. But the school of thought to which I referred basically says you can't really change who you are. It's like James Taylor sang, "You can play the game and act out the part, though you know it wasn't written for you."
Even Joseph Campbell alluded to the belief that it takes paramount trials and trbulations in order to experience an illuminating revelation that is enough to change one's consciousness.
So, what do we do? Do we continue on a path that we believe is self-defeating? Not if we're blessed with the power of self-awareness as you obviously are, NurseLoveJoy.
What we do is this: We "accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, and don't mess with Mr. Inbetween". We become aware of our positive and negative attributes and use those attributes to our advantage. As we draw toward the positive energies, the negative attributes become more malleable and easier to work on.
I could write a pages on the process giving specific perspectives and methods. However, I don't have the fortitude or inspiration to do so in a one way conversation, so please allow me to plant a seed.
Just consider the theory that it's not you who needs to change- it's the environs in which you operate that require some adjustments.
DookieMeisterRN
315 Posts
I have several friends who are managers and definitely pass over hiring anyone who doesn't stay in previous positions at least 2 years. This can catch up with you when you're looking for an RN position. Pick one job and stick with it before it's too late!