If you accept a job, stay at least a year

[Emergent]

I see a lot of people here, especially newer nurses, tell us that they got this cruddy job, and they are looking for their dream job. They will quit a job 2 months into it when said dream job comes up.

I just want to go on record here. I disapprove of that and feel like it's unprofessional. You wouldn't see other professions behave like that. Can you imagine an engineer or a lawyer, or any other of the real professions, taking a position, then quitting in 3 months to take another one. No, that is behavior of fast food workers and mini-mart employees.

I don't know why managers are even interested in nurses who do that. It's like dating a man who is cheating on his wife. Do you really think he's not going to eventually do that to you as well?

Maybe it would elevate the profession if nurses signed employment contracts like other professions do.

I hear people here complain that, 'I don't want to risk my license!' where they are now working. I think that's a bunch of hooey. They are trying to sugar coat their unprofessional decision to leave a job shortly after being trained with high and mighty hogwash. People don't lose their license for working in a less than stellar institution.

And there you have it, my two cents.

[casi, ASN, RN]

Emergent those rose-colored glasses look really nice on you.

I think the problem right now is you see a lot of nurses being pushed into crappy jobs in order to get "experience." These jobs don't respect or care for their workers. They give their nurses ridiculous work loads and then write up nurses for working overtime. Why should a nurse feel any loyalty towards them?

[VANurse2010]

Emergent - I respect where you're coming from - I just don't think it's rooted in the reality of the modern workplace. It's everyone for themselves - nobody is going to have your back, least of all your employer.

[chiandre]

Emergent, I usually agree with you but not with this posting!

Traditionally, nurses bend backwards for their employers while their employers mistreat them. Since we spend most of our waking hours at work, I refuse to work in a place where I am used, degraded, not supported, violated emotionally and threatened.

I am one of those nurses who will not stay in an unfavorable working condition. I refuse to regret my professional life by sticking around to please other people while I suffer in every way.

When I graduated, I stayed in the first facility that hired me for only one day after orientation. WHY? Because I could have killed patients - The work load was horrendous and the support from leadership was non-existent. My assigned preceptor berated me in front of my co-workers and doctors. I was left alone to medicate patients. At one point, I complained to the manager who rudely told me that my preceptor had to go to a meeting. I did not know how I managed, but I did not kill anybody. I went home, called the manager and resigned immediately!

I did not regret that resignation because it made me into the nurse that I am today - dedicated, efficient and easy-to-get-along with. I see many nurses frustrated to the extent of abusing illicit substances or committing suicide because they want to be the "good, professional nurse."

Nurses, if you are miserable, DO NOT be afraid to change your life. DO not sacrifice yourself for unfair working conditions! Continue your education so that you can actually tell employers what you want, how much you want to make, and what to do with their job!

[TU RN, DNP, CRNA]

When nurses are treated like professionals (i.e. lawyers and attorneys), then and only then would I expect them to treat their employment as professionals. As long as nurses are treated by employers like expendable, blue collar workers I have no problem with them responding to their employment as expendable, blue collar workers.

[Mr. Murse]

WRONG. It is not a family issue or a moral issue. It's called knowing employers in today's job market aren't going to be loyal to you either. Why should you be loyal to them? An employer where I live recently decided to lay off all nurses with 20+ years of experience to save.

I hate this mentality. I'm loyal and try to give my best to anything that's worth spending the valuable hours of my life on. Work ethic is independent of your situation.

Now, by this I don't mean let the job run over you, there is big difference. If you are being mistreated then you have a right to stand up for yourself and do what needs to be done, but going in with the mentality of "they're doing it so I will too" is just pitiful.

So if your job went and jumped over a cliff would you do it too? ha.

[ArtClassRN, ADN, RN]

I know a nurse, "Beth" who lost her license for working in a less than stellar institution. I know this because I worked there as a CNA.

One day during her shift, she found her med cart unlocked and a bunch of percocet missing. She reported it immediately, but she was sure she never left her med cart unlocked. She was fired, reported and had her license suspended by the BON.

A short time later, the manager of her floor no show/no called for an entire weekend. He had been on a bender. He tested positive for narcotics and he knew his only recourse was to admit he had a substance abuse problem and go into a rehab program instead of getting fired.

His desk was searched and a large amount of pills was found. Since he counted pills in an out, he was able to conceal much of his theft. He admitted stealing the percocet from Beth's med carts using the spare keys.

Beth asked the facility (a horrible SNF) to report the admission to the board.

They refused.

Anyone working for that facility needs to find another job immediately. A month, a week, a day after they are hired.

The entire OP is nonsense.

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

I agree with the previous posters. It is immature and inconsiderate to accept and start a postion knowing full well you won't be around long (and not informing the employer at the time of hiring). Many companies invest a lot of time, resources and money into training new staff. However, there are also employers who hire starry-eyed new grad and fill them with empty promises. These new employees then begin their new job and soon realize they're working in an understaffed, unsafe, poorly run facility. In this case, I wouldn't feel the least bit guilty leaving regardless of how long I had been there. Everyone ultimately has to look out for themselves.

I.m a new grad working as a tech. I will be taking nclex soon. At the time my manager said they would hire me once i become an RN. Now that manger is gone to a new position. The new manager says they are filled and have enough new grad RN's and Ill have to try another floor after taking nclex. These people do not care about us. Once i get my RN I have no choice but to look out for myself.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Spending life we cannot get back on an employer that doesn't give a rat's behind about staff...

[firstinfamily, RN]

Protecting your license is your priority, no one else is going to do this for you. If you are working in unsafe conditions or being put into situations that risk your license all the time, then it is time to leave. Do you think the facility will back you when you go to court for some error that caused harm to a patient?? Loyalty is one thing, but protecting your license is totally on you. I have refused assignments before because the "charge" nurse did not take into account the acuity level of the patients. I have given a syringe of KCL to a MD to inject when he was telling me to do it-----it was his mistake, not mine!! I have had upper management who did not care about how many patients you were taking care of as long as their monthly reviews showed that the budget was being met. Yes, we do have a right to move onto another, better opportunity. If more facilities were up front with their hiring information and kept their promises, they would not lose so much staff. If administration realized how thin they stretch nursing and yet want to have ratings of "five" from the patient reviews, they would understand how it takes good, dedicated workers with a positive environment to make a positive outcome.

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

Nursing isn't servitude, it's a business relationship. Treat employees right and you shouldn't have a retention problem.

[RNperdiem, RN]

We are living in a time of change. You can see it here in the generational change that values freedom more than loyalty, individual merit over seniority. Nurses live in limbo neither quite professional nor blue collar.

Working a year in a place you don't want to work is often a strategic decision a new grad makes to be able to land a better job. An experienced nurse can spot a troubled workplace quickly. I can't blame them for wanting to get out quickly.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

In a perfect world I'd agree with you OP, but this is far from a perfect world. Long gone are the days when an employer showed loyalty to their employees. We seem to be completely interchangeable parts to the employer, if one part doesn't work for any reason they just get another one. There isn't really any incentive for an employee to stay with a single employer long term anymore, and that's true in most fields,not just nursing. So I say in this tough economy and job market, if something better comes along go for it!

That being said...I have been with the same employer for going on 20 years, so it is possible to find a good fit and stay with it.