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.

[stickit34]

Looking back, I'm glad I left my med-surg job after one year. The staffing ratios were absolutely ridiculous, the expectations were even worse and it was a dangerous environment. It's hilarious because the hospital itself is ranked one of the highest in the state and is Magnet status. Big difference THAT makes.

I had gotten accepted into grad school, and needed a different schedule that my old job refused to accommodate to. Now I will be at a job I love for at least four years. So no, I don't feel bad at all for leaving after one year.

[Beautiful Mind RN]

Everyone has an opinion but I must say, from my own experience and from what I have heard from family members and friends who come from all sorts of job backgrounds, such as engineering, people leave before the 1 year mark all the time to pursue a better job.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, 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.

I would be suing that place in a heartbeat-with my malpractice insurance (something much more important to have to assist in keeping my license intact).

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

Meh. I believe that there are definitely people who will cut and run at the first sign of a job being anything less than ideal, and that's their prerogative. I personally think it doesn't look great on a resume, but that's my two cents.

[mhy12784]

I think the better question is why are so many people in charge of units where nurses frequently leave in under a year ?

Im sure theres a decent number who had a completely unrealistic of view of what life as a nurse is actually alike and are shocked by the real world.

But for the rest? If you have a great culture/unit I dont think most people are going to leave you for a small chunk of change (would anyone leave a job they LOVED for the same position elsewhere for 3-4$ an hour more ?)

Units that have high turnover are clearly doing something wrong (whether theyre recruiting the wrong people, or not retaining them). And people leaving hurts those units (which are doing things wrong). As far as im concerned its simple capitalism. The better hospitals/units will thrive and ultimately be more successful. The poorly run ones will fail

[itrust]

Well, it's a message board. What would have people express other than their own views?

You clearly did non understand my post. Having a stance on something is one thing, but dismissing other people's behavior or actions as "hogwash" simply because it is not aligned with what you would do is silly.

As someone who is a practicing Catholic, I would never get an abortion. However, if someone else wants to; it is their life, their decision, their body. "My" world view should not be everyone's world view, and I have nothing to say regarding the matter. If someone asks, I may opine as to what I would do but I would never present it in a way that makes it seem that my way is the ONLY way. If OP wants to stay at her employer for one year or more then that is fine, but if someone else does not, to dismiss their decision as hogwash or unprofessional is condescending.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Eh, but if we didn't have posts like this, what fun would it be?

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

OP, you're awfully quiet. I would love to hear your thoughts after 4 pages of rebuttals.

Klone, you are too funny. Im dying laughing at your post.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Thanks. I'm here all week.

[ArrowRN, BSN, 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.

I think the future of the healthcare industry is in the hands of nurses. From my short time working as a tech, I think home and community health is the future and hospital systems where patients are treated like slabs of processed meat on a conveyor belt and nurses like robots who do nothing but chart on a computer and pass medications. That model is not last very long unless major changes are made. The more nurses leave this environment and become NP's, start businesses and set their own destiny the better it would be for everyone involved. Once I gain adequate experiences and get an advanced degree, I'm stepping out on my own to do as much as my license would allow.

[Wrench Party]

I unexpectedly found myself in a position to bounce at the 1-year mark for one of those 'dream jobs'. I work hours more aligned to

my friends and family, the pay is better, I have great coworkers, and I'm learning new skills and a specialty. My previous job was ok, but the leadership and professional development was lacking. I wasn't working in my scope of practice as an RN. If another great opportunity had come up before this, I would have gone for that too.

[scaredsilly, BSN, RN]

wow. just wow!

I kinda thought that we were working to further our careers, get experience, help patients, and earn a livable wage. Seems to me to do that, we need to work in an environment where we can learn and thrive. Seems to me that is an individual choice.

Many new grads feel forced to take the first job they can get because jobs are not easy to get, so if the environment seems toxic, the patient load is too high for our level of training, the preceptors are not teaching us (or are abusive which I have seen here), the training is not up to par so that we can protect our license, or the situation is in any way not a good one we have the right to leave if something better comes along. Too bad the OP disapproves-I'm sure we all care a lot what she (or he) thinks! (NOT)

Be real, most nurses do not fall into their dream job the first offer they get. Some are 'stuck' because they can't afford to leave, others get lucky and get a job offer that fits their lifestyle better or is better pay or is the kind of nursing that they want so they leave to pursue the opportunity. None of us have a crystal ball. none of us can say "oh, I will turn this one down cuz my dream unit is gonna call next Tuesday".

We do what is ultimately best for ourselves, that's called living life! The pursuit of happiness may just mandate we don't stay a year! It is always best to give proper notice, but no one is going to stay a year to make the OP happy.

OP-If you just happen to be my boss---well you don't know who I am, so I stand by what I said!