Is moving around in your career as an RN really all that easy?

SharonH, RN · Jan 13, 2009

Moving around to different specialties depends on your location as well as your circumstance. In my career(18 years), I've worked in acute care in several types of hospitals, as well as research, occupational health, corrections, home health, pre-surgical testing, disease management and various temporary jobs. The flexibility and opportunity to do different things is what attracted me to nursing and I'll be darned if I don't take advantage of that.

I live in an urban area and the opportunities are here. However someone in a rural area might not find it so easy to find other jobs. Also I haven't worked at the bedside in almost 6 years so if I wanted to work in some sort of acute care setting I might not be able to do that without going through some sort of refresher course, so in that way I'm limited. But you do have to be open to doing something different and the jobs might not be where you might normally look. It just depends.

sunray12 · Jan 13, 2009

This is like asking why someone is overweight when they can change their diet and start exercising tomorrow. Anyone can change if they decide to do it, but it takes effort. e.g., I'm not a nurse yet but I'm in the process of switching careers now. Is this process easy? No, but I am doing it because I have put my mind to it, therefore it will be accomplished. I'm not sure why there are grown folk here looking for easy because every adult should know better than that. There is always going to be effort required.

Jo Dirt · Jan 13, 2009

It's not that easy, especially in the rural areas.

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2009

It just depends on whether the person hiring you thinks that you can adjust to the new job environment. Can you go from bedside nursing to telephone triage? Yes, but you must have the typing skills and the vocal personality to do it. Can you go from med surg to surgery? Yes, but you must be trained for a certain period of time until you are good enough...

It is the same with every aspect of nursing. The new employer must be willing to train you to their specifications. You're a nurse with a license, but you still must learn a new job. You can't just go in there and know everything there is to know about forensics or case management or school nursing.

angel337, MSN, RN · Jan 13, 2009

i think alot of nurses that stay in jobs they hate do it because they are insecure about doing something else and if they have been at their current job for any length of time, its scary to leave and be the new kid on the block all over again. becoming to complacent and comfortable can really hurt you. but the reality is if a nurse is truly miserable and doesn't make an effort to do better, the only person to blame would be oneself. nurses have more opportunities than the average person to move around in different job sectors, but you can't be afraid to take those opportunies.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2009

I think time-in-grade plays a big part. People get seniority and privileges based upon how long they have been at a place and don't want to start over again at the bottom of the ladder. Also, if they are in a place with a pension /good retirement package, they may be throwing that away for a new, untested employer they may not like any more than the old one.

I'm a career change nurse. Job switches can play havoc on retirement planning and savings. My old pals at my first professional job (non-nursing) are all retired now in their 50's with lifetime health benefits and pensions. I'll be working until I am 66+. Am I going to abandon my current employer who has a fabulous pension plan? Not very likely.

Doesn't prevent any of us from complaining, tho!

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jan 13, 2009

I think time-in-grade plays a big part. People get seniority and privileges based upon how long they have been at a place and don't want to start over again at the bottom of the ladder. Also, if they are in a place with a pension /good retirement package, they may be throwing that away for a new, untested employer they may not like any more than the old one.
I'm a career change nurse. Job switches can play havoc on retirement planning and savings. My old pals at my first professional job (non-nursing) are all retired now in their 50's with lifetime health benefits and pensions. I'll be working until I am 66+. Am I going to abandon my current employer who has a fabulous pension plan? Not very likely.
Doesn't prevent any of us from complaining, tho!

Oh, most definitely! After a certain point, people are not so ready to jump from the frying pan into the fire of uncharted waters. I constantly think about my pension, retirement plan, union benefits and many other things that I have grown accustomed to. I would be taking a risk at this stage of the game by leaving this place where I do have seniority to other hospitals that are laying off nurses. And, for sure, I wish I was in the position of your friends...retire at 50?? A pipe dream for me... :scrying:

RNperdiem, RN · Jan 13, 2009

There is always a trade-off.

The job away from the bedside might require more advanced education, pay less or have special requirements like being bilingual,or having public speaking/presentation skills or specialized experience.

A new nurse is unlikely to land a job as a transplant coordinator, case manager, or nurse educator without bedside experience.

"Nice and comfy" and "less stressful" are in short supply in nursing. If these positions exist, openings are few and far between.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Jan 13, 2009

"Less stressful" is also relative. I left a high-pressure management position late last year to become an LTC charge nurse (which is where I started as a new RN 12 years ago) and my stress level is almost nonexistent now. The only thing that bugs me about this job is the phone---I hate being interrupted for things that an office person or an aide could just as easily handle. Other than that, there's no pressure: I come in, I do my job to the best of my ability and make sure the aides are doing theirs, and then I hand over the keys to the next shift......simple.

Caffeine_IV · Jan 13, 2009

It's doable but I won't say it's easy. Those cushy positions are often very competitive.