Is it tacky/disrespectful to do this?

Published

Hi all,

I'm a new grad RN who got her first real nursing job working at a SNF. The SNF I work at is attached to a hospital, which while I was originally not excited to work at a SNF I was excited for the opportunity for advancement into the hospital into one of their med/surg units, etc. Turns out, I really do like working at the SNF. I like my coworkers, the residents, and feel comfortable here. But working at a SNF is not part of my long term goals.

I have worked at the SNF for four months now, so I am just about to get off my probationary "new hire" period soon. Therefore, I wanted to try applying to the hospital and see if I can get a job there, because I feel as if working in Med/Surg would at least get me closer to my ultimate goal of doing something more acute, such as critical care.

But my dilemma is that I feel like I'm disrespecting my employers at the SNF for "jumping ship" basically as soon as I can to work over at the hospital. My ideal situation would be to work at the SNF per diem every other weekend (which is what they originally hired me for, but of course they have me in a 32hr/week position still even with my per diem role). I do feel obligated to them to give them at least a year of my time since they were the first people to believe in me and offer me a job. I don't want anyone to be disappointed or judge me that I would either leave the SNF completely or go down to working there every other weekend.

One last detail: My boyfriend and I do plan to leave the area and move up closer back home where he would have a lot more opportunities to get a job in the field he's about to join. So even if I do apply to the hospital and got a job, I would only stay at the unit for 7 months at most because our lease is up in September and we would move back up closer to our families. So that's another added stress of secretly not even giving the hospital unit a year of my time for being so generous and hiring a new grad onto their unit.

Should I just avoid all this mess and work solely at the SNF for now? Or should I be a little more "selfish" and see if I can get a job that would give me more opportunities to advance to critical care even though I'd secretly only work there for 7 months? I would have to try and find a new job in September despite what I do in this situation because we will 100% be moving away, and I'm not sure if a year's worth of just working at a SNF will give me the best chances at getting a new job rather than working at the SNF *AND* working at the attached hospital for ~7mo would. I could also just apply to a different hospital that's much closer to where I live and tell the SNF that I can't do the commute anymore. But there's still the issue of only giving that hospital 7 months of my time.

This all makes me feel so fake and self absorbed, like I'm not considering what anyone else's feelings or staffing needs are :( Am I overthinking everything?? :dead::bag:

Thank you for reading my rambles, I appreciate any input or advice you all have for me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

Apply for a hospital job at the new place instead.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You are over thinking things a bit. That being said, the key piece that jumps out to me is that you will be leaving the other job in a few months due to relocating. This would then show as 2 jobs on your resume that you left (for whatever the reason) in about the same time frame.

I, literally just got my RN this week, but my career for the past 12 years has had a lot of resumes review and interviewing. I would put your resume in the reject pile because I have no reason to think you wouldn't leave the position in 6 months too.

If you thought you would be at the new job for 1-2 years, I would say go for it.

Staying part time at the current position would also work, as then you just look as if you had 2 jobs at the same time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Blow their socks off at the SNF, work on the rehab unit to gain admit, wound, IV therapy experience and study up on meds and conditions typically seen on Med surg. Then make a cover letter/resume outlining how well you can manage your unit while continuing to grow your nursing and patient care knowledge. Your managers won't resent you leaving due to a relocation after giving them a full year near as much as shorting two different opportunities and will be more likely to give you glowing references.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You're not disrespecting them you are going for your goals.. I have similar plans myself. A good way to leave on a good note would be to write a letter to all the staff thanking them for being a part of your awesome experience, and maybe throw in some baked goods :)

There's nothing wrong with moving on and nothing wrong with staying in one area. To each their own.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.

Imagine how your prospective employers in the new city will look at your resume. Someone with 4 months of SNF and 7 months of Med/Surg searching for their 3rd job in under a year may rub some HR people the wrong way. Someone with 11 months of steady SNF experience seeking a new job because she's relocating looks better, IMO.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Imagine how your prospective employers in the new city will look at your resume. Someone with 4 months of SNF and 7 months of Med/Surg searching for their 3rd job in under a year may rub some HR people the wrong way. Someone with 11 months of steady SNF experience seeking a new job because she's relocating looks better, IMO.

This may be true I didn't even think of that. Think it through. But eventually you will leave, and when you do, please don't feel like you're being disrespectful. Everyone starts somewhere

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yup just stay where you are and apply at your new location.... Some places will not even interview you because it looks like you just job jump.... Get experience and stay where you are apply to the hospital at your new location. Consistent work looks better on a resume. Trust me I was in the same boat and I did get the why did you leave this job why did you do this oh well that doesn't look great it looks like you don't know what you want to do...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Imagine how your prospective employers in the new city will look at your resume. Someone with 4 months of SNF and 7 months of Med/Surg searching for their 3rd job in under a year may rub some HR people the wrong way. Someone with 11 months of steady SNF experience seeking a new job because she's relocating looks better, IMO.

This exactly! Some managers/HRs will look at this and think that you didn't make if off of orientation at two different jobs and not hire you because of that. You don't want to run that risk.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Job hopping is deadly on a resume. Stay where you are until you move. That is a reason for leaving that will not be held against you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I am not a goody two-shoes, nor do I labor under the impression that employers are 100% fair and equitable to nurses (although mine is). However, having a decent understanding of the massive costs invested in a new nurse's orientation & training, I would not do to a facility/unit what you are contemplating. I just couldn't do it for the sole reason of personal convenience or benefit.

Fortunately, others have given good advice regarding the appearance of job-hunting, so I think you will not use that option.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
You're not disrespecting them you are going for your goals.. I have similar plans myself. A good way to leave on a good note would be to write a letter to all the staff thanking them for being a part of your awesome experience, and maybe throw in some baked goods :)

There's nothing wrong with moving on and nothing wrong with staying in one area. To each their own.

Baked goods and a nice letter does nothing for a job hopper's resume. And yes, it IS disrespectful to waste others' time, energy and $$$, all the while planning to move on.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion