Job Hopping.........a bad thing??

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

So as my experince describes I am looking for my niche in nursing. Before I became a nurse I had a pretty stable job history, my first job ever was there for 8 years.

Now as a nurse I have been home health 5 months,

then a LTAC/SNF for 7.5 months, I then transfered within the company to another SNF because that SNF offered 12 hour day shifts, I wanted that because I picked up a on-call position with a pedsLTC and I wanted to available to work the peds job.

After 4 months of working 2 jobs, the pedsLTC offered me a part-time night shift, which I took because I love that job, it is low stress for the most part.

So I left the SNF after 4 months, but all totaled it was 11 months with the one company just 2 different facilities.

Anywas a while ago I applied to a Kaiser facility, before I was offered the position which I currently have, anyways they called last Thursday to schedule an interview with them for a med-surg position.

I don't have any acute care experience, so I would love to get an acute care position to gain the expereince, however I have only been at my pedsLTC job for 4 months and I if (I know it is a big if) but if I get the Kaiser job it would mean changing jobs again and that would look bad

Career wise I think that I should stay with the peds job as I would like to one day work NICU, but then I know before I can specialize I need acute care

Then I think of my family needs and I am a single parent wanting to purchase my first home for my kids and I can not do that on a part time position

So should I call and scheule the interview?

What would you do?

The peds job is part of a large 5 state health system and I fear if I left too soon I could be blackballed from working there again.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

OK....can't keep up....

probably not great...but do what you have to do :)

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

I have a question about your job-hopping. Did you get an increase in pay every time you changed your job?

A co-worker and I were talking about job-hopping, and based on her experience, it was the only way she was able to increase her pay significantly.

I've never been a job-hopper, even in my previous career, but in nursing, I wonder if TPTB value retention through compensation. (In my previous career, I interviewed with a different department for the same company and got an offer for an immediate pay increase to the next promotional level and the promotion proper within a year if I didn't transfer. I stayed.) If not, I might just become one after my initial two years are up.

[txredheadnurse, BSN, RN]

I have a question about your job-hopping. Did you get an increase in pay every time you changed your job?

A co-worker and I were talking about job-hopping, and based on her experience, it was the only way she was able to increase her pay significantly.

I've never been a job-hopper, even in my previous career, but in nursing, I wonder if TPTB value retention through compensation. (In my previous career, I interviewed with a different department for the same company and got an offer for an immediate pay increase to the next promotional level and the promotion proper within a year if I didn't transfer. I stayed.) If not, I might just become one after my initial two years are up.

In a word NO.

[caliotter3]

These days we gotta do what we gotta do. Employers are aware that it is a different employment world and most will not hold changing jobs against you. You are able to give a valid reason for your changes. Your job to job movements are not based on being gently pushed or thrown out of the door and you are able to express that. Good luck.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

I got increases based on total years experience...not each job. This was back in the mid 80s in Texas- when there was a shortage- and it was common to jump around some.... I got various experience that way- and never "hated" nursing.

NOW, it seems that it's risky to take off unless you've got some good info that the new place isn't going to downsize anytime soon....last in= first out.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

career wise i think that i should stay with the peds job as i would like to one day work nicu, but then i know before i can specialize i need acute care

then i think of my family needs and i am a single parent wanting to purchase my first home for my kids and i can not do that on a part time position

so should i call and scheule the interview?

what would you do?

the peds job is part of a large 5 state health system and i fear if i left too soon i could be blackballed from working there again.

being blackballed is a very real possibility. your job history does not indicate stability, and if you came looking for a job in my unit, that would count against you.

[rich2008]

Do what works best for YOU. In this day and age, companies for the most part do not value or care about their workers. Take care of yourself, "they" won't.

Don't make decisions based on what someone might think down the road. They might not come down the road anyway!

Go for it!

[RNfaster]

Business is business...for the employers and for you. Why anyone should not understand why you would give up a part-time job to take a full-time one is beyond me. You have bills to pay, just as employers do.

[Wabi Sabi, BSN, RN]

Take whatever is BEST for you and your family.

[RNewbie]

It is possible that you could burn bridges with that company and be unemployable with them again, but you gotta do what's best for you. If you are concerned about looking like a job hopper you can fix your resume so it won't look the way you stated. I would just list the company name as the employer, under that you can list the different facilities you worked for with them so it won't seem like a lot of back and forth between jobs. It will just appear that you worked for xyz company for 11 months at various facilities. Good luck.

[prettymica, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN, APRN, NP]

Stay prn just in case