Leave new job I just started for a better one?

[Reaz, BSN]

Hi!!

So I just started a new job in pre/post op. Some background info- I was a new grad and started my first job on surgical/tele and I was there for 8 months. That’s when I applied for an internal transfer to pre/post op and I was hired and just started this Monday! Biggest pro to this transfer was that it was the unit I wanted with day shift, M-F scheduling. Major con: I live in the city and this job was a transfer to a different hospital 40 miles away. I couldn’t get anything else in the city with this kind of schedule or unit and this was extremely important to me.

So of course with my luck, my first day on the floor I get a call about a PACU position I applied for in the city very close to where I live. It’s not at a hospital, but a surgical center. My immediate reaction was “absolutely not, I just started this job and cannot get up and walk out.” But after I started talking to a bunch of people about it, almost everyone said “you don’t owe them anything, do what’s better for you.” I am a people pleaser so this is very hard for me. Anyway, I didn’t even get any offer yet, but do I even entertain the idea and interview with her? I’m scared it’s going to sound amazing and then it will just tempt me and I will go through an agonizing decision making process. I can’t keep job hopping either since I left my first one so soon. I know I’m getting ahead of myself because i didn’t even get an offer, but if it’s a terrible idea then I don’t even want to follow through with it. I also wouldn’t even consider it unless it felt considerably better than my new current job (location is a major plus though). Also, it would be 4 day’s a week versus 5 with a better shift time than the job I just started.

one more piece of info: the hospital system I am a part of is one of the biggest in the Midwest with many hospitals and clinics. I definitely don’t want to burn any bridges.

I just want honest advice please:) this is a very controversial topic.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't be surprised if doing it constitutes burning a bridge. How badly do you NOT want to do that?

"You don't owe them anything." Do you agree with that mindset?

How has your current employer treated you?

[Davey Do]

In my career, I had to kiss a lot of Warhols before I found my Rembrandt. Some Warhol kisses were long, passionately deep ones which lasted for several years. Other kisses were pecks on the cheek and I was off!

I've been with my Rembrandt now for 17 years now. And like the man in the old Geritol TV commercial stated, "I think I'll keep her".

Good luck to you, Reaz!

[adventure_rn, MSN, NP]

2 hours ago, Jedrnurse said:

I wouldn't be surprised if doing it constitutes burning a bridge. How badly do you NOT want to do that?

"You don't owe them anything." Do you agree with that mindset?

How has your current employer treated you?

Very good point.

True, you don't 'owe' them anything, but they might not see it that way. They've paid tens of thousands of dollars to onboard and orient you as a new grad. During your orientation they were paying two full nursing salaries (yours and your preceptor's) for the work of only one nurse. Assuming your new grad orientation lasted around two months, they only got about six months of work as a return on their investment. They spent the effort and resources on getting you a transfer you'd be quitting immediately.

I'm not saying this make you feel guilty; healthcare is a business, and you don't owe them anything. However, I just want to clarify that you realistically could jeopardize your ability to be hired into that system in the future.

Even though you're happy with outpatient now, do you think you could ever see yourself back in the hospital setting? Are there other hospital systems in your area besides the one that you'd be leaving? All things to consider.

That other offer does sound tempting for all of the reason you've described, but don't let the short-term benefits cloud your understanding of the long-term repercussions.

["nursy", RN]

First of all, it doesn't hurt anything to interview. If you don't get it/like it, well then you're back where you started. If it is an amazing opportunity, then you should pursue it, but do everything right. Talk to your supervisor, give the proper amount of notice, submit your resignation letter. If you do everything right, no bridges should be burned. You could also have a conversation with HR to verify the above. Good luck!

[Hani, BSN, RN, EMT-I]

deleted- read too fast and missed that you hadn't had an offer from the new place, so nevermind.

[old&improved]

I have known a couple of people who quit our hospital and were not eligible for rehire. One was because she was a new grad who didn't complete the 1 year requirement before leaving for greener pastures and the other didn't give notice. Both later wanted to come back and the hospital would not rehire them. I would consider sticking it out in this new position. Especially since this is a corporate hospital that owns almost every medical facility around you. What if you take the new position and you are unhappy there? You won't know whether this is your dream job until you have been there awhile. What if your lifes circumstances change and you need to work nights or weekends? Unless open positions at this other place are extremely rare or you're fairly certain you will be miserable at your present job I would give your current job at least a year and then possibly reapply at this other place.

[verene, MSN]

If you don't want to burn bridges stay where you are at - you're on your second job in less than a year.

[Reaz, BSN]

I have decided to stick with this job and not burn any bridges. I like this job, and I accepted the position knowing I would have to commute, so I can’t complain about it now. Thanks for all of the advice, you did help me make that decision.

[Reaz, BSN]

On 1/9/2020 at 4:39 AM, adventure_rn said:

Very good point.

True, you don't 'owe' them anything, but they might not see it that way. They've paid tens of thousands of dollars to onboard and orient you as a new grad. During your orientation they were paying two full nursing salaries (yours and your preceptor's) for the work of only one nurse. Assuming your new grad orientation lasted around two months, they only got about six months of work as a return on their investment. They spent the effort and resources on getting you a transfer you'd be quitting immediately.

I'm not saying this make you feel guilty; healthcare is a business, and you don't owe them anything. However, I just want to clarify that you realistically could jeopardize your ability to be hired into that system in the future.

Even though you're happy with outpatient now, do you think you could ever see yourself back in the hospital setting? Are there other hospital systems in your area besides the one that you'd be leaving? All things to consider.

That other offer does sound tempting for all of the reason you've described, but don't let the short-term benefits cloud your understanding of the long-term repercussions.

You’re right. There is definitely a lot of money invested in new grads. I already felt terrible leaving my first job so soon but I was absolutely miserable so I had to do that. But at the end of the day I would never have it in me to leave this job right away.

I also want to go to PA school, so I’d like to not hurt my chances of getting a job as a PA within the system.

Thanks for your advice:)

[londonflo]

On 1/9/2020 at 4:16 AM, Davey Do said:

I've been with my Rembrandt now for 17 years now

I know this is an old post...but I remember the theft of the Rembrandt "Storm on the Sea of Galilee" occurred 31 years ago. So you have it?

(I gotta say I am envious of your retirement plan)  ?