Leaving at 6 months in?

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Hey everyone!

I hope I'm posting this in the right forum. I'm a new grad with 5 months of experience on an ortho/med-surg floor. I've been looking for labor and delivery jobs lately and I finally secured an interview at a local hospital!

I just wanted some unbiased opinions about how it could affect my professional career if I were to leave my current job at 6 months (by the time I work out a notice, it will be about 6 months). I know I don't have an offer yet and I certainly won't leave my current job until I do, but I have always loved L&D. I wanted to work in L&D before graduating, but I was offered my current job and L&D wasn't hiring.

With all of that being said, I feel like I have given ortho a good shot and I have learned so much already about being a nurse. However, L&D positions don't come around too often where I live. I just wanted to hear some feedback from everyone!

Thanks!

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22 Answers

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Just don't make a habit of it. Once is fine, but you will need to stick with it no matter what for a good 2 years or risk looking like a job hopper.

Specializes in TBI and SCI.

I'm farely new also but I will say this: did you not have instructors in school who would say "oh when I was LTC or when I was at hospital x and hospital b then nursing home x..." I had so many instructors who worked in so many different areas of nursing it honestly made them so knowledgeable and such good instructors. They didn't have bad attitudes so they weren't getting fired they would leave for a new experience or better pay. I see it common in nursing. Nurses leave for better pay or better schedules.

I don't think leaving 6 months in is bad. Your new employer will see it as OK you are landing your dream job.... That's why you are leaving your current place. Hen of you leave there for another l&d they will see you are leaving because it's a better opportunity but you are in the same field of nursing.

You haven't worked a month and said OK bye... You have a good foundation. I don't think you have to worry!

Congrats on on getting your dream field! ? good luck

Specializes in SICU/CVICU.

And people wonder why experienced nurses don't want to be preceptors. Who wants to expend their time and energy in being an engaged preceptor when they leave after a couple of months. This is why I don't want to precept anymore.

A lot of nursing school instructors will mention how bad it is to look like a "job-hopper"....and a lot of nursing school instructors have been away from the bedside for 10 or 20 years. In the current economy, it's up to individuals and businesses to protect their own interests as best they can. If you can get a better offer (better work, better pay, better commute, better environment, whatever), go for it. Even if your current manager is really nice and you like the job, it could change....hospitals watch their bottom line, and your nice manager will let you go if that's what the administrators say. I don't think there's really any reward for loyalty to jobs anymore - in fact, you probably end up with better pay if you switch companies more often.

Specializes in Med-Surg.

Others may disagree with me, but I say you should do what is best for you.

You are correct that L&D/women's jobs do not come up often. It can be difficult to transition into if you don't get hired as a new grad. If it is your goal to work there, and you are given this opportunity, I would take it.

Be cautious that this move could burn bridges with your current employer. While the move may be the best thing for YOU, it will inconvenience your unit. It could hurt your chance of being hired back into the hospital system in the future.

Weigh the pros and cons, do what is best for you. I agree with the above poster that there isn't much reward for job loyalty anymore.

Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I'll give you a brief version of my own story, similar to your own.

After applying like CRAZY for anything I could stomach, I finally landed a position in outpatient urology with a major health system. It was a far cry from my dream of L&D, but it was full time work with clinic hours, and the people were awesome. And it was EXPERIENCE. I very gently put out a few feelers a few months in, not really expecting anything to happen. I figured I'd be at this job for a few years, and I wouldn't leave for anything short of my dream job. I turned down a few positions along the way, because they just weren't the right fit. Then I got a call within the same hospital system for a L&D training position. They were sending people to classes with a new grad program if they were coming from other specialties. I could hardly contain myself when I was offered the job! I ended up leaving the uro job with 10.5 months under my belt, and it was hard to leave it, but I know I did the right thing, and I am SOOOOOO happy in L&D! I did everything I could to keep on good terms when I left my old position (I felt SOOO guilty leaving), and I truly miss the people I worked with and my patients, but I am so happy doing what I do every day now.

Do what's best for you. Don't leave for anything short of the perfect position, if you have a good thing going now. Good luck with your interview!

I've learned so much on my floor. I'm so grateful for my manager and employer for investing in me ...

Then why screw them over by leaving before they've even come close to recouping the investment they made in you?? This is exactly why more and more employers are increasingly reluctant to hire new grads at all.

Then why screw them over by leaving before they've even come close to recouping the investment they made in you?? This is exactly why more and more employers are increasingly reluctant to hire new grads at all.

I can understand this point of view....somewhat. Maybe I'm overly cynical, but it seems to me that hospitals factor in new-grad turnover (and nurse turnover generally) as part of the cost of doing business. And they don't do much to improve working conditions to decrease that turnover, especially on med-surg and progressive-care-type units where many new grads start.

Again, it's cynical. I would hate to impose difficulties on managers and coworkers I like by leaving a job, and I imagine that's the OP's concern too. But to the hospital administration we're cogs - somewhat costly, maybe, but replaceable and not that complicated. Of course they'll avoid hiring new grads if the economy's bad and they have a huge supply of experienced nurses, as has been the case in recent years. I think those are the economics in play, and not so much that new grads might leave before they've "earned their keep." My two cents.

Specializes in Peds, Neuro, Orthopedics.

I left my first RN job 7 months in, and instantly earned myself a $10 an hour raise, plus a better quality of life (I left the pitiful south for a northern state). You need to do what's best for you. That employer isn't going to be loyal to you when a recession (or whatever) hits. Look out for #1.

I can understand this point of view....somewhat. Maybe I'm overly cynical, but it seems to me that hospitals factor in new-grad turnover (and nurse turnover generally) as part of the cost of doing business.

Many organizations are "factor(ing) in new-grad turnover" by simply refusing to hire new grads. Others are dealing with the problem by insisting on these new-grad contracts. As more and more organizations find the contracts aren't sufficient, I predict they will move into the "new grads need not apply" camp. What other ways do you think organizations can "factor in" the cost of multiple new employees leaving while they are still costing the organization a lot of money?

New grad turnover has been higher in recent years than it's ever been before, and, right or wrong, hospitals perceive new grads as less prepared to enter practice (and needing more extensive, and expensive, orientation) than ever before. Many of them feel they've been badly burned by new grads. Some hospitals were starting to post "new grads need not apply" on their websites before the economy tanked -- while the recession exacerbated the problem, this phenomenon was not entirely a result of the recession, and I doubt that it will be resolved simply by the economy improving.

Here is the thing about being loyal to an employer. I don't think it is the way it used to be. There is no loyalty from the employer to the nurse so why should I be loyal to my employer?

I was told that I would have an extensive orientation, that I would have regular meetings to discuss progress and would have 4-6 patients. I was lied to. My "extensive" orientation was about 5 weeks total, 3 of which I was basically left to fend for myself while my preceptor did her homework for her BSN classes. I did not have regular meetings to discuss my progress, I had one meeting at the end of orientation. And 4-6 patients? Please. I routinely have anywhere from 5-8 patients....yes, some shifts I have six but I often have 7-8.

So no. I, personally, do not have any loyalty to my employer. Also, my unit has hired a bunch of new graduates after me, mainly because no one but the "I need an RN job to pay my rent" variety would last on my unit...and even they are dwindling.

My unit did not "do me a favor" by training me. The work conditions are such that they cannot attract anyone but new gradues to work there.

I understand why preceptors lose interest in training new graduates, but perhaps places need to start looking at WHY they are unable to keep people and WHY there is such a high turnover. Some of it may be because newer nurses don't have the same loyalty as their once was, but sometimes it may just be that it is a terrible place to work.

In the case of the OP, even if your current job isn't terrible I say go for your dream job. Your employer does not give a rat's a** about your career . What you owe your employer is to be at your scheduled shifts on time, for the duration of your shifts, and to do your absolute best for your patients and coworkers during the shifts, and the required amount of notice while quitting as per your company policy. Beyond that, you owe them nothing and believe me, they don't feel for you either!

Specializes in General Surgery Assist.

I understand where u are coming from, i left my home care position after being there for 5 months. It was a deadend job, I was basically babysitting my patient. Currently orientating in a dialysis unit and so far i really like it. My preceptor moves REALLY fast and expects me to do the same but i would rather do it slow and be thorough and correct vs working fast being sloppy and making major mistakes. Do what makes you happy!

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