Leaving 1st job before 1 year

[UpennRN]

It is the general rule of thumb to "stick it out for a year" because it looks bad otherwise. However, I absolutely feel that I cannot make it any longer. I work on a busy, challenging medical floor in Philadelphia. Management is awful. Patients are horrendous. We work 8/12 hour shifts, every other weekend, and rotate days/nights. The every-other-weekend is the most challenging for me, because other floors only have to do every 3rd or 4th!

It's not like I don't have any opportunities. There are a TON hospitals in the greater Philadelphia region. I am constantly stalking job postings at other hospitals and I am so tempted to apply, but I've been at my place for only 9 months and it worries me that I won't be considered.

I think I will be happier in a critical care setting (where I'm not running around worrying about BS, and actually utilizing intense nursing skills), on a floor that works at minimum every 3rd weekend (can't do every-other!). Or a dayshift M-F type deal, like a cath lab or infusion center.

My question is: how bad does it really look to new employers? What do I say when they ask the question "Why did you leave?" without trash-talking my place?

[Swellz]

I'm in the same boat in the same city! I'm stuck in the same hospital for at least another year because I signed a contract though. Penn had a lot of postings recently if you do apply elsewhere, unless that's where you're trying to escape from! You only have 3 months to go though, so you may as well stick it out.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I highly recommend you stick this out. We won't even consider someone who has less than one to two years of experience and I know most hospitals are the same these days.

Stop looking at what other floors get to do or not do. There is always going to be someone in life who has it better than you. That doesn't make the situation wrong or unfair or untenable. It is reality.

[vanessaem, BSN, RN]

I highly recommend you stick this out. We won't even consider someone who has less than one to two years of experience and I know most hospitals are the same these days.

Stop looking at what other floors get to do or not do. There is always going to be someone in life who has it better than you. That doesn't make the situation wrong or unfair or untenable. It is reality.

I'm with not.done.yet...

Let me preface this by saying, you shouldn't have to be in a job that's making you miserable. However, if it's a year you need and you've only got a few months to go, you should probably just stick it out. You don't want to do anything that will make it harder to obtain future job prospects.

I'm a new grad, I just got my license and I can't even get a job because of this. Most places seem to be looking for at least one year of experience. So yeah, I think you should stay put because there are folks who aren't being given the chance to have the opportunities that you have currently.

Right now, what you have is paying the bills and it won't last a lifetime. Be the best at your job as you can for the remainder of the time you have left at the place where you're working.

[j0yegan]

I know people who left jobs after 6 months and easily got another job. Just as long as you have experience, go for it.

[HMarie13]

I worked my first RN job for about 8 months when I was hired full time at a different hospital. I wasn't able to get into a different setting (stayed in med-surg) at the time but I was able to get my foot in the door. That now has opened multiple doors for me.

A year looks better then less than a year, but it doesn't hurt to try! Apply and interview if they say no then try again after a year!

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

At this point, most emoloyers are looking for the magical 1-2 years, especially for critical care. Philly is bombarded with so many nurses new and experienced that while you are looking for that critical care position, ake a few courses to beef up the resume, like ACLS, PALS, and join the AACN, for CEUs and to network.

Best wishes.

[ktenor]

Great advice. Anyone have insight on 1year in a sub acute facility being enough experience to moving into a speciality like maternity? Thanks!

[db2xs]

For what it's worth, I graduated in May 2013 and know some classmates who have already changed jobs. It's not impossible.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Great advice. Anyone have insight on 1year in a sub acute facility being enough experience to moving into a speciality like maternity? Thanks!

Honestly? Probably not. Even those of us in acute care are having trouble switching specialties these days. It seems to be all about who you know. If you have connections in your specialty of choice you have a distinct advantage. Start calling in favors.

[jan286]

I'm assuming you would land another job before leaving this one. 3 months really isn't that long. Plus, it may take you 3 months to find another job. I say start looking and applying to jobs you are interested in. Or, see if you can transfer to a new unit within the hospital.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Stick it out for a year. You only have a few months to go, and you can use that time to solidify your goals and figure out exactly what you're looking for in your next job. Bear in mind that you may have to work every other weekend, rotate shifts and work holidays in order to land a critical care job. You probably won't get cath lab without critical care experience. If what you want is dayshift Monday-Friday, you're going to have to look for something on the opposite end of the spectrum from critical care -- clinic job perhaps.

Why can't you do every other weekend? You may land a job that requires only every third, and then their staffing may change or their permanent weekend shifters may leave and suddenly you'll be required to work every other weekend.