how long in your first job?

I was in my first job for a year, I then moved to a cohort ward dealing with every speciality as I saw it was an opportunity to gain experience with everything to help me move to a sister post.

I'd say you need to have at least 6 months of working before having time out so you have time to consolidate your skills but the longer the better.

thanks for your advice guys, already i feel better about my first job. you might think i'm crazy but fingers crossed i'm going to work at disney world in Florida for a year. I've wanted to do it since being a kid and just got through the first round of interviews, after two years of tying to get into the program. not sure how i'll write it into my nursing CV though!!

I would echo Sharries comments, I admire people who have dreams and aren't affraid to follow them. You'll come back with more than you left with in the way of life experience, I have shortlisted people for jobs who I see form their application they have something more to offer than usual experience. I wish you well. Jane

hey there. just wondering how long everyone spent in their first job? i've heard mixed advice about how long is a good length of time to spend there.

i'm taking a year out so hoping to work for around 8 or 9 months up to that time.

i know doing a year in the job might look better, but it's a case of do the year out a bit later and work for a while first, or else do the year out in 6 months time and then be out of practice for a year and a half.

what did everyone else do??

thanks for your help, :heartbeat

Hi there

My very first job after being qualified lasted 5 months, cause I hated it sooo much..when I left however I couldnt get any other nursing job in my local trust for about 7 months cause of the awful jobs freeze I would definately IF you can try and do about 6 months at least, as that is how long a preceptorship period usually lasts...but also remember you have to be happy where you are working too! Don't go getting ill like i did, if your somewhere your not happy

x

I have only worked for one Trust. First job in a 4 bed HDU which was really an HDU in name only, more like a post op bay - stayed there for 6 months. Transferred to a vascular ward and got some great surgical experience and stayed there 2.5 years. Then got a critical care rotational contract and have since done medical and surgical HDUs, as well as ITU.

My first job after qualifying lasted 5 months, but this was intentionally planned this way. I left to go on and train as a midwife. I have had jobs of varying lengths. Some have been quite short (6-9 months) but that's because I have known they weren't right for me. My longest stint anywhere was 6 years.

My advice would be not to decide how long to stay, but to review it regularly - you never know what you might be learning - often you'll know when it is the right time to move on...

oooh this is great advice. i didn't think applying for jobs would be this daunting. it's nice to know it's expected that your first job might not be where you really want to be. i've been SO worried about having to come back from my year out to face people who would wonder why i spent a year away from nursing. i'm already having to defend myself against some staff who think it's a bad move, and it's so unnerving because it's the only reason i'm put off doing it. so to hear that someone would value this from a future employee is amazingly reassuring to me. i love nursing, i can't wait to get into my nursing career and call myself a staff nurse. thank you for your lovely comments, they've made me feel really positive. i just hope i get to be interviewed by folks like you!!!!

A really good bit of advice I had given me years ago:

5 stage plan (usually each stage lasts a year)

Year 1: Learning the job

Year 2: Practicing

Year 3: Developing

Year 4: Extending

Year 5: Looking for new job

I like this structure, it may work for you. I think it's based on years so you don't spend too long in one job and become bitter and twisted :) Also depends on where you work and your adaptability/motivation/circumstances.

Billy

I've been working on my first ward for nearly four years now. I'm not really doing the same job, as AfC was brought in my role ( as a band 5) has grown and developed. 4 years ago I was learning to have a team of patients. Now I often co- ordinate the busy ward, manage complaiants as well as taking a team, and preceptoring the new band 5s!