how many years is enough?

so I am liking my first job and was hoping to stay there for a while, maybe 5 years or so. As a new NP the environment is supportive for learning and it's a very busy practice and I like my coworkers.

unfortunately the PA and NP are really underpaid here and the management is in denial about fixing the problem. The docs are underpaid too. What I mean is we're tens of thousands of dollars underpaid so it's significant.

I think I will have to leave sooner than I had planned to gain any kind of decent pay. A person in my position should have at least one year solid experience under their belt, right? Would you say two? more?

I need some advice here about how long I should stay before I can really start looking for another job and look like a good candidate to other employers.

I don't know if I am able to come up with an arbitrary number of years of when it is good to leave for a new job. I left my first NP job after a year and a half of being there because I wanted more challenge and a higher pay. I think the important consideration is to make sure that if you plan to look for greener pastures, you let your employers know early and give plenty of notice. I gave 2 months notice and they were pleased with that. I also discussed my reasons for leaving with all the physicians and the practice manager. They actually tried to make me stay with a higher offer and was asking me if I would like to change the way my own NP practice is handled but I was upfront to everyone that a different specialty would suit me better. In the end, they agreed that the challenge I wanted was not available in that setting. In other words, I left in real good terms and I still look to that practice manager and the rest of the physicians for a good recommendation if I need it.

I agree that giving plenty of notice is the key.