Need some opinions on my dilemma

FlyingScot, RN · Dec 6, 2011

Some turnover is expected and is a cost of doing business.
If facilities don't want to hire new grads because they leave, maybe they need to look at why they are leaving and try to improve upon that.

I agree, in theory, but this behavior has become rampant as new grads are taking any job available just to get a foot in the door. If I were a hiring manager I'd be extremely leery of hiring a new grad for this very reason. Most seem to be leaving because they didn't want the job in the first place not because the jobs themselves are so awful.

All of you newbies need to understand that the hospital world is very small. If you burn your bridges in one place there may be consequences in others. What if your "dream" job turns out to be a nightmare?

Ruby Vee, BSN · Dec 6, 2011

i agree, in theory, but this behavior has become rampant as new grads are taking any job available just to get a foot in the door. if i were a hiring manager i'd be extremely leery of hiring a new grad for this very reason. most seem to be leaving because they didn't want the job in the first place not because the jobs themselves are so awful.
all of you newbies need to understand that the hospital world is very small. if you burn your bridges in one place there may be consequences in others. what if your "dream" job turns out to be a nightmare?

ii've had numerous first year rns come to me for advice because they're afraid they look like job hoppers. they do look like job hoppers. anyone who is on their third or fourth job less than a year after graduation is a job hopper.

so many new grads take the first job they're offered because they're afraid they won't get another offer. and then before they're off orientation, they have another offer. so they take it. and then they don't like the new job. but the old job won't hire them back because tthey quit while they were still on orientation. then they're desparate to leave the second job because they're "afraid of loosing my license." (yes i know -- but that is how they always seem to spell it.) tthe third job comes up and they don't know whether or not to take it because it involves a move. or a pay cut. but they're so miserable in the second job, what should they do?

by the time they ask for my advice, they're on the third or fourth position and they know they should never have left the first. now they truly have a dilemma. one gal was on her third job, just got engaged, and wanted to move back to the hometown where she'd had her first job, but thought she might be blackballed from the only hospital in town because she left without notice while still on orientation. (if she wasn't blackballed, she should have been.)

stay a year on your first job. the new opportunity will be there in a year; and if not then in a year and three weeks. or six weeks. but you'll have a solid year of experience behind you, you'll have paid the first hospital back for the time and effort they spent on your orientation (unless you had a six month icu orientation, in which case you should really stay two years). i don't care if this new job is your dream job. you can't get a year's experience if you keep changing jobs -- you'll just get the same first three to six months of experience over and over again.

preparing to be flamed now.

FLmomof5 · Dec 6, 2011

Here is my .02....

I am a new grad. I left my first position in a LTC/SNF that had turned into a nightmare. It simply just was not worth staying. I left with full notice.

I got a Med/Surg position in a hospital in another state. My "dream" job was to one day be in trauma or ER.... but, I had read here that Med/Surg was the best place to start. I LOVE my job! The hospital is great, the nurse to patio ratio is reasonable and my fellow nurses are AWESOME!!!!! I couldn't think of a better place to start a nursing career!

I am so glad that I went this route! I now realize that I have so much to learn that I would be a fish out of water in my "dream job" too early in my career. I think I would have not performed up to their standards and I would have sufferred with all the resulting stress.

IMO, I would stay where you are for the year. Get some good training and experience in you current position before you jump to that critical area where you may NEED more skill than you currently have!

ICU_RN2 · Dec 6, 2011

You gotta do what makes you happy - in the end, that's what you'll do anyway.

But, do remember, opportunities will come up again for ya to get into a cardiology setting. And after a couple years in an LTAC, transitioning into an ICU would probably be pretty easy in some aspects.

I'd stay at the LTAC, get a good year or two experience, and start applying for ICU positions after that time (if there is where you want to end up anyway).

lrobinson5 · Dec 6, 2011

Ruby Vee :bow: I will remember your post when I am a new grad.

I always enjoy your $0.02

mindlor · Dec 6, 2011

Hello fellow nurses. I'm a new grad who has been orienting on a medical LTAC floor at Gaylord Hospital. At the time I accepted the position I had applied to over 100 hospitals and Gaylord was the only hospital to call me back. I am enjoying working at Gaylord, but today Yale New Haven called me with a dream position on a cardiology floor. My ultimate goal is to become a CCU or CTICU nurse, so this experience is right in line with what I would like to do, and I think by working at Yale it would much easier to transfer into ICU. I would really feel terrible leaving Gaylord as I am just about complete with their orientation, but should I pass up this opportunity at Yale?

Let me give you a very strong word of advice.

Your current employer will NOT be loyal to you when the time comes.

Poop happens.

Take the dream job!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2011

Wow tuff one...an LTACcan give a ton of experience but a dream job....what if the dream job has a manager that's a fire breathing dragon? Just be aware that your present employer will be very unhappy and will not give you a good recommendation/reference and you will probably burn your bridge behind you. It's a calculated risk be sure it's a firm offer/and you pass your physical, before you give notice. Accept the consequences if it doesn't work out and you have to suck it up for a year. Good luck:redpinkhe

SweetsRN522 · Dec 6, 2011

I hear where you are coming from however, I do think you owe it to the hospital to at least give them a fair shot. Out of 100 applications they called you and gave you a chance. That is kind of where I am at I have been at my current job for 1 1/2. I was told in orientation that they would help "the new grads" transition in house to different positions that would help them in their career paths. I have been on 4 interviews 2 in house since July and still no offers.

The main reason I am looking for change is because I want to be an educator and an FNP one day so I am looking to enhance my skill base. I would like to stay in the network I am in because they gave me chance and hired me. I feel I owe them that. Not to mention it is close to home and pays well. I go on interviews to see what is out there, no harm in that right? I don't want to look like a job hopper or someone who doesn't like their job. It is not that I do not like my job, I just am looking for new experiences, so I know how it goes. I always wanted to work in CVICU and then I interviewed for several ICU positions and so far it seems that it may not be for me. I am happy in my position, I have good co-workers and everything else is fine except the experience. I work on a Medical surgical unit and we frequently see the same patient population, so sometimes it becomes boring. Anyways I share my story let you know there are others out there that struggle with these decisions as well.

If I were you I would finish your orientation, obtain experience, and see if there are any opportunities for you there. If you like it there stay, you may leave and hate it at the new facility and the old one may not be willing to take you back.Best of luck.

PunkBenRN · Dec 6, 2011

Personally, I think you would develop a lot of great skills and experience on the floor you are on now. If you stick in there for a year or two and then get something closer to what you want, your skill sets will be solid.

At the same time, the heart wants what it wants. Don't feel cornered because you committed to one place and love another. I can tell you that they won't be happy that you are leaving during your orientation, but they will be even more ****** if you leave right after finishing orientation. Go to the interview, get a tour of the floor and the facility, weigh your options. If you do decide to stay where you are, i am sure there will be more opportunity down the road, especially with some experience under your belt.

Good luck in your travels!

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Dec 6, 2011

Shadow at the other hospital first and then if you still want it and our offered the position give your notice. An LTAC is hard for experienced nurses, mix ICU like complex patients but with much staffing ratio's than ICU.

deemalt, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2011

You may want to use more discretion w/ your posts. I would never mention specific hospital names. You never know who is reading. Could be your manager at Gaylord.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2011

:twocents: go for the interview-- experience interviewing is always good

say that you are very interested in the position but you have recently accepted another and it wouldn't be right to cut and run, because you're more ethical than that. say that the skills you will be gaining will make you more valuable when you come back.

ask to be notified when the next one comes up in 8-12 months; see if you can get per diem work there to get a feel for the place.

never, never, never quit a job for a new one until you have the new one's offer in writing (not by email) including position, hours, rate of pay, start date, and benefits outlined. then accept it in writing, restating all of the above data from their letter, and confirming your report date.

just not this year.