New nurse quiting after 7 months of working.

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi Everyone,

I am needing some advice. I'm from Texas and recently graduated nursing school in Dec. 2009 and started a nurse internship program with the county hospital in January. The program is 12wks long (ends first week of april). I'm working on a med/surg unit and i'm enjoying the learning experience.

Here's my problem: I plan on moving to Los Angeles, CA in the summer, (mid July). My husbands job is relocating him and we chose to leave in the summer because we have 2 kids and we prefer they complete the school year before we move. So when I move I will only have 7 months experience with the county hospital. I hear from everyone that its soo hard for new nurses to find a job and also at least 1 year exp. is needed to get hired unless its thru an internship program. Is this true?

I knew before I got hired that I was going to leave in the summer but I really needed to start working so I accepted the position and signing a contract wasn't required. I dont want to appear irresponsible because I'm leaving my first job as a registered nurse after only 7 months. My main concern right now is being able to find work in another state with only 7 months med/surg exp. Will I have a problem finding a job right away?

Any advice that anyone can give me will be greatlty appreciated.

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Depends on how you do in orientation. If everything goes well you should be fine, I have seen hospitals hiring nurses with 6 months experience but with this economy you just can't tell.

Of course your current employer is going to be upset that after they train you and invest so much money on you. you decide to leave. Remember you need them for reference. Anyways good luck with everything.

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Don't buy into the guilt trip. Yes, you knew your situation, but don't kid yourself. Your hospital probably hired you on an "at will" employment contract. So, they can lay you off at any time, and you can leave at any time. As long as you give proper notice, at least 2-4 weeks, there should be no problem. Be prepared to have them escort you out the door as soon as you give notice because it does happen occasionally.

I agree it's not an ideal situation, but you have to pay the bills for your family, it's just common sense. If you don't take care of your family, who is going to? Those that may complain wouldn't dream of mailing you a check for a few months, so ignore them.

As far as your experience, it should be pretty easy to justify it by telling prospective employers about your spouse's job transfer. Life hands us curveballs sometimes, but that doesn't make us bad employees.

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To be honest, its going to be really tough. I live and work in the bay area and have looked for employment and interviewed in So Cal and it is rough.

I would say that over 90% of places require a minimum of 1 yr experience. Some places like Kaiser will take 6 mo. Its not going to be easy so be sure to give yourself plenty of time and be real patient. Just be realistic. Landing a staff nurse position in a hospital might be difficult but you do have options other than working in a hospital and your 7 mo. of experience in a med/surg environment will serve you really well.

Good luck.

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How has your LA job hunting gone so far? What do you see when you look on the internet? I can't say that I've seen a lot of opportunity in SoCal during the past several, (yes, several), months that I've been looking. That does not mean that you won't interview and land a great position next week though. Since you know you have to move, just be realistic about being out of work until you get a job. That is the only advice I can offer.

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Yes, your situation is tough. I don't look down on you for having to quit. You are doing what you have to do to survive. :yeah:

On a side note. Is it still really tough in the Bay Area for new grad nurses. Pretty non-existent??? I am in nursing school now w/ one more semester left. I want to move back to the Bay area (San Francisco), but very worried I will not be able to find anything.

Any information? Advice???? :idea:

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If I were you, I would try and land a job there before I even quit the one you are orienting with and they might welcome this sort of thing. Let them know that you have to move there because of your impending family situation.

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Yes, your situation is tough. I don't look down on you for having to quit. You are doing what you have to do to survive. :yeah:

On a side note. Is it still really tough in the Bay Area for new grad nurses. Pretty non-existent??? I am in nursing school now w/ one more semester left. I want to move back to the Bay area (San Francisco), but very worried I will not be able to find anything.

Any information? Advice???? :idea:

A search on the site will turn up numerous threads and posts about the job market in San Francisco. Left the area myself because I got fed up with being unemployed. Now the same thing has happened where I am now. When they say there is no work that means there is no work.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

good luck with the job hunt. definitely start looking now for that next position. you can collect unemployment benefits due to your spouse relocating for a new job if you are unable to secure next position. need to list "moving out of state due to relocating for spouses job " in your resignation letter.

check with the unemployment offices in both your current state and your new state to determine what, if any, benefits you are eligible for--can apply in state that provides higher benefit.

pa: unemployment compensation eligibility issues, ucp-41

spouse following spouse - to be eligible, the claimant must show that the reason for the spouse's relocation was beyond the spouse's control, and that such relocation created economic circumstances which could not be overcome or that it was economically impossible to maintain two residences

learned this aspect of the law when one of my staff married and spouse work relocated to nevada.

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I think as hard as it will be, you may be ahead of the game with 7 months of exp, as compared to a new grad with zero.

just my two cents because a lot of my classmates did get hired with working at LTC for 3 months then quitting, or perdiem at some nursing home. so far it seems that zero experience is the real killer.

job market in LA is easier than SF right now

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if it's an option for you at all I might think about staying where you are for 5 more months to ensure a job in CA. I don't have kids so I don't know how hard it would be to split your family up. Just something to think about. It's brutal out here right now (I'm in the Bay area). I hear LA is a bit better. I wish you luck, your going to LOVE california!!!!!

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Specializes in CVICU, ER.

I just went through this exact same thing. My husband transferred From TN to FL less than 3 weeks ago. Being a graduate in May 2009, I have 9 months ER experience. I looked at all the hospitals around here, and found a position that required 6 mo experience, applied, followed up and I start April 5. Everyone told me the same thing about not being marketable. The definition of a clinical nurse II is someone with at least 6 mo experience. You just have to be proactive and sell yourself. You may have to work somewhere you don't want to first, but if you really try you will be okay. I have read on here in the FL forum where ppl have tried for months and not gotten a job. I don't understand that. There are so many places looking for RNs. You just have to be assertive without being desperate. Good luck to you!

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