Nurses that change their jobs often. Is that common?

Nurses Activism

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  1. How often is acceptable for nurses to change jobs?

    • 16
      every 1-2 years
    • 4
      every 2-3 years
    • 7
      every 4-5 years
    • 3
      plan to retire from current job

30 members have participated

I have been an RN for 25 years and have changed jobs on average every 2-3 years. I have family who occassionally make remarks about my frequent changes, although I have also moved about to 4 different cities during that time period. I say nurses do change jobs more often because of better pay elsewhere when local hospitals do decide to compete for nurses or when working conditions are hard to tolerate. I just don't see this profession as one that creates longevity in the work place. How do you feel?

Hi I read with interest why people move jobs. I have had 4 jobs in 3 years due to my wife being in the Army. Now I have a fly in fly out job at a mine site I wouldnt change for the world. Plus my wife is now out of the Army.

But meeting new people is great, I just love it.

Anyway Cheers.

Darryl.

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One of the things that makes nursing so compelling is it's diversity. I think it's perfectly fine to change jobs as long as one isn't being fired. I try to stay a year unless there's abuse, then I'm outta there. Most of my jobs have been good, some great, but my dearest love is home health. :)

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Specializes in Critical Care,Recovery, ED.

Nursing does allow a great deal of mobility within the profession. This can be both an advantage/ disadvantage. The main disadvantage to moving frequently is the inability to take advantage of the employer "paid" contributions to pensions, 403B and 401Ks. I've seen to many RNs in there late 40/50's suddenly realize they inadequately prepared for fast approaching retirement. The lost time can never be regained.

So if you are taking advantage of he mobility plan accordingly. And depending on your spouse is not neccessarily a good plan. Unfortuneately marriage is not always permanent. The only one ultimately responsible for you is you.

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I've been a nurse for seven years and have held a lot of positions .I have left employers because of ethical , managerial , safety issues , etc . I have even left a job because i got bored with it . Just reading the comments that everyone has shared made me realize i'm not the only one . Most non nurses don't realize that having a nursing license LPN/RN gives us the opportunity to explore other career paths within the field . I have done LTC , unit manager , telemetry and VNA . I love the VNA type of nursing , but currently moving to another agancy because of more money and a better schedule . I'm the type of person that i just want to go to work get the job done and not be bother by the politics that is present in nursing . :nurse:

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i have been an rn for 25 years and have changed jobs on average every 2-3 years. i have family who occassionally make remarks about my frequent changes, although i have also moved about to 4 different cities during that time period. i say nurses do change jobs more often because of better pay elsewhere when local hospitals do decide to compete for nurses or when working conditions are hard to tolerate. i just don't see this profession as one that creates longevity in the work place. how do you feel?

i think to stay competitive in nursing it is definitely not uncommon to do what you are doing! alot of time...when you stay at one place you dont find professional growth and occassionally they begin to take you for granted and the employer devalues you in a way. so tell your familoy to chill out and keep doing what is working for you!:D

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Specializes in long-term care, private duty, visiting.
One of the things that makes nursing so compelling is it's diversity. I think it's perfectly fine to change jobs as long as one isn't being fired. I try to stay a year unless there's abuse, then I'm outta there. Most of my jobs have been good, some great, but my dearest love is home health. :)[My own experience as a home health nurse has been that you tend to feel genuinely appreciated by patients and families, minus all the drama/politics that most facilities tend to offer,whether intentional or not:p/quote]
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I think a person should stay until they feel they need a change in their lives. God makes changes for us and sometimes it's not always healthy to stick with something that's not good for you. My aunt changed jobs often, and she did it because She was in a happier state of mind etc. She gained more experience, and won't stop changing her inner self to learn and grasp more on her nursing career.

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I've been a nurse for seven years and have held a lot of positions .I have left employers because of ethical , managerial , safety issues , etc . I have even left a job because i got bored with it . Just reading the comments that everyone has shared made me realize i'm not the only one . Most non nurses don't realize that having a nursing license LPN/RN gives us the opportunity to explore other career paths within the field . I have done LTC , unit manager , telemetry and VNA . I love the VNA type of nursing , but currently moving to another agancy because of more money and a better schedule . I'm the type of person that i just want to go to work get the job done and not be bother by the politics that is present in nursing . :nurse:

Yes, it's good to keep changing nursing postions just like we change our boyfriends lol A little humor just kidding. No, its good to change and keep going until we feel we our happy and want to settle down on that certain job.

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

I agree...the flexibility of nursing is something that I enjoy tremendously and have taken great advantage of. Go for it, don't be afraid of nay sayers, and keep on learning!

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

needless to say, because of the many changes i have done within the facility where i work it has able me to find my true niche per say. for example, every time there was an opening for another dept. i applied for it after working for 1yr. in the present position at the time. unquestionably, this offered me an advantage among my peers, because whenever a discussion came up on how such dept. handle a given situation i knew the answered. unquestionably, if one is content working in the same dept. yr. after yr. more powder to them. furthermore, by me having the vast knowledge in different dept.s it catapulted me to the management position i hold at present. wishing you the best in all of your future endeavors...aloha~

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I think that it really depends on who you work with and the kind of work atmosphere that you have. I have been working in the same hospital for three years now and I haven't considered changing jobs mainly because my coworkers are all generally nice, except for one or two whom I can tolerate on most days.

You have your own reasons for changing jobs and that's understandable. We all lead different lives and make our own choices. So, if you feel your workplace isn't the one for you, try working at other hospitals. :)

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