RN For 2 Years: Can't Find My Place

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Dear Nurse Beth,

I've been a RN for about 2 years now and I'm currently working full time as a home health case manager. This is my third job since I started as a RN. I'm not 100% happy with where I'm at as this job is great but requires on call and we cover a wide area which makes on call nights very stressful as you can get pulled in all directions and don't have really anyone to back you up or help out.

I recently applied for a RN telephone triage position at a primary care physician's office and have an interview next week. This position is only 32 hours per week so if offered the position and willing to accept I plan on staying with the home health agency PRN to make up for the hours I won't be getting at the PCP office RN triage job and won't be required on call for the HH agency.

Basically, I'm wondering if it is normal for new nurses to be tempted to job around jobs to find what's best for them. I went into nursing partly due to the fact that you have endless options and I'm clearly exploring them. I realize I need to settle into a position soon so I can be sure I'm saving into a retirement plan and what not but I've been having trouble finding the job that's right for me.

Also I'm struggling because my family doesn't seem to understand why I'm jumping around so much. It's hard to explain to them how stressed I am at my current job and none of them are in healthcare and can't seem to really relate so I'm trying to figure out how to explain this to them so they can have a better understanding of what I'm going through. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

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9 Answers

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Dear Can't Find My Place,

Three jobs in 2 years is approaching borderline high, but not a problem unless you keep it up :).

You shouldn't stay in a job that is stressing you out terribly or where don't have the support you need. And you are not quitting home health, you are reducing your hours. It's good that you've been employed for 2 years as a new nurse without employment gaps (I'm assuming).

But...what is your plan for finding the job that is right for you? Have you identified what you are looking for in a nursing job? What are your long-term goals?

Do you see yourself as a teacher, or a supervisor? If so, what do you need to do to gain the needed skill sets and educational requirements?

Make a list of the things that absolutely make a job a no for you. On call? Travel? Night shift? Maybe it will help to narrow your sights.

As far as your family, you can share with them that the Robert Wood Foundation found that 33.5% of nurses change their jobs within the first 2 years. It's not considered a bad thing in nursing. Maybe your family's values stem from getting one job and then staying there. I hope they appreciate that you are employed, which is an accomplishment in itself for a fairly new nurse.

Staying put doesn't reflect today's mobile worker in any industry, and certainly not in nursing. Actually one of the benefits of nursing is the array of options, like you said. I myself worked Med-Surg, Tele and ICU in my first 5 years. I worked staff nurse, nursing manager and clinical instructor. It wasn't flakiness- it was gaining experience and taking opportunities. I look back and value each separate position I held.

You have a willingness to try new things which is great. Can't wait to hear where you settle, keep us posted.

Specializes in Medical and Behavioral Health.

Thats nursing. Its all about finding your niche. Some jobs might be discouraging, others ok, and some excellent. Just make sure you do something that is worth your while.

I myself, have been in many different positions in the medical field. ER, OR, Long term, ALF nurse, home health, and office nurse. I think with nursing, you do have to find your niche in this world and not every nurse is right for every position. I personally, do not feel that changing specialties is a bad thing. In nursing, I think it is more important to find what you enjoy doing. My current position in Home Health is something I feel I was born to do. I really enjoy the independence it gives me, and especially the one on one with clients. I love being able to use my critical thinking skills and make care plans. When a nurse is not happy in a position, it is often to the detriment of the client or patient, and patients tend to KNOW that the nurse is not happy serving them. It takes awhile sometimes to find where you are happy and can be the best nurse you can be, and I dont feel that is a bad thing. The quicker a nurse can figure that out, the better, and I have personally seen the worst in nurses when they are in a position that they are not happy in, but on the flip side, I have seen an "ok" nurse become excellent in that right position.

I am in the same boat. I got my ADN 6 years ago. Went in to home health. Got my BSN. Then did adolescent psyche. Then changed to Endoscopy at a small clinic. I am just not very good at IVs. Then I started my MSN in leadership & Mgt. we moved to another city last year and after my son in law was in a bad wreck and lost his arm I helped my daughter care for their kids. I will get my MSN next February but am ready to go back to work. I would really like to do PACU but most want some hospital experience. I am really smart and can learn anything but find no one wants to spend the money training an inexperienced nurse. How do I find a job at a clinic or MDs office? I have my resume on Career Builder and Monster and get tons of lists of job openings but most are head hunters or travel positions. I am just wondering how did you find your job? Did a friend refer you? Did you look for companies in your area? Did you blindly send out resumes? Being new to the area I don't know anyone. I need ideas of how and where to look since I don't want to do med/surg.

I worked in the same hospital on the same floor with the same staff for 15 years. Then I moved out of state. I had no difficulty in finding a new position. The problem was I was not happy. So in 5 years, I worked in 4 different hospitals. Then a 5 year stint in the same place. I have now been with my current employer in home care now for almost 12 years.

I found my niche. So no it is not uncommon for a new nurse to have trouble finding a position where they are comfortable. Be careful about job hopping, but keep looking for what makes you happy.

I have been a RN for 3 years. I'm on my 4th position. I am currently a triage nurse at a very busy cardiology practice. I LOVE it! The great thing about nursing is being able to move around to find your place as a nurse. I say find what you're looking for.

I found my niche after a couple of years working in various areas. It turned out to be the OR, an area I wasn't particularly crazy about while in school. One of the larger hospitals in my area offered a 12 week OR Training Program & applying for that was the best thing I could have done. It took me about 6 months working in their large OR as a circulating nurse in various major surgeries before I felt completely comfortable. After that period of time, I never looked back. After several years there, I began working in an ambulatory care surgery center. The hours/schedule fit my lifestyle better since we were starting a family. The comraderie working as a team member in the OR has been so rewarding. The OR is interesting & can be challenging, but I love it & think it would be worth your looking into. Hang in there & good luck finding your niche. 😷

Thank you SO much for your answer, Nurse Beth! I have accepted a new position as a Telephone triage RN with a local primary care provider's office. This is somewhat similar to what I do with my home health job (just primarilary over the phone) and I can definitely see myself working this position long term as it is affiliated with a growing health care company in the area. I look forward to growing more as a nurse and furthering my nursing career by accepting this position.

Hello,

Did you have medical experience before you became a RN? I'm asking because the experience you've listed does not represent much patient care at the bedside. I'm quite surprised you were able to obtain these positions within your first two years as a RN. From what you've posted you have very limited clinical experience.

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