RN's - how long did you stay at your first job?

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Just a quick poll - how long did you stay at your first job before looking to another facility? And was it long term care, rehab, acute care or critical care? What are the pros and cons of your facility?

Me: I started my first RN job in Feb of this year on a med surge unit. I absolutely love it. The staff is great for the most part, the nurses here have a strong voice in how things are run and the benefits are great. The cons? I travel very far each day. I haven't grown tired of it yet but some days like construction or accidents that cause and extra 30m to an hour make me wonder. And I am in the minority - literally. The area is not diverse and because of that, neither is the facility. Which makes me hesitant to move.

Just curious how others are making out.

Sun

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

I stayed for a little over four years. I left because I wanted more clinical experience (I was working in psych. and went to peds.), not because I was unhappy. I liked the hospital, but they didn't have any peds. positions open, so I went to another facility.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

4 years, only because we moved to a different state. Otherwise I would probably still be there.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

I had my first job for two years. It was on a neuro/ENT floor; then I moved to the SICU/CVICU within that hospital.

For what my advice is worth, in this market, a job you're happy in is worth its weight in gold.

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

My first "real" nursing job; 1.5 years on tele/step down unit. Had to move out of state for family. The job was awesome, excellent teamwork, great coworkers, management and patients. I sure hope my next gig is just as awesome.

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Specializes in ER.

Six months from ICU back to the ER.

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3 years in the OR. Loved it. Went per diem. Went to L&D. Hated nurses. Moved on to home visits with moms and babies and love it. I do miss the OR terribly! Wish I could go back, but injuries prevent that!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

I stayed at my first RN job (hospital) for 1 1/2 yrs. But, I had been there already for 2 1/2 yrs as an LPN. Now, they're offering a base of $30/hr plus a 5 grand sign-on bonus, so I'm headed back on the 8th. But, I'm keeping my PRN job also...been there for a little over two years and I haven't seen anyone that can beat the PRN pay at that facility.;)

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Thanks for the input everyone! Some places do have awesome PRN pay. My per diem pay is just all right :p

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Specializes in Peds PACU & Peds Psych.

Started my first job in a specialty clinic that is part of a very prestigious hospital and specializes in fertility. Love the job, can't stand the employers I answer to (and I have good reason, that's not just me being whiny). I've been there about 2 months now and recently started a second job part-time (peds PACU) that I MUCH prefer. Planning to leave my first job as soon as my second job switches to full-time in the Spring.

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Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.

13 months of renal med/surg was my first nursing job. I then changed hospitals and got a job in a MICU and have been there for 2 years with no plans on leaving any time soon.

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I stayed at my first job in the floor for about nine months. I really liked my coworkers, and I got used to the stress, but I didn't feel challenged in the particular way that I enjoy being challenged.

Then an opening came up in our CVICU. They have a very low turnover rate and are a small unit, and I had heard that they sometimes go a whole year or two with no openings. That spoke volumes about the work environment, because I knew that the floor I was on basically replaced at least half its staff every year. I figured that must mean it was a good place to work, and I knew I wanted to be in critical care, so I applied on a whim. I didn't think there was any chance of me getting the spot, because there were tons of people applying, people with years of ICU experience, and people who had inside connections, but I didn't want to regret not applying.

It's been almost six months, and I still can't believe they offered me this job. I have fallen in love! I will be here for years, and plan on making a career in the CVICU. I feel lucky to have found an area of nursing that I love so much so early in my career.

I don't advocate job hopping for grass-is-greener purposes, but sometimes...you just gotta do you. Applying for this job is one of the best decisions I've ever made.

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