Switching jobs as a new RN

Published

  1. Should I:

    • 2
      Stick it out for a year - no matter what
    • 2
      Apply to my ideal position, but wait until interview to mention my current job
    • 4
      Apply to my ideal position, and include my current job on my resume
    • 2
      Apply to your ideal position, and briefly explain that I wish to leave my current job in my cover letter
    • 0
      Do something totally different

10 members have participated

Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

I started working a little over a month ago as an RN at a psychiatric hospital. So far, I'm not loving it. I do like the patient population and find it interesting, but a number of issues are in the way (e.g., less than stellar preceptors, not being able to use my skills, and the fact that I've worked there for this amount of time and have yet to receive a real paycheck - ostensibly some payroll system issue). Moreover, I'm realizing that I may not have the backbone this specialty requires (I'm coming from a place of having two immediate family members who have dealt with mental illness and addictions, so quite frankly, I'm a little worn out from this kind of stuff). All in all, I'm not sure this job/organization is the right fit for me.

Since I'm still a brand new nurse (graduated in August), I don't want to jump ship RIGHT away. I plan on giving it a couple more months to see if I feel better about it. However, if things don't improve, I can see myself wanting to move on before my first year is up.

I'm open to hearing arguments for sticking it out the whole year, but my main question is how to handle my resume if I start applying for new jobs soon. I don't want to look like a job hopper (I stayed at my last job for over three years, so I do like to get someplace and stay there for a reasonable chunk of time), so I'm not sure I want to add this job to my resume. On the other hand, this is nursing experience that is certainly relevant, and I'm not sure how to explain why I would have left my last job in November without something else in its place. What do y'all think?

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I would stick it out for the year, as this is usually the least amount of experience somewhere else would look for.

In the meantime, see if you can get a prn position doing another type of nursing, so that you can compare what you would like to continue in.

If your current position is part of a larger system, start looking at the website at internal job opportunities. Perhaps in a different unit/facility.

If you are finding that direct patient care is not your thing, think about case management maybe.

You can certainly start putting out feelers and see where you could go. But I wouldn't make the actual move until a year has passed. But think about a prn position, so that you have your foot in the door of another system as well.

Best Wishes!

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Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

Thank you, jadelpn. I have thought about doing a PRN job too; it seems like it would be a good way to try another specialty while still honoring my commitment to this position. The only issue is that I work five eight hour shifts per week, so I'm not sure when I would be able to work another job. I do like to have days off sometimes! ;)

I just feel very discouraged. It's been a long week and I feel like I haven't learned anything or accomplished anything. I worked in hospice for three years before becoming an RN, and now that I'm in psych I just feel like I haven't had a chance to see people get better, and that's bringing me down. I know the smart thing to do would be to stick with this job for a year or so. I just don't want to get stuck in this specialty where I'm already not seeing myself long-term.

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Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

Apologies in advance; I also posted about this situation in General Nursing Discussion - before I discovered an entire glorious board about new nurses! :D

So, I am 1.5ish months into a psych RN position, my first job out of nursing school, and it is not going well for me. My top three complaints:

-My preceptors do a LOT of things that seem incredibly questionable - giving meds "off the books" (we are still using paper charting, paper MAR, etc.), "wasting" meds that are actually given to patients, making fun of patients within their earshot. It's a little upsetting to me, and while I know that as a new grad I have NO room to judge, I really want to learn the proper way to do things starting out! A lot of this stuff just seems wrong.

-I am realizing that, although I definitely have interest in psych nursing, my personality and temperament are not going to help me here. In my CNA job (hospice), I LOVED being sweet and nurturing with my patients and their families; it made me feel good to make them feel good and was super-affirming for me. In this job, I don't get to do that and I miss it; now it's all about setting boundaries and being firm. (I know it's totally necessary and a part of every nursing job to some degree, but I am not good at being SO rigid, know what I mean?)

-We're approaching our third payday, and...I am still not in the payroll system. I've been advanced a little bit of my salary but my full paycheck keeps getting postponed. I didn't become a nurse for the money, but OMG, I can't work for free! I feel petty for even being bothered by this, but...I'm not a fan of that.

In short, I feel like I made a huge mistake in taking this job and really want to pursue something else. A hospital I was super interested in working for before I got this offer has just posted their new grad positions for the spring. I am open to arguments for sticking it out a little longer, but my main question is how to handle my resume. Should I include this experience since it is technically RN experience, or should I leave it off? I'm happy to address the current job in interviews (it's not a good fit for me, want to pursue another specialty that will better utilize my skills and qualities, etc.), but I don't want to scare off any other employers with the short amount of time at this job. (If it makes a difference, I stayed at my last job for 3.5 years and am hoping to find a place I can get comfortable for a WHILE while I get my BSN and possibly Masters.)

Thanks for any thoughts and advice!

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Why do you feel petty? You deserve your full paycheck, fair and square. It's not petty to want to be paid fairly!!!!

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Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

Angelica - I guess that by comparison to the other stuff, my paycheck feels like a smaller issue. (Not THAT much smaller, though, considering Christmas is almost upon us!) I was able to forgive the first paycheck because they were transitioning to a new payroll system and it was a short week for Thanksgiving, but was surprised that it hadn't been resolved by this past week.

Do you think that would be grounds to leave if it is an issue this next pay period? (Reading my own question I think I know the answer, but just checking my perspective.)

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Apologies in advance; I also posted about this situation in General Nursing Discussion - before I discovered an entire glorious board about new nurses!
Duplicate threads have been merged per our site's terms of service. Good luck to you.
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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

The best way to get a job is when one has a job already.

Try to keep looking if you must; just understand that you will have to start over again; just make sure with yor next position (if you get it) you stick with it; you don't want to do a disservice to your practice to job hop and not transition from a novice/beginner to an expert.

You also lost me when you posted that you haven't received a paycheck; if a facility can't pay it's employees properly, then that's a red flag.

Best wishes.

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Angelica - I guess that by comparison to the other stuff, my paycheck feels like a smaller issue. (Not THAT much smaller, though, considering Christmas is almost upon us!) I was able to forgive the first paycheck because they were transitioning to a new payroll system and it was a short week for Thanksgiving, but was surprised that it hadn't been resolved by this past week.

Do you think that would be grounds to leave if it is an issue this next pay period? (Reading my own question I think I know the answer, but just checking my perspective.)

i think it is a 100% acceptable grounds for leaving. Apply to other jobs and leave the moment you have an offer!

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Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

Yeah...just find out that I and the other folks in my orientation group aren't getting paid again. We'll get a small advance and hopefully our first actual payday will be January 17 - two months after we started. I'm applying to new jobs this weekend. That just super bothers me, and combined with the unimpressive training so far, it's just not even worth it to me to stick it out. I will stay until I find something else and hope and pray that eventually they pay me.

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