The Case For Job Hopping

For some, there's always a "reason" to look for a new job: your co-workers are mean, your schedule sucks, you weren't made to work night shift or a thousand other excuses. There is no perfect job, and the grass really isn't always greener. In fact, it almost never is. The secret to loving your job isn't getting the perfect job . . . it's loving the job that you have Nurses Announcements Archive Article

The Case For Job Hopping
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"The nurses here are all mean to me -- it's a hostile work environment."

Actual excuse for leaving her fourth job in 12 months -- and remarkably similar to her reasons for leaving the other three jobs.

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"They're all bullies and pick on me for no reason!"
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"Crowds of mean people are following me all around!"

While I won't deny that bullies exist, there aren't any more bullies in nursing than there are in the general population. If you're having that much trouble with bullies, it's time to do some serious self examination. Chances are REAL good that it isn't THEM, it's YOU.

If you're having problems getting along with others, and those problems follow you from job to job, it's time to take a step back and figure out what it is that you're doing to irritate every co-worker you encounter. It took me too long to figure out that the co-workers in my second job really didn't want to hear how we did things in my first job. It took one particularly straightforward LPN asking me "IF it was so wonderful there, why did you leave?" to make me stop and think about what I was doing -- after I cried for awhile and blamed my coworkers for making my life miserable. After I figured things out, my coworkers were suddenly much nicer. It wasn't them, it was me.

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"It's a horrible work environment! I never get any praise, all they do is tell me what I'm doing wrong!"
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"I don't know what they want from me! I show up every day!"

(Real complaints from real new grads, neither of whom is still employed as a nurse. One of them is asking "do you want fries with that?" and the other is trying to convince her landlords that since they gave birth to her, she shouldn't have to pay rent.)

Not all of today's new grads by a long shot, but many of them, have been raised in the land of "everyone gets a trophy for just showing up" and parents who praised every move they made. I've heard that's a generational thing. Whether it is or isn't a generational thing, and perhaps it's a sweeping generalization, part of growing up is to realize that you aren't going to get praised for every soft, formed bowel movement or perfect attendance record. In the work world, you WILL hear about it when you screw up. Of course you will -- screwing up can kill someone, and even if you squeak by without killing someone THIS time, you may not be so lucky NEXT time. You may hear about it if you have a terrific idea that saves lives or money. On the other hand, sometimes your boss takes credit for the idea. You won't hear about it if you just do your job -- that's what they hired you for, and that's what they expect you to do. Learn to take pride in doing your job well, with or without praise from outside parties.

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"I'm miserable on nights -- I'm going to find a job that's straight days."
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"Some people just can't adjust to nights, and after a week, I know I'm one of them!"

The truth of the matter is that most of us are miserable on nights until we learn how to do them successfully -- which can take months. We can't sleep when we need to, can't stay awake when we have to and are nauseated when we're not ravenously hungry. We think slower, we move slower and we hate life sometimes. That's a normal part of night shift, and feeling that way doesn't make you special. It makes you normal. I know a lot of nurses who have shot themselves in the foot by changing jobs over and over in pursuit of day shift. They wind up in a specialty they don't like or a hospital with poor benefits and then they want to change jobs again.

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"My schedule sucks! This job is killing my social life!"
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"I can't work CHRISTMAS! I have small kids/lonely parents/a solo every year in the church choir!"
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"I don't know why the OLD nurses get such a good schedule and mine sucks!"

Chances are, the old nurse has a better schedule than you because she's been there for ten years and has seniority. Or maybe she's not constantly complaining about her schedule because she's accustomed to it and has made it work for her. One of the beauties of our profession is the flexible scheduling. If you absolutely cannot stand the thought of being at work while everyone else is at the barbecue, perhaps you shouldn't be looking for work in a hospital. If you are working or looking for work in a hospital because only some acute care experience will further your career goals, suck it up and live with the schedule for the two years it will take you to become competent in your job. There's a lot to be said for a "sucky schedule." I personally love going to the movies with my nurse friends on a Tuesday afternoon when no one else is there and the price of a ticket is only $6. Having three days off during the week is prime time to take the boat to that wonderful anchorage all our dock mates are raving about -- and we're the only boat there! Even the most crowded nation and state parks have a free camp site or two, and in the winter the ski lines are minimal. If you're married and have kids you can minimize child care costs by working when your husband is home.

Here's the truth:

Most people are exactly as happy as they make up their minds to be. You cannot choose what happens to you, but you can choose how to react to it.

Happiness comes not from getting whatever you want, but from wanting whatever you have.

And a final piece of wisdom -- wherever you go, you take yourself with you.

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Ruby Vee

About Ruby Vee, BSN

Ruby Vee BSN

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A to the men, Ruby! I'm an oldish new grad and well, an oldish person. I have a dear person in my life, related by blood, whom this article describes to a T. In fact, we visited my dear (rhymes with "Lister") person this week and she starting kvetching about her job, which is her pastime, and my long-suffering father told her, "Seems to me you were just so unhappy you didn't have a job.....now you're unhappy that you do." It was all I could do not to spit my proverbial dentures onto the floor. (I don't really have dentures.) While I understand the chip on her shoulder in a psych clinical way, I don't understand why people seem to wallow in misery. It has never made sense to me.

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Hey I recognize an excerpt from one of my posts. Didn't know people actually care so much about my opinion and my choices:sarcastic:.

Anyway, job hopping is obviously not the best idea, especially when working in nursing. It is always good to stay at a job as long as possible and not to burn bridges. However, sometimes you have to do what you gotta do to get where you want to be. I was once a job hopper. My goal was to never be one, however due to certain circumstances I have chose to "job hop". Am I proud of it ? No. Was it detrimental to my career? Definitely not. Have I recovered from it? I think so.

So please don't judge anyone for the decision they make regarding their life. We all know job hopping is not the best thing to do but it is what it is. If It wasn't for me job-hopping I would have never found my home on a wonderful post partum unit, where I have wonderful co-workers and docs that I work with. I also found a rotating schedule that requires me to work 1 night shift per 6 weeks. I am NOT a night shift person and never will be. So thankfully my night shifts are far and few in between.

If anyone is a job hopper I do suggest doing some deep soul searching. Identify what is causing you to hop between jobs and work on that. For me I had to realize two things: Number one, I was not a type of nurse that can handle a stressful environment with high acuity patients. I always felt like I was an excellent nurse while in those environments however it drove my anxiety through the roof. My personality just wasn't cut out for areas I've worked in such as the ICU and ER. Number 2, I've always struggled with working nights every since I became a CNA 7 years ago. Even though I knew I was not a night shift person I did except a job that was strictly nights. Well that didn't work and even had a crashed car to prove it. I also became severely depressed working straight nights.

After realizing what jobs were definitely not for me, I stop applying to them and accepting offers. I worked PRN until something that worked for me came up. Ofcourse, my husband made enough for me to work just PRN but this is not the case for everyone. You definitely should not leave a job without having another lined up.

Once again, I can honestly say that I do have my dream job. Not all roses and sunshine but it is definitely my niche and I see myself staying there for a very long time. I have never said that about any other job. ;)

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Good for you finding a niche where the work and the hours suit you, prnqday. We hear so much about the "flexibility" of nursing but it is immediately followed with a barrage of sneering at nurses who chose the flexible option, rather than grinding out the years in bedside med-surg nursing, "paying their dues" by working all the unsocial and inflexible shifts thrown at them while feasting on those who dare to hope for anything better. They then justify it by saying "damn I had it hard, so should you and I'm telling you this because I'm a crusty old bat".

Life is too short to spend a quarter of your week being unhappy with people you don't like and who don't bring out the best in you.

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I get the essence of the original post. I also get not wanting to be miserable for a large part of your life. I have certain limitations that I have set for my life. They have made job hunting difficult, but I am also old and know myself really well. I know just how much misery I will subject myself to, and for what reasons. And, that is the point isn't it? I live by "you can't control what happens to you, only how you react to it". Another good one is, "be careful what you wish for because you just might get it".

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

Where do I begin....

First off, employers, as a whole, treat their employees like crap. There is no loyalty or respect for the "worker bee" and as a result, more people are starting to job hop and looking out for their own interests...which is great! No one is going to advocate for you but you, and job-hopping can be seen as a way of self-advocating and self-preservation. Now onto your post...

“The nurses here are all mean to me -- it’s a hostile work environment.”

Actual excuse for leaving her fourth job in 12 months -- and remarkably similar to her reasons for leaving the other three jobs. “They’re all bullies and pick on me for no reason!” “Crowds of mean people are following me all around!” While I won’t deny that bullies exist, there aren’t any more bullies in nursing than there are in the general population. If you’re having that much trouble with bullies, it’s time to do some serious self examination. Chances are REAL good that it isn’t THEM, it’s YOU. If you’re having problems getting along with others, and those problems follow you from job to job, it’s time to take a step back and figure out what it is that you’re doing to irritate every co-worker you encounter.

Four jobs in a year is extreme, especially in nursing, a field in which orientation can last several months. However, I will say that nurses as a whole do not treat each other well. In fact, I have never seen such lack of professionalism in a so-called profession. The things I've seen just blows my mind. It is no wonder so many people, especially new grads, job hop frequently.

“It’s a horrible work environment! I never get any praise, all they do is tell me what I’m doing wrong!” “I don’t know what they want from me! I show up every day!” Not all of today’s new grads by a long shot, but many of them, have been raised in the land of “everyone gets a trophy for just showing up” and parents who praised every move they made. I’ve heard that’s a generational thing. Whether it is or isn’t a generational thing, and perhaps it’s a sweeping generalization, part of growing up is to realize that you aren’t going to get praised for every soft, formed bowel movement or perfect attendance record. In the work world, you WILL hear about it when you screw up. Of course you will -- screwing up can kill someone, and even if you squeak by without killing someone THIS time, you may not be so lucky NEXT time. You may hear about it if you have a terrific idea that saves lives or money. On the other hand, sometimes your boss takes credit for the idea. You won’t hear about it if you just do your job -- that’s what they hired you for, and that’s what they expect you to do. Learn to take pride in doing your job well, with or without praise from outside parties.

Okay...I'm sure most people aren't complaining about lack of praise but the constant put-downs. Positive reinforcement and constructive criticism both go a long way. Some people can't seem to distinguish constructive criticism from nastiness and bullying, and some of those people end up acting as preceptors...a terrible combination.

“My schedule sucks! This job is killing my social life!” “I can’t work CHRISTMAS! I have small kids/lonely parents/a solo every year in the church choir!” “I don’t know why the OLD nurses get such a good schedule and mine sucks!” Chances are, the old nurse has a better schedule than you because she’s been there for ten years and has seniority. Or maybe she’s not constantly complaining about her schedule because she’s accustomed to it and has made it work for her. One of the beauties of our profession is the flexible scheduling. If you absolutely cannot stand the thought of being at work while everyone else is at the barbecue, perhaps you shouldn’t be looking for work in a hospital. If you are working or looking for work in a hospital because only some acute care experience will further your career goals, suck it up and live with the schedule for the two years it will take you to become competent in your job. There’s a lot to be said for a “sucky schedule.” I personally love going to the movies with my nurse friends on a Tuesday afternoon when no one else is there and the price of a ticket is only $6. Having three days off during the week is prime time to take the boat to that wonderful anchorage all our dock mates are raving about -- and we’re the only boat there! Even the most crowded nation and state parks have a free camp site or two, and in the winter the ski lines are minimal. If you’re married and have kids you can minimize child care costs by working when your husband is home.

I agree with this 100%. I don't get why some people enter nursing and want to work hospital jobs knowing that working holidays and weekends is a requirement for EVERYONE, day-shifters and night-shifters, doctors and nurses and techs, etc. At one of my jobs, nurses only have to work every third weekend and holidays are rotated. Everyone scrambles to work for holidays because it is double time and a half. That's GREAT money. And I totally agree that nursing is EXTREMELY flexible, and who doesn't like $6 dollar movie tickets and nearly empty grocery stores?

Most people are exactly as happy as they make up their minds to be.

You cannot choose what happens to you, but you can choose how to react to it.

Happiness comes not from getting whatever you want, but from wanting whatever you have.

As someone who has struggled with mental illness for most of her life, I wish happiness was that simple. Happiness and all that comes with it is far more complex than that.

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OT: Can I just put in a vote for "Kungpoopanda" as the best username I have seen to date on this forum? I just laughed so hard at that. Well done.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I did nights, once for 3 years, and again a couple years later for 16 months. I didn't get used to it. It messed with my sleep, my mood, and my health. And yes, I left my job after 16 months because of it. I don't regret that decision. For many people, working nights is more than "you'll get used to it." Working nights is unnatural for most people. It messes with circadian rhythms, and is implicated in increased risk of obesity as well as cancer.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

And I saw NOTHING like "a case FOR job hopping" in the OP. Just saying.

Did you mean to entitle it "A case AGAINST job hopping"?

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Specializes in ER.

I feel like a job hopper but some of it was not entirely my fault. I worked at a job for 4 years retail then went to go work as an ambulette at a sketchy company (literally sketchy and way too much of mommy babying her son) for 4 months (retention rate is still about 3 months on average for employees with the exception of five that are related to the owner). Then offered a position full-time as an EMT at an ambulance company notorious for running people to the ground for 8 months (retention rate improved since my former partner became the captain but at the time I was number 5 out of 20 EMTs out of who worked there the longest). So then I worked at an ER as a pct, but my position was eliminated after six months due to budget cuts (last one hired, first one to go) so I was moved to working every third weekend. So then I stayed in the company and went to become an ancillary staff at a different ER with about 4 possible roles for about a year and 2 months until I graduated. Moved into the company into a different department out of the ER and I hate it. It's a different role.

So, I am looking at switching jobs 3 months into it. I know it's bad, but I want to go back to the ER where I am more comfortable. I don't like bedside nursing. If I don't get, I'll put in my year and begin looking elsewhere. I think half the reason why I don't like my job is I didn't like day shift and I was on day shift too long. If I had been switched to nights, I would have been happier because that's the shift I like better and could actually think on. However, the stress of trying to sleep at night wore me down and I just started resenting the job. I don't switch shifts very well. I could work 60 hour weeks on nights no sweat (which I did a lot of) but give me 3 days on days? I cry like a baby and can barely find the energy to cook.

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

I have been a 'job hopper' in my 20's to mid 30's.

I had a good base for skills and was able to be in a time in my life and in the nursing world when working as a gypsy was possible.

I loved the 80's and 90's, sigh.

I think it is all in your makeup, the paths you take and how your life shakes out.

I was fancy free while most of my contemporaries were marrying and doing families

I have stayed longer now because I have found jobs that fit.

I think the economy and nursing environment as it is now precludes moving about so carefree as it once was.

I could be wrong though.

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I have really mixed feelings about this post. I have to say I'm usually hands down liking your posts as I've read this board, but this one sort of hits home for me.

I see a therapist every week and suffer from a rather mild mental illness. I have been sort of struggling and trying to work through the fears that come with inexperience, new grad status, and in general the level of responsibility and anxiety that has come with my new position. For the record, I haven't given up my position and I intend to try and stick it out for at the very least a year, but as my therapist said to me "If you really decide you are unhappy, there is something to be said for not staying where you are at." But that also comes along with really looking at your life and whether bedside nursing is for you. I think a fair number of people don't truly realize what bedside nursing is like until they graduate - it can be kind of a reality check. And then where do you go from there? Are you wasting your expensive degree applying for jobs that you are deemed overqualified for because you now have a degree or are you just trying to make it through until you have enough experience or money saved that you can move onto something else? I have similar thoughts at times, and can imagine if you felt trapped like this that it would not only be incredibly demoralizing, but depressing.

I feel like it's really easy to judge once you're past the 'new nurse' phase, and actually honestly once you're past the 'new to the unit phase' because there's a growing process that takes place every time you switch to another area. Even moving positions within the very same unit has been an incredibly eye opening opportunity to me. I am a keep your head down and do your work and keep busy kind of person and the amount of gossip and putdowns and crap about everyone else that everyone seems to have time to tell me is, well, lame. I could definitely see feeling like nursing is a hostile environment.

I guess in all this rambling post my feeling is yes, in part we need to pull on our boots and deal with it a little better. But no, not everyone can just choose to be happy where they are or fit into what society or the workforce expects from us. This feels a little bit like the classic case of with our patients we would give them a hundred and one consults but it's a nurse having obvious issues and they get that stern eye. Obviously that nurse who switched jobs maybe needs more support or an eye to help her figure out why she is so unhappy instead of a "well, maybe it's YOU!" combined with the comment that she now serves fries.

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