What is considered "job hopping?"

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Aug 25, 2016

I try to disguise the job hopping I've done in my 4 years as a nurse by lumping all my jobs by facility. I was at one facility for about 1.5 years, and had two positions I worked in. I've been at my current facility for 3 years as of last week (the time clock greeted me with "Happy Anniversary"), and also have had two positions I've worked in. The first position I stayed the longest at, 19 months. With this current one, providing I don't mess up in a big way, I am shooting for the full 2 years. I would like to move on eventually, but I am thinking about my next move carefully.

I've considered going to a procedural area, such as IR or OR, or even the cath lab. I don't want to continue caring for patients after procedures, because that is a lot of responsibility. To make sure they are waking up okay, that their vitals are stable, that their pain is under control (the worst part of recovering a patient), and ultimately discharge teaching. With procedural nursing, I am just responsible for the patient during the procedure, and not the after-care. I don't care for that stuff anymore. But at the same time, I would like to find a position in the area I'm completing my degree in. I've interviewed for a couple of positions in the past 1.5 years, one of them in another city. They've led nowhere, after the interview phase. The last position I interviewed for, I said I wouldn't be able to move until late August, as I would need to discuss it with family.

I'm just spinning my wheels now, because I don't know what to do. I've already started preparing my mom for moving sooner than she would like. I think next year, I am going to get very serious about a big move. Job hopping has not hurt me as much as it should, but I know I have to be careful now, and hop to another job in a strategic manner.

compassionresearcher · Aug 26, 2016

You should try to stay in the same job for at least a year. Most organizations require you to work for them for 6 months to a year before you can internally transfer. Job applications give you a chance to explain why you left a position so I'm assuming if one had a good reason they won't hold it against you. But nobody likes to put the money and effort into training and onboarding only to have to start all over again.

GeneralistRN · Aug 26, 2016

Job hopping is a silly term used by those who have at one point or another felt "burned" by employees who stopped working for them because other employers were offering enough of a better deal in terms of compensation, schedule, or advancement opportunity, that changing organizations or departments was the most logical thing to do at the time. Expecting anyone to stay in a job that has less to offer than another job that they can get for no other reason than some misguided sense of loyalty is rather insane.

If employers feel that they are burned by job hoppers over and over and over again, then in all likelihood they are not providing enough incentives for people to stay. In other words, they probably aren't great places to work, either because of the conditions or because the employer doesn't want to spend money giving people raises. And in those cases, they deserve to be burned by job hoppers for not being worthy enough to retain employees who would want to stay for a long time. You get what you pay for.

The more people who job hop, the better.

INN_777, BSN, RN · Aug 26, 2016

What generally looks good on a resume is you staying with the same employer for at least a couple years. Switching employers earlier can raise concerns and make employers worried about investing in hiring/training for fear they might not recoup the investment if you move on again.

That said, if there is a valid and obvious reason for you switching employers earlier and if there is not a pattern of you doing that regularly, then I don't think anyone will get truly concerned.

I intentionally say switching employers vs switching jobs because the key concern is usually that the employer will not recoup what's invested in you. If you switch jobs internally, your department might not like it, but it might be best for the greater organization if you take a job in an area with a more acute need at the time.

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Aug 27, 2016

I have had 3 jobs in 5 years. The first one I stayed 15 months and left because they cancelled shifts on me last minute, the second job I stayed about 18 months and left because we were getting mandated for call multiple times in a week. The facility didn't care. I'm okay where I am right now- it'll be a year in September. Once I finish the BSN, I'll reassess, and if I get offered something better, of course I would take it.

Like a previous poster said, the hospitals have zero loyalty to you, so put yourself first. My "job hopping" has served me well. I make good money and have boosted my skills each time.

Nurse3242 · Oct 19, 2016

bumping this because i'd still like to know some other opinions! :)