What's considered "Job-Hopping" in nursing?

Blur2713 · May 3, 2014

I've been a nurse almost 6 years. I've had over 12 jobs, all in the same area. I'm a traveler now. My philosophy is if you are not happy or a better opportunity comes along...go for it. I have never been turned down a job that I really wanted due to my resume.

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · May 5, 2014

People mentioned it takes a long time to get that four weeks of vacation. My hospital that I worked at does not offer that although I was able to get 2 weeks and 2 days of vacation (one day short of 3 weeks) in one year.

However, our vacation time comes from the time we use when we go on low-census. I chose not to be paid then because I used to pick up hours left and right so low-census would knock me down to maybe 40 hours instead of 48 hours.

Also, I don't count job hopping if a person changes within a system. My friend's mom has changed departments several times from ER to a new ER to L&D to house supervisor to the cath lab. She held each one for a few years. She also worked contingent in other ERs.

mistyyandell · May 28, 2014

I am a certified "job-hopper" and it has bitten me in the behind in some cases, but in others it has helped me realize that I am at my very best as a contractor nurse. I have come to realize that I need flexibility and autonomy and FINALLY have fallen back in love with being an LPN (future RN-BSN). For years I bounced around and stayed in one place for only a few months. I became frustrated and disgusted with myself that I could never seem to stick it out anywhere. My family would politely seem interested to hear about yet a new job I was getting but I knew deep down they were wondering what was wrong with me. So now that I'm embracing my need to wander a bit, I absolutely love contracting and can't really see myself going back to a structured schedule. Some of us require a bit more of a journey than others but in the end we are hopefully taking care of ourselves and our patients.

Nola009 · May 29, 2014

I am a certified "job-hopper" and it has bitten me in the behind in some cases, but in others it has helped me realize that I am at my very best as a contractor nurse. I have come to realize that I need flexibility and autonomy and FINALLY have fallen back in love with being an LPN (future RN-BSN). For years I bounced around and stayed in one place for only a few months. I became frustrated and disgusted with myself that I could never seem to stick it out anywhere. My family would politely seem interested to hear about yet a new job I was getting but I knew deep down they were wondering what was wrong with me. So now that I'm embracing my need to wander a bit, I absolutely love contracting and can't really see myself going back to a structured schedule. Some of us require a bit more of a journey than others but in the end we are hopefully taking care of ourselves and our patients.

I've held down jobs for years at a time, but also HATE being locked into a ft schedule. I can work ft HOURS, and be productive while at work, but I just feel such a sense of dread committing towork5 days/week on a regular basis. It's so draining to even think about that, yet I can do it if I know I have an "out" , and I guess that's why I'm prn at two places. Wonder why we are like this??!

calivianya, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2014

I don't get why everyone goes on and on and on about paid vacation time... if your hospital does self-scheduling and does 12s, you can take eight-day long vacations twice a month and never miss a penny without ever taking a single hour of vacation time. Where are you all working that getting days off for vacations is a problem? Just go somewhere for a week once or twice a month instead of going somewhere for three or four weeks at a time. If vacations are really that important to you, you can find a job with self-scheduling, take lots of vacations, and never miss a day of work. It all depends on what you want out of your job.

I am job hopping for the location. I really like my coworkers and I could have easily stuck the job out much longer... if someone picked up the stupid hospital and put it in a desirable place to live. When you have very little in common with the people you work with, and there is nothing good outside of your work environment because you are 400 miles away from all family and friends, and your work environment sucks, I think it is time to leave. I don't think this reflects me being a chronic malcontent and I don't think it says anything at all about my longevity in future jobs. Before I went into nursing I only left one job before the three year mark, and I left most of my jobs because working them around nursing school clinicals was a problem.