When It’s Time to Change Jobs Do you ever wonder if you are working at the right hospital or medical practice? If you do wonder, there is a good chance you should be considering relocation. The average nurse changes jobs 7 times during a 25year period, but much of that is done during the first 5 years of nursing. Everyone needs an adjustment period, and time to learn what it’s like to work in the real world of medicine. Once many new nurses become acclimated to their jobs, they start to think maybe there is something more suited to them, and they change jobs. The irony of this is, one fourth of them return to their original employer within 2 years. It is very important, not just for ethical reasons but for your own best interest as well, to leave on good grounds, so that if you decide to return, you have that option. When to Start Looking - Do you dread going to work every day? Ask yourself why, and write down all the reasons. Are the reasons related to nursing in general, or is it the particular nursing job that you currently have? If you changed jobs, is there another area of nursing you could change to? - When you are in the beginning stages of considering, and questioning if you should look for other employment, keep a journal for 30 days and rate your happiness daily. Are most days good, with just a few bad, or are you bored every day in your current job? Is this something that is likely to change, or do you anticipate it remaining the same for at least 6 months? - Do you have a conflict with a coworker? If so, that is probably not a great reason to change jobs. Conflicts have the ability to be worked out, and it’s never a good idea to let someone run you off. On the other hand, if you have a supervisor that you cannot tolerate, you may need to start looking elsewhere. Odds are they are not going anywhere, so you may have to. - Do you want to relocate to another area? If you reside in a large city, and live on the south side, while working on the north, you probably spend a great amount of time traveling. If moving isn’t an option, looking for something closer to home is. Related: Making a Career Move How to Initiate Your Search If there are any conferences or seminars for nurses, attend. Any social event for nurses can be used to network and find out what is available, and you
get a firsthand review of what working there is like. Some of the best jobs nurses find come from recommendations from other nurses, so be social. Don’t rule out social media as well, just remember that nothing is private on the internet, and if you don’t want your current employer to know that you are looking, don’t post it, make a call instead. Look at recruitment websites, and read the reviews of people that worked or currently work there. Remember, reviews are not always fair, a disgruntled employee can speak negatively about a former employer when it’s not justified. Just be sure to read all reviews and decide how credible they appear. If you do plan to change jobs, give at least two weeks’ notice, and don’t leave on a bad note. Don’t insult anyone, leave as positive as you can, you may decide to return someday. When you start a new job, never speak ill of your former employer, just say you wanted a change and let it go. Speaking badly of another medical center can cause trouble, as gossip tends to spread. Have a resume on your computer at all times, and update as necessary, that way your accomplishments are fresh in your mind. There is no easy answer unless you happen to be good at reading crystal balls, but if you pass up the opportunity to switch positions, you will always wonder “what if”. Related: Exceptional Registered Nurse Donna S. Gloe, RN, EdD, will be Presented in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter