Nurses are changing jobs faster than ever before. More than 42 percent of registered nurses have switched within the past two years. But why? And is now a good time for you to change too?
To answer this question, let’s look at why nurses are switching roles, the benefits of switching, and how you can maximize the opportunities available when job hunting.
Why are nurses switching roles faster?
The current nursing shortage is why nurses are switching jobs faster than before. A few conditions have created the perfect storm in the nursing industry, including retiring nurses to the pandemic. This storm means there aren’t enough registered nurses to provide quality care in the United States.
Even before the pandemic, many healthcare facilities were understaffed. Senior nurses retired, and the American population began to trend older, meaning elderly nursing care became needed more than ever before. The pandemic further strained the staffing dilemma and increased the demand for healthcare resources.
And this shortage isn’t likely to stop anytime soon.
Since 2020, nurses have been retiring faster than people are entering the field. More than 55% of RNs are over age 50, with many planning to retire before 2030.
With a lack of nurses, you have more bargaining power as a registered nurse. Your skillset is in high demand, which can lead to more opportunities and more reasons to change jobs faster.
Benefits of switching jobs
Many people don’t like change, but sometimes change is necessary for a higher quality of life. With the current nursing shortage, right now is a great time to transition to a role that better suits your ideal lifestyle, financial situation, or career path. Thousands of nurses have already switched and found the change has dramatically improved their work and personal lives.
Here are some of the reasons nurses cited for applying for a new job in a Health Leaders survey:
Higher pay
Different role
Improved schedule
Preferred location
Better staffing
Career advancement
As you can see, there are a lot of benefits to changing roles, and right now is a great time to do it since nurses are in high demand.
Preparing for the switch
While the current nursing shortage already puts you in a good spot, there are ways you can leverage your education and skills to get a position that is higher paying, better staffed, or has a better work schedule. Along with preparing your resume and searching for open roles, you also want to research and reflect before hitting the job market.
When researching, pay attention to your salary and other benefits and opportunities available to nurses with your experience. Check out our guide to how much you should make as a nurse and how relocating can help you make more.
Next, you want to ensure you’re reflecting on what you do and don’t want in a new role. There are three main ways you can do this:
Write out everything you want in a position before applying
Consider any red flags that a job could lead to burnout and stress
When interviewing for new roles, question the healthcare facility, too–do they have everything you need to succeed professionally?
Once you’ve researched what role and salary you can expect and reflected on your red (and green) flags, it’s time to start the job hunt. Check out HireMe Healthcare’s job platform to simplify the process and quickly land your dream nursing job.