[punkstar]

I had a question as to when one would be eligible in switching to another department of their choice after fulfilling orientation at their initial department...

By that I mean...

I've been in the ED for 3 1/2 months...

Would it be possible for me to transfer and apply to an ICU position?

Switching departments within the same hospital...

Does anyone follow me?

[incublissRN]

Depends on the facility. At my hospital I think it's 6 months before you can transfer to another unit.

[KckStrt]

mine asks for 12 months. See, they put a ton of money into training you. Basically they paid 2 RN's, you and your preceptor to do the job of one RN, and any educational classes you had to attend, ACLS, PALS, TNCC and so on. We figured my costs of being trained at about $15,000. in just 12 weeks, this is not including what the preceptors pay was (another $10k or so.) You might have told them during orientation it wasn't a good fit so you could be placed someplace you would enjoy better.

I hope you find where you want to be. I know it's frustrating to work in an environment you don't enjoy, I did it too.

[traumaRUs]

I think in 3 1/2 months you are probably so overwhelmed ANYWHERE sounds better. Give it a little time - you will become more comfortable with the chaos of the ER. However, if after six months or so, you don't like it, then start looking.

[webbiedebbie]

I'm wondering why you waited 3 1/2 mos to decide you want to transfer? Were there any problems during your orientation?

[mom2michael]

Most employers do not allow transfers for 6 months. Some it is 12 months.

A lot of time, effort, etc...go into training a new person to any department. It's more intense in critical care areas such as ER and ICU.

They might be willing to let you go to ICU as it's another critical care area. All you can do is ask I suppose.

But I agree with another poster, wait a bit and see how you adjust to ER. If you are still miserable at 6-9 months, then perhaps another department would be better.

[MIA-RN]

have you had a post-orientation meeting/review with your clinical supervisor or manager yet? Often that interview comes around the time you finish orientation and its a good time to evaluate how you've done. Maybe that would be a good time to discuss if you've made a good fit or not....sometimes I believe they will let you transfer if its clear to you both that its not working out.
But reading your stats, you've been a nurse as long as you've been in the ED....thats a hard place to make the student-->grad--->nurse transition. I would really try to give it a little longer.
Although I am in ED now, I started my career elsewhere and I will tell you, after the first few months I HATED it...the hours were no fun, the patient load was too much, and coming off orientation I felt I"d lost my safety net and I wanted to transfer too..but I stuck it out and a few months later I had this surge of confidence...kind of like "Hey, wow, I am doing this and I haven't killed anyone!" You might very well be in that place soon too. Reality shock hits us all at some point, and its very possible you are feeling that as well.
Give it a little more time. You can always ask that your orientation be extended a few weeks, and see if that helps.
Good luck!

[SDS_RN]

I also started out in a different department and I just xfered down to the ER in Nov. I do not feel like where I worked for the last year helped me a whole lot in the ER. It did help w/ the surgical and pediatric patients but all of the other stuff that comes in the fast pace the terrible hours takes some getting used to. I do enjoy working in the ER but even though I started somewhere else I feel like a new grad all over again because when I went to surgical for 1 year I lost a lot of the vital information needed for critical care. I never had to look at a rythm strip on surg and now I have to learn the different rythms what to do for them and get accustomed to reading them. I have the basic rythm knowledge but I feel like I should know it more in depth than I do right now. Anyways sorry about my own personal rant. Just keep on trying and it will get easier for you. No matter where you start out as a nurse it is hard and you will make mistakes but that's how you learn. If you were/are passionate about being in the ER stick it out it does get easier.
Oh and to answer your question in our hospital you have to work in a dept for 6mo before xfereing.