Advice Regarding Intra-system Transfer

catlady, BSN, RN · Aug 23, 2006

I think if you are open and honest just as you've been here, and state exactly what you say here, your manager should respect that. You're not looking to resign, you are staying within the same company for a better opportunity. What you don't want to do is have the manager be the last person to find out about your transfer. Tell her now.

I'm planning to do the same thing next year, myself. I want to work in a sister facility, closer to home, and go from telemetry back to ICU. The manager has to sign the transfer request, but she's known since my interview that my ultimate goal is to go back to ICU.

MQ Edna · Aug 23, 2006

One detail to add:

I requested that the regional facility not contact my nurse manager (or other references) at this time. I explained that I have not as yet informed the NM because I'm in the process of exploring work options closer to home, and felt it best to inform him once a new job was a certainty. They were very willing to honor this. From what I understand the HR person at the regional facility will have access to my performance reviews and other information about me via computer records, so during the decision process, the NM would not need to be contacted. The transfer request will not be made until a job is offered and accepted.

Basically I thought it might be best to go to the manager when a new job had been offered instead of going in now and saying "I had a close call on the drive home after night shift last week and am going to be looking around for a new job." Ideally I want to stay in the same healthcare system because they are a good employer, but bottom line, if I am unable to find a closer job within the system then I will seek work at other hospital systems (there are 3 competitor hospitals within 30 minutes of my home).

Maybe I'm just chicken!! My manager has no idea that I would even be thinking of leaving. Three weeks ago I had a performance review and never mentioned a thing because honestly I wasn't considering it then. I knew it was hard getting home from night shift, but I never dreamed I would actually fall asleep at the wheel. That incident is forcing me to look for a job closer to home. I fear that going in and informing the manager now might just cause unecessary tension and awkwardness. A clean break when all the details are in seemed like a better route.

But . . .I'm open to more suggestions and advice . . .

catlady, BSN, RN · Aug 23, 2006

I still think you owe the manager the courtesy of letting him know you are planning to transfer. If you were resigning, it would be different.

You don't have to go into detail about the night shift issue. In fact, you don't have to justify your transfer at all, if you don't feel comfortable discussing it with him. But he's going to feel betrayed if he's the last to know, and given that you're staying within the system, you might encounter him again.

HappyNurse2005, RN · Aug 24, 2006

Find out the HR policy for transferring. I am in the process of transferring to a different unit. I did not tell my manager until I was offererd the job officially, then followed HR policy by giving a 30 days notice.

Its going well, so far.

MQ Edna · Aug 24, 2006

Happy Nurse 2005 wrote:
Find out the HR policy for transferring.

Thanks for the advice! I was able to print off a copy of the transfer policy and procedure from our intranet website at work. After reading through pages and pages regarding every possible scenario in transfer of benefits and PTO, I did come to the actual procedure page.

Our policy is to notify the nurse manager after an offer to transfer has been accepted by the employee. Which puts my mind at ease about when to talk to the "boss".

But . . .I'd still like to hear from those of you who transferred to other positions internally. How did the manager react? Where there any problems? Did things go smoothly? I guess I just want to anticipate any possible bumps in the road along the way. Of course the policy manual makes it seem like a,b & c, you're transferred . . end of story!

Maybe this is a non-issue and I'm just nervous about a possible change !!

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Aug 25, 2006

MQ Edna said:

Thanks for the advice! I was able to print off a copy of the transfer policy and procedure from our intranet website at work. After reading through pages and pages regarding every possible scenario in transfer of benefits and PTO, I did come to the actual procedure page.
Our policy is to notify the nurse manager after an offer to transfer has been accepted by the employee. Which puts my mind at ease about when to talk to the "boss".

But . . .I'd still like to hear from those of you who transferred to other positions internally. How did the manager react? Where there any problems? Did things go smoothly? I guess I just want to anticipate any possible bumps in the road along the way. Of course the policy manual makes it seem like a,b & c, you're transferred . . end of story!

Maybe this is a non-issue and I'm just nervous about a possible change !!

Hi there. I moved internally (actually a different entity) and it worked out just fine. My nm was fine about it...actually offered me a day position instead of my 3rd shift position, but I like working from home, and the flexablility of home health.

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Aug 25, 2006

The only time I transferred in-house I let my manager know from day one I was interested in taking this other position. This is not generally needed but I had a very congenial relationship with this manager. Also I was planning on maintaining the first position (which was once/week PRN) while I worked the new position. My "old" manager liked me (needed me) enough to be willing to pay me overtime to work her floor. After testing my new position for several months I finally decided I liked it and could let go of the other. I approached my "old" manager and informed her that I would no longer be working on her floor. She was super-gracious. Having said that of the 8-10 NM I've worked for in my nursing career, she was in my top 2 favorite.

HappyNurse2005, RN · Aug 26, 2006

Is your current manager an easy going type?ya know, easy to talk to, gets along well with everyone? Do you know of anyone else who has transferred off? Did she behave well then?

Find out the time limit on transferring. How much notice do you have to give? Make sure you give the notice as soon as you can, too. Give her time to hire someone else, if necessary.

I was really nervous telling my manager too-she gave me my first job out of school! I went in there, sat down in her office privately, and said, "Well, I accepted another position" and she said something to the effect of "aw, phooey" It went well, though I was a nervous wreck. Just make sure you tell your manager on your own, and don't let the rumor mill get to her and tell her first. If your unit is like mine, then news like that can get around

MQ Edna · Aug 26, 2006

My manager is not the easy-going type. He is very uptight especially about budget related issues. Though he encouraged an open door policy upon my hire, he rarely interacts with staff on a day to day basis. In the 10 months I have been there I have personally interacted with him for maybe 45 minutes total.

One person did transfer within the system since I have been there. I have no clue how it went because I didn't know her very well. Personally I haven't said a word to anyone about transferring out of this job.

I got a call from the other entity today. It so happens that I need to request to be released from my current position before the official offer for employment can be made and a transfer can be initiated because I have been in this job for less than a year and came on as a new grad. So, on Monday I'm going to stick around (after night shift) until the manager comes in and then meet with him to break the news. I'm anticipating a very unhappy camper. I'm a budget nightmare, because it cost a lot to bring me on and provide me with a 24 week orientation.

Yes, I'm nervous and have thought about what I will say over and over again. But the bottom line is my personal safety, I can't stay in this job and risk falling asleep at the wheel on the drive home from night shift. I've already had too many close calls.

Worst scenario is that he can make me stick around until the second week of October (which is my one year hire anniversary), at which time I will be entitled to transfer without management permission. The new entity would like me to start on 9/17. Hopefully they will hold the start date for another 3 weeks if I can't get a release from my manager. The other entity is very excited to have me come on as soon as possible, so we will see!