New Grad already bored with Rehab

[johnsonks11, BSN, RN]

Hey all! So before I really start, let me give you a little background information. During my last year of nursing school, I worked on an acute rehab floor (AKA sub-acute medical floor) as a tech and honestly, I LOVED it then. All of my time was spent on patient care and I had a great working relationship with all of the nurses on my floor-- they let me see and do things (obviously under their supervision) that I may or may have not had experience with in clinical. I also get along great with all of the PT/OT/SLP staff members as well.

When I graduated nursing school I moved further away from work due to family issues, about 40 miles away one way. I desperately tried finding another RN job at a hospital closer to me and for a position that had some more acute patients (med/surg, tele, ICU, ANYTHING). I wasn't able to find anything so I spoke to my manager about a position on our rehab floor. Long story short, I am now working there as an RN, it's been about 5 weeks so far and I am very bored. I'm already up to a full patient load, managing just about every aspect of their care and I still have 7 weeks left with my preceptor (who, by the way, is AWESOME!). All it seems I do on my shift is my brief, morning shift assessment, pass meds, and chart for the rest of the day. For 3 hours (sometimes more) a day, my patients are doing their therapy. Honestly, I rarely get to see my patients-- especially in comparison to how much I saw them when I was working as a tech. It really sucks and it's not why I wanted to become a nurse. For those that aren't familiar with rehab, charting on your patients takes a LONG TIME. First there's your daily shift assessment, which is usual for every unit of course. But then we have to document how well they perform their ADLs, or their toileting needs, or bowel/bladder management. How much help do they need getting their R arm through the sleeve? Any help with the L arm? Can they perform 50% of the task or is it 25%? It's just so tedious and I hate that it takes time away from my patient care.

So anyway, I guess this is where I am stuck. I REALLY want to get into an ICU and if not that, then an ICU step-down so I can then work my way into an ICU/critical care setting. I crave the knowledge these nurses have and I'm afraid it is not something I will get working on a rehab unit. Now I am not saying rehab nurses aren't knowledgeable, I am just saying that that is not the kind of nursing knowledge I crave. I crave the challenge that comes with working in an ICU setting. But since I have established such a great rapport with my coworkers and upper level management, I am afraid if I leave so soon I will let them down or make them feel like I was just using them or something. I appreciate everything all the nurses on my floor have done for me and I will always be grateful for that. The hospital system I work for has another hospital which is only 5 miles away from me, but I am not eligible for a transfer until February 2014 and I come off orientation on the rehab floor in November 2013.

Does anyone have any advice? Anything I can do to make myself more marketable between now and then? Do you think it's a bad idea to jump around from job to job so quickly? Especially since I am fresh out of nursing school?

Also, I am back in school full-time for my BSN which I hope/plan to have finished by May 2014, so that is something else to take into account.

Thanks for any suggestions or advice!

[ukjenn231]

I worked in rehab as a nurse intern for a couple of years, so I know exactly what kind of setting you are talking about. While it can be nice, I would venture to say it's not for me, either.

You have to do what makes you happy, but my advice would be to stick it out a while. All I see on here are job posts about people who can't find jobs, and having less than 1 yr experience probably makes you less desirable than if you were fresh out of school. You even said that you had tried to find another job and you couldn't, so is there any reason that you think you will be able to now? If you leave so quickly at this unit, you probably will burn your bridge at the hospital system.

If you are craving knowledge, find ways to learn. Read charts in depth, look up patient's medical issues, look up meds. Buy a certification book and start studying for something. Subscribe to a nursing journal and read up on stuff. Put in your time, even if it's tedious, at least it's a job and will give you great recommendations for your next opportunity :) Good luck!

[Irish RN]

There's no harm in applying for other positions. If you go on an interview, UP talk the rehab and explain how much you learned there as a tech and a new grad. DO NOT say you're "bored" and have too much paperwork. Keep learning and growing where you are and stick it out until you get offered another position. To be honest, I work MedSurg and I have a lot to chart but also A LOT to physically do. Having my patients busy with PT for 3 hours sounds kinda nice! :) just remember it's not always greener but it very well can be.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Rehab patients are recovering from a variety disease processes/injuries.

Study their histories and know the pathology inside/out.

That will benefit you on the other end of delivering nursing care.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Work on getting the knowledge and experience to take the rehab. certification exam.

[johnsonks11, BSN, RN]

Thanks for all the feedback! I've been thinking hard about it for a long time and I'm sure this is something I will stick with at least until I finish my BSN simply because I'm not sure I'll have the time to train for a critical care while I'm still in school full time.

[ArtClassRN, ADN, RN]

I definitely sympathize. I loved being a Rehab Tech, but I now hate, hate, hate, hate floating to my company's rehab floor.

One of my classmates (2011) just got hired on that same Rehab floor; I almost didn't have the stomach to congratulate her. Although it's probably slightly better than the SNF job she now has.

Work hard, do the best you can, and keep looking for better opportunities.