new nurse switching positions

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi, looking for some advice.

New nurse starting work in a pediatric hospital on a medical floor. I have been orienting for a month and quickly learned it's not my thing. Heavy patients with lots of care, and assignment of 4-6. I'm not into scrambling around for inpatients, or doing heavy care. I'm far better at more outpatient, or focused care.

So what unit do you think a person like me would be better suited for? ICU, PACU, psych, er? I did enjoy both pacu and psych back in school.

I have a possibility of heading to the icu soon.

Thanks a lot, cheers.. (btw this is not so much a career choice as a comfort choice as I am going back to school in a year)

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

What do you mean by "heavy care"?

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Well ICU is not for you.

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Specializes in Women's Health.

When I was in the hospital I would have loved only 4-6 pts!!!! Define "heavy care". Have you tried a unit with heavier pt loads? Look before you leap.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Also, what do you mean by "career choice" vs. "comfort choice"?

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

You have only been doing it for a month? That is not even enough time to decide if something is not for you. Even if you can find another job this soon as a new nurse it is not going to look very good.

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Specializes in Med surg, LTC, Administration.

Too funny. How do you know you are "far better at more outpatient or focused care" if you have only been working a month and never did it? Also what is a comfort decision...one you haven't tried yet? And how is this Not a career choice... are you leaving nursing when you go back to school? One more thing, if you hate heavy patients with lots of care, why do you want the ICU? Peace!

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Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.

I'd give it a little more time, if for nothing else than the experience. Bedside nursing on medical/surgical floors is certainly not for everyone, but likewise in ICU and ER you'll still be doing heavy care. PACU might would be up your ally, however there's usually quite a bit of competition for PACU jobs and they will certainly give someone with years of experience preference as opposed to a new grad, no offense.

Perhaps working in an outpatient clinic would be up your ally, the job is certainly stressful and you'll run your butt off, but it is more "focused" depending on the specialty. Honestly though, you'll be better off in the long run professionally and clinically if you stick it out where you're currently at, look at it as a learning experience.

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First of all,

You need to enjoy the journey of nursing!

It's not something you jump all over the place in or with. NO employer will respect those decisions!

Think about it, before you become MEDSURG certified, you need to have worked 2000hrs, have a certin amount of CEUs (Continued Education Credits or hours) before you can sit for it. This means that all positions in nursing takes at least 2 years before you can be deemed compitent. Infact a wise nurse once told me that you will be a new nurse for at least 2 years.

I worked on Medsurg for a year and a few months,

I transfered to an outpatient clinic (Oncology) and so far............IT'S VERY BUSY!!!

Sometimes I wish I stayed a bit longer inpatient because I miss bedside. I miss being there for my patient.

In outpatient I hardly get to use my steth! where as I assessed all the time in-patient.

In-patient you know how many patients your gonna have and it's consistent (most of the time)

you might have a discharge or two and get one or two back, but that's it

Out-patient areas, you have more, and they all may come at the same time, dispite having a schedule to adhere to!

learn your skills!

Learn to be a nurse

Participate in a code or two

be a Charge nurse on your unit

see the bigger picture

THEN TALK ABOUT JUMPING!!!

This career takes time

I suggest you take time with it!

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Thanks for the responses guys keep them coming and I will read in more detail when I'm off shift.

Sorry I should clarify my language; that I am new at the hospital not new as a nurse. Heavy care as in 4-6 patients, mainly resp and pts that could really be in the icu. Comfort as in I want to be comfortable where I work and make $$$ before school again (vet med) :)

Thanks again.

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What do you mean by "heavy care"?

Probably total care. I wouldn't want to make a career out of that either. I haven't the patience or the nurturing mindset for that. The OP may not either.

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I am a new nurse I think this is the time to find your neach in nursing.. If your position isn't for you, then it isn't for you..

What some people/RNs fail to remember is that, thats why nursing is so beautiful.. You dont have to work as a floor/hospital nurse to be a nurse.. You can work in a Dr. office, clinic, home health, outpatient rehabs, cancer centers, addictions, community health ETC.. Nursing isn't pnly caring for a patient in a hospital setting.. or caring for their wound etc. It's about CARING.. I think we all share that interest as RNs but can explore in different ways. :nurse::yeah:

I say this because I found a job right out of school, in a hospital, but many people are so unhappy there because they are not heard.. I started as a new grad and was told i would have x amount of orientation, i got half the time.. I am a ball of anxiety for my patients, so what do I do? Stay for just for the experience and risk my patients? NO!! I find a facility that will honor what they say and help me become a confident nurse, because caring I already am...

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