Transplant RN Job Opportunity

jtmarcy12, BSN, RN · Jun 8, 2013

Congratulations! I have no transplant experience per se, but I think you should go for it. With so many nurses out of work, doing this until something else comes available won't hurt your career. God Bless

GaMommy81 · Jun 8, 2013

Thank you jtmarcy12. I will definitely use this job opportunity to soak up all of the information that I can. Do you work in critical care? Do you think having transplant experience is attractive to ICU managers? All input is welcomed.

detroitdano · Jun 8, 2013

If it's strictly kidney, I might pass.

My good friend worked bone marrow/transplant for some years after nursing school, and they got some really sick patients, many who ended up being ICU patients during their stays. You see a lot of neutropenic, septic patients which is good to see if you want to work an ICU later.

However, in your situation, if it's renal only, you might be limiting the experience you could get.

I always tell people, if you want to work in ICU, just go to the ICU. Jobs are out there, albeit very tough to find. Work your connections if you can, seems most people who end up in ICU as new hires knew someone going in.

GaMommy81 · Jun 8, 2013

Thank you detroitdano. I have tried the icu where I currently work and they want a year of med surg or a preceptorship in icu while in school. I had neither when I inquired about our critical care residency. The transplant unit also sees livers and pancreas transplant patients but they are recovered in the icu first. All of the fresh kidneys come back to us. I applied for another critical care residency for experienced nurses and I am waiting to hear back. No connections unfortunately. I always have to hustle to land opportunities. I know it will get better as I become a more seasoned nurse.

jtmarcy12, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2013

No, I was a med-surg nurse,which I have encountered so much medical and surgical information. Did travel nursing, not working now because I was injured at work, but that is another story. Like I said keep working until your ideal job comes along and it will. I wish you the best.

GaMommy81 · Jun 10, 2013

Thanks so much

Fumanchuesday · Jun 10, 2013

I think that this is a good opportunity for you. One of my coworkers started on a transplant floor before coming to our SICU (we recover fresh Livers, Kidneys, and Pancreases). I also think its great experience that yall's transplant floor gets the fresh kidneys. Our kidneys come straight to the SICU (donors and recipients).

GaMommy81 · Jun 10, 2013

Thank you so much Fumanchuesday. I am really excited to get started. How long did your co-worker work on the transplant unit? Can you tell me what a typical day on your unit is like? I am ready to learn all that I can. Thanks so much for your help.

Fumanchuesday · Jun 10, 2013

Thank you so much Fumanchuesday. I am really excited to get started. How long did your co-worker work on the transplant unit? Can you tell me what a typical day on your unit is like? I am ready to learn all that I can. Thanks so much for your help.

My coworker originally came to the transplant unit on a travel assignment. I guess she really liked the job or the city bc she was from all the way from upstate NY and decided to stay (in Louisiana). I think she worked the transplant unit for 2 years (eventually became charge nurse there). Then came to SICU. It definitely gave her a leg up when she came to us because she was already familiarized with anti-rejection meds, the surgeons, and transplants in general.

I work nights in a 10 bed SICU. We also have a CCU and MICU that we may float too depending on census. Our SICU pt load mostly consists of transplants and other major noncardiac surgeries (usually). We also get critical admits from the ER, transfers from other hospitals, and rapid responses or codes from the floor. Our SICU averages 70 admits a month. The patient load is constantly changing and I feel that my job is less redundant than many other nursing jobs due to the broad array of pt type. Our pt to nurse ratio is 2:1 or 1:1. Our unit doesnt allow self scheduling, so we always work with the same people. We have 5 staffed on our shift (4 guys and 1 girl) all relatively close in age. We are all friends outside of work and hangout regularly. We are very team oriented at work and we never let one another get too far behind. It is VERY rare that we leave work even a minute past the end of our shift. After a cafeteria breakfast, we part ways, go home to bed, and get ready to do it all over again. I hope this helps. Anything else, just ask.

amheim · Jun 12, 2013

My transplant position was my favorite hospital nursing position. I learned more in the few years I was there than I had in all of the positions I held prior to that. I think it is a great learning experience and will prep you for work in the ICU. Best of luck to you!

GaMommy81 · Jun 13, 2013

Fumanchuesday,

Your post was very helpful. SICU is my ultimate goal. I don't like redundancy so I definitely think a busy SICU environment is the place for me. What other types of surgeries do you care for in the SICU? On med-surg I feel like my whole day is just a race to get everything done before it is time to leave. No one has time to stop and teach and I really don't like that at all. I am studying anti-rejection medications now. I want to have somewhat of a working knowledge of what I can expect when I transfer over to transplant. I am excited.