How can an experienced RN in NYC change specialties

U.S.A. New York

Published

Hello all,

I have 2 years experience in a unit antepartum/postpartum...it is nice however i would like to change units...to a more critical care type unit where i feel that more is to be done. In AP/PP aka mother baby, nursing is very routine and it's like my skills are at a standstill in that there is no room to grow anymore...like i know everything there is to know and nothing is a challenge anymore. I would like to continue in bedside as opposed to management. I have applied to L and D, medsurg, NICU, etc. however even when i interview I am told sorry, but u dont have the exact experience. However new grads are hired into these units all the time. I have transferable skills being an RN with acute care experience so Idk why I am passed over for new grads. It seems that to be in a specialty (including medsurg) you have to have been hired into it as a new grad (i was hired in postpartum as a new grad) and once you have experience you can only apply for the same units and you cannot move forward. All the open houses in NYC are only for specialties...you have to have 2 years in X specialty to attend...doesnt matter if you have hospital experience but if it is not exact unit experience , then you wont make it. Is there a way to change specialties? I am relatively young, less than 30 years old so I want one were I can be more active and less routine and simple tasks.

Any advice??? Thank you in advance.

My advice is get your ACLS and NRP. I hope you were able to get a NICU or PICU gig.

I don't get it either. I understand facilities prefer BSN in order to obtain Magnet status. I've been a med-surg/tele nurse for 4 years now (currently training in the ICU) and have my ASN. I'm finished my BSN this July (God Willing). I don't understand why these hospitals would rather have an inexperience new grad BSN over a nurse with years experience who is about to have their BSN?

Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.
I don't understand why these hospitals would rather have an inexperience new grad BSN over a nurse with years experience who is about to have their BSN?

I think it might be the notion of avoiding the breaking of bad habits and they probably think it's easier to train a fresh new grad as opposed to someone with habits of another unit. Not that I agree, especially since I intend on going to ER next year from MS Tele.

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