Advancing in Nursing

[Zelda, RN]

Hey all!

I'm a new grad RN as of May 2015. I've known I wanted to do peds since before I started nursing school. I got a job at a good hospital after a ton of searching and rejected applications. The problem is, it's nights on an inpatient peds psychiatric unit. I don't dislike it - in fact, I enjoy getting to talk to the kids quite a bit. However, I hate that they go to bed by 10 pm, and we have next to nothing to do the rest of the night - unless we get an admission. Even as a brand new nurse, I don't feel very challenged here.

I'm worried that the longer I remain here, the quicker I lose my skills. I guess my question is, should I try to transfer to an acute care unit (peds or NICU is where I'd be looking) after 90 days? 6 months? 1 year? Or try to pick up PRN shifts? I feel bad because I honestly love my coworkers and everyone here, and I don't mind psych at all. I just worry about losing my marketability as a nurse. Psych nurses can be pretty looked down on by employers - like once you do psych, that's all you can ever do. I desperately want to work at a children's hospital in 2 years.

Thoughts? Am I just panicking over nothing? Thank you!

[midazoslam]

If it helps, I have worked in psych for over three years and have just been offered an interview with the oncology department.

Your skills won't "disappear", but they will require tweaking - so long as you show a willingness to challenge and keep educated that's what matters.

Plus, psych experience is invaluable in any department. We sure have a way with words and difficult situations :)

Good luck!

[Zelda, RN]

Thank you! I definitely feel my therapeutic communication skills improving every day. I have no problem asking the hard questions - suicide, abuse, etc. I just miss the IVs, assessments, and urgency of acute care.

[midazoslam]

You're more than welcome. It sounds like you would be more than willing to challenge yourself and push yourself, no matter what area you work in. That's a huge positive, and something very desirable.

I read a great bit of info on here (I *really* wish I remembered who it was), when I was contemplating about even putting in a job application for something other than psych. Your skills never quite go away... they get locked in the back of your brain, and it's just like riding a bike again - it takes a couple of goes, but soon it is like you never even forgot :)

[Zelda, RN]

Bump.

Does transferring after 90 days look bad? Should I wait a bit longer?

[gibsongirl]

Move on as soon as you can. You must think of yourself in these matters, not how your coworkers may feel. Remember, nobody is indispensable . You can do prn in your current unit after you transfer. This doesn't sound like your long term desire. If you want to stay though, make sure your manager knows you would like to move to another shift when a position opens. Good luck.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Check your organization's policy on transfers. They will outline eligibility criteria. In many organizations (like mine) you aren't eligible to transfer until after your 1 year anniversary. Of course, this requirement can be waived if there are "legitimate extenuating circumstances" (these aren't listed- LOL), but I don't know of any instances in which this was approved.

I agree with the PRN plan. That would get your foot in the door.

[Zelda, RN]

My organization allows transfers after 90 days (believe me, it's the first thing I checked). I just worry that, since I'm a new nurse, they won't let me do PRN.

[Zelda, RN]

It's not that I don't LIKE psych nursing. It just feels a bit like a daycare/school, and it's not what I want to do right now. I think I'd like to do it later in my career, but right now I want to experience the adrenaline and faster pace of acute care. We're also planning on moving to a new state in 2-3 years.