advice from fellow nurses

Fonenurse · Mar 27, 2006

Hi everyone I am working in rehab currently and I am getting itchy feet. My friends who qualified at the same time as me are getting senior posts and really coming on.
I just feel I am learning alot about working with the families etc and more specialised area of rehab. However I am feeling abit disheartened and wish I had went into acute first as much as I love rehab i dont feel I am progressing as quickly as I might do if I had of went into acute.
I have saw a post in CIU i am going to apply but I am petrified I am going to be a totally deskilled now any tips..........................

Linda - why do you want to move? What's so important to you about progressing? If you love rehab, why do you want to move?

Just a word of advice - the grass isn't always greener.

If however it's time to move on, then be prepared to feel deskilled at first - if it's a completely different specialty you will feel this way, and moving from rehab to ICU will be quite a culture shock.

I would suggest you sit down and write a list of pros and cons for the move and then decide...

linda scottish nurse · Mar 27, 2006

Linda - why do you want to move? What's so important to you about progressing? If you love rehab, why do you want to move?
Just a word of advice - the grass isn't always greener.
If however it's time to move on, then be prepared to feel deskilled at first - if it's a completely different specialty you will feel this way, and moving from rehab to ICU will be quite a culture shock.
I would suggest you sit down and write a list of pros and cons for the move and then decide...

Hi fonenurse I just want to move as a 25year old nurse, I feel I should I be branching out, learning more and gaining as much variety as possible.

Its important to me to progress as it is to the next no-one wants to just plod long.....really do they? I feel it depends on how ambitious you are.

I know the grass might not be greener and i will probably feel like a plonker to begin with but how do you ever learn??

Yes rehab is amazing but I feel I need to broaden my horizons, I might write down my pros and cons but feel the pros will win.

Oh and its not ICU its CIU i am applying too

thanks for your tip

linda

Fonenurse · Mar 28, 2006

Forgive my ignorance - what's CIU?

I wasn't suggesting that you should plod, rather a reflective examination of your motives for wanting to move on might help you to come to some decisions about when why and how to move. Equally, there is no shame in staying put if you are continuing to learn and develop. I am not advocating either - just reflective practice.

letina · Mar 29, 2006

Forgive my ignorance - what's CIU?

We could start a "guess the abbreviation" :lol2:

Is it Clinical Investigation Unit? :idea:

jmcmil001 · Apr 12, 2006

Hiya Linda, I found myself thinking along the same lines as you about 6 months ago and took the plunge and went to a high care unit which was opening. Like you I worked in rehab for 5 years and was an Egrade and after giving myself time to settle in I have now decided its not for me, I feel I just don't get it as the unit is more like high dependency and I feel very stressed and out of my depth constantly, whereas I knew my job inside out within the rehab unit. Is there not any chance of getting promotion in your current post? I know what you are saying about gaining more experience but think long and hard because sometimes its not it is cracked up to be

mabel u.k · Apr 12, 2006

Hi Linda, just to give you a different opinion. I qualified and went straight to a stroke rehab unit. After a while I felt that I wanted something more so moved into a high care area. I have loved every minute of acute care, obviously there was the initial period where I felt like a fish out of water but with the support and induction from the unit that I moved to within 6 months I kinew it was the right move.

That was 15 years ago. by the time I was 30 I had a H grade and I am now a senior surgical nurse.

If you have itchy feet I would urge you to follow your instincts but whereever you end up make sure you give it at least 6 - 12 months before deciding it is a failure. It may not be for you but I think you said you are 25 so you are young enough adapt and maybe find an area that you love working in like I did.

Good Luck

M