Being stopped from going to critical care

[sonia211, BSN]

Hello Nurses!

I have completed 1 year in a telemetry floor. I s/w the Manager of the SICU floor stating my interest in learning critical care skills and moving onto ICU eventually. Since she new me as her student when I was in the Nursing program she whole heartedly agreed and told me which hospital classes to sign up for. She also said she would set me up for orientation with a preceptor on SICU. I went and talked to my Director of tele and he flat out said NO. I said if you don't want me to train there atleast let me take ICU classes and he said those are only given to ICU preceptees. I then said can I atleast float to other tele floors so that I can learn and get good practice with vents, trachs, etc and he said NO. I understand that his job is to keep the tele floor staffed but honestly the hospital's staffing issue is not my problem. I need to be concerned with learning as much as possible because I already know I don't like telemetry and don't want to get stuck here.

Currently I am applying to other hospitals to see if I can get into a new grad ICU program. It's kind of funny because I apply weekly to different hospitals and get rejection emails on a regular basis. Obviously because hospitals are requiring that your resume be entered into online system candidates without experience are being weeded out. Hence my resume never gets seen by recruiters. I have tried walking into HR at hospitals however they constantly kick me out saying apply online.

My question is what kind of Critical Care certification can I get besides CCRN and PALS (I am working on this one) in order to be seen as a unique candidate? I have come to realize that this maybe my best way to get my foot in the door.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you in advance

[Nccity2002, MSN, RN]

Why is he denying your transfer?? Get a straight/direct answer from your manager (you did not mention it in your post)...then if you still feel he is being unfair, consider involving your HR department. ACLS and BLS are you entry level certifications for critical care (CCRN certification requires at least 2 years of ICU experience). Sound like you have the drive and motivation to be a great ICU nurse.

Best of Luck.

[kool-aide, RN]

In my hospital our "tele" floors are our Progressive Care Units (medical and surgical). So, a lot of the nurses either have CCRN or PCCN certifications. CCRN=critical care RN, PCCN=progressive care certified nurse. So, maybe obtaining a PCCN cert if you're eligible would set you apart from the rest?

Best of luck,

Kool-aide.

[ckh23, BSN, RN]

Why not try talking with your HR or whoever is above your manager like your CNO. You might find them to be more helpful. If the facility is smart it would benefit them to keep you employed and moved to the unit as opposed to letting you leave and having to spend more $$$ to replace you.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

I don't think you are elligible for new grad positions as you have tele experience?

Your PALS is not what you need if you want Adult ICU. You need ACLS, definitely get it.

If he told you no, go above him and go to HR. I'd also speak with the SICU manager to ask for some insight and ask for help. That's a bad decision for him to try to limit growth of hospital staff, you never keep people.

[PennyWise]

Why is he denying your transfer?? Get a straight/direct answer from your manager (you did not mention it in your post)...then if you still feel he is being unfair, consider involving your HR department. ACLS and BLS are you entry level certifications for critical care (CCRN certification requires at least 2 years of ICU experience). Sound like you have the drive and motivation to be a great ICU nurse.

Best of Luck.

Because, as far as I can tell, she didn't apply for a transfer. She is asking to take the CC classes while on her current unit. This would come out of said units staffing budget, hence the manager, very predictably, declined to allow it. Most hospitals do it that way anyway, so in order to get into the classes you have to first be accepted onto the ICU unit, then take the classes on their staffing budget.

Some aggressive/less honest managers will go out of their way to block your transfer too. If they are having staffing issues, they will keep you under their thumb at all costs. I never understood wanting to staff your unit with people who don't want to be there. Its like being locked in a vacancy. But, I guess some managers see no other way than this to take care of #1. There are ways to deal with this too though, but they are risky. But from what I can tell, this is not the issue here.

We all float down here.

[xtine618]

Because, as far as I can tell, she didn't apply for a transfer. She is asking to take the CC classes while on her current unit. This would come out of said units staffing budget, hence the manager, very predictably, declined to allow it. Most hospitals do it that way anyway, so in order to get into the classes you have to first be accepted onto the ICU unit, then take the classes on their staffing budget.

We all float down here.

Yup, sounds about right to me. Besides, these critical care classes may fill up and they only have space for ICU nurses that already have a position but need the training. Unless you are willing to work/precept unpaid, you may have a difficult time shadowing on another unit. I don't know many managers who would pay for their employee to shadow on another unit knowing full well they intended to leave as soon as another position opens up. Are you full time? I'm sure they do count on you to staff your unit. Apply for an ICU position. Try to get there first then they will provide all the precepting you need. Another class that might be useful is a trauma course. If u can't get in ICU, try a float pool. You may get trained to float to the ICU. Good luck!