Changing from Med/Surg to Critical Care

[nurse1903]

I remember in nursing school the thing that was constantly harped upon were the opportunities that nursing holds for you and the endless possibilities of change. Now that I am in the nursing world I am actually finding that to be incredibly false. I have 2+ years on a med/surg unit and keep being turned down for practically everything that is not a med/surg position. For example; being turned down for an ED position that required one year of ED experience.. no, I don't have that experience, but how do I get it if no one will hire me?

I'm confused why it seemed to be easier to get my first job that it is to advance to something more specialized. Does anyone have any advice on what I should do? Thank you!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

If a facility is in the position to hire only experienced nurses that is what they want. Otherwise, they will branch out. They know there is a training period and if they can avoid that, they will. Meanwhile, talk to the Director in ER and ask what you can do to improve your chances. Maybe you can take ENPC, TNCC, ACLS if you do not have them already. Maybe you can work prn or PT so they can see how you perform. Some nurses go to the tele units first, then to critical care.

[PlourdieRN]

I know exactly where you are coming from! I worked as charge RN at a nursing home, followed by RN on a med/surg floor and all I want is to move my career up to critical care (but it takes so long!!).

My advice is to keep applying... try cardiac floors (you'll get a bit of tele and higher acuity experience there), NICUs might interview you (they know that they'll have to do a lot of training since their patient care is SO different!), and definitely keep plugging away at your continuing education if you can...

But this is my BEST advice:

Apply for the float pool! - I spoke to a lot of float RNs and what they told me was exactly what I was looking for: a position that will take me to nearly every floor in the hospital so that I can not only rack up all the experience I can take, but I'll be able to make solid contacts with staff on floors I might apply to in the future. AND after a year they will train me in ACLS and orient me to the critical care units. I haven't started yet (still waiting for my start date, actually) - but I have a feeling this is going to be one of the best moves I've made for my nursing career.

So don't stop trying, make contacts with nurses on other floors (and the floats!), and know that sometimes it will take a couple years to get where you want to go... but that just means you'll have more experience for it!!

[nurse1903]

Thank you both for your advice. I have been applying to everything in hopes that someone will be willing to train me. I don't want to give up on my dreams of moving out of med/surg. I'm working towards getting ACLS completed and possibly becoming med/surg certified as well.

[DavidDudley]

It's more easier to cross train to other departments when your foot is already in the door at the hospital you want to work at. So instead of directly applying for ED or ICU as an outsider, apply for what you already have experience in and once your in start building rapport with the charge nurses and directors of the department you want to cross train in.

[Lennonninja, MSN, APRN, NP]

I had to change hospital systems to leave M/S and get into the ICU. I found an ICU that was ideally looking for nurses with about 1 year of experience, and that's right when I applied. I got really lucky with my timing!