Difficulty In Switching Specialties

Updated:   Published

I’ve reached my 1 year mark as a Med/surg nurse in July of this year. I’m grateful for all that I’ve learned on my unit, but I’m growing bored now. Most nights are chill & unproductive with nothing to do. I’ve been applying for ICU/Stepdown jobs, but with no luck. I get an interview then they tell me “maybe wait another year or so to apply again. We don’t think you’re ready.” 

I would do an internal transfer but they have a hold on transfers with no date on when they’ll gradually start letting people transfer. Covid is part of the reason as to why there’s a hold on transfers. So yeah, I just feel trapped/stuck & it’s starting to mentally affect me ?

IDK if I dropping down to PRN until they allow transfers would be a good idea? 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
2 minutes ago, ali412 said:

I’ve reached my 1 year mark as a Med/surg nurse in July of this year. I’m grateful for all that I’ve learned on my unit, but I’m growing bored now. Most nights are chill & unproductive with nothing to do. I’ve been applying for ICU/Stepdown jobs, but with no luck. I get an interview then they tell me “maybe wait another year or so to apply again. We don’t think you’re ready.”

Either you have the best med/surg job in the world, or you just don't know what you don't know. There's always something you can do. Spend down time reading diagnostic reports and looking up any words you don't know. Stock some gloves? Make videos of you and your friends dancing? Run up and down the stairs for two hours?

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree with the above, there is plenty you could be doing to advance your nursing expertise if you have time on your hands. Jeez, I established my entire nursing foundation because there was 45-90 minutes during the night where I could read my patients' charts, and I poured over them.

But, if you want a new position that's up to you.

29 minutes ago, ali412 said:

I’ve been applying for ICU/Stepdown jobs, but with no luck. I get an interview then they tell me “maybe wait another year or so to apply again. We don’t think you’re ready.” 

Did they ask you scenario questions that you faltered on or how (as far as you know) did they determine that you're not ready?

The answer to being ready might involve reading the charts when you're bored...?. JK...but kinda serious, too...

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
3 minutes ago, JKL33 said:

I agree with the above, there is plenty you could be doing to advance your nursing expertise if you have time on your hands. Jeez, I established my entire nursing foundation because there was 45-90 minutes during the night where I could read my patients' charts, and I poured over them.

But, if you want a new position that's up to you.

Did they ask you scenario questions that you faltered on or how (as far as you know) did they determine that you're not ready?

The answer to being ready might involve reading the charts when you're bored...?. JK...but kinda serious, too...

Yeah, I always read over provider notes and write unfamiliar verbiage to look up later. It helps me figure out the why.
They didn’t even ask me scenario questions to determine my readiness, just asked the type of patients I take care of, which are post op with some medical overflow 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I cannot imagine being bored after one year. I was never bored after 30 years at the bedside. There was always a new diagnosis or a new situation.

Your attitude is shining through. "I get an interview then they tell me “maybe wait another year or so to apply again. We don’t think you’re ready.”  That means you still have a lot to learn.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

True, but it’s been a minute since being exposed to a different surgical situation or patient with a new diagnosis. Not much excitement happens on our floor 

I didn’t know displaying a “wanting to learn” attitude was frowned upon. Just wanna learn new things & challenge myself in a different specialty, that’s all. Maybe I can try working in a different med-surg unit at a larger sized, teaching hospital 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, Pre-Op, PACU.

I also am surprised at how you feel bored with the job. I never particularly liked taking care of hold patients in the ER but I was never ever bored. I stayed busy and was often even behind. Also, even though jobs are picking back up, things are still not the same as before covid. Jobs are actually somewhat tough to transfer to with the whole covid thing. There is a lot to learn in every speciality. I know in my new surgical job, I have a little downtime for the first time in my nursing career. I am enjoying having a few moments of peace and using them to learn. I have never had downtime in my nursing career with working in the ER. If you are bored - try to change to day shift which is generally busier, study for your nursing speciality certification, join a committee, find a project in your unit that needs improvement and work on it. There really is very little in nursing that is boring.....

On 9/23/2020 at 6:39 PM, ali412 said:

True, but it’s been a minute since being exposed to a different surgical situation or patient with a new diagnosis. Not much excitement happens on our floor 

I didn’t know displaying a “wanting to learn” attitude was frowned upon. Just wanna learn new things & challenge myself in a different specialty, that’s all. Maybe I can try working in a different med-surg unit at a larger sized, teaching hospital 

There is nothing wrong at all with wanting to learn - completely OK to want to learn other areas of nursing. I think what many of us are trying to say is that there are many units right now that are stretched so far that we feel like our licenses are on the line. Sometimes downtime or boredom is a luxury in nursing.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion