Difficulty Transferring

[snickers17]

I currently work on the step-down trauma floor at a level 1 trauma hospital. I now have over a year of experience and have started applying to the pediatric departments. So far I've applied to 3 different positions: PICU, NICU, and their ER. It's been exactly 2 weeks since I've applied, and my status is still "under review." I called HR yesterday to check on my status and she said she would pass my name and number on to the recruiter. I know experience isn't an issue, I've known new grads and a couple of people with the exact same experience as me get jobs on those floors. And when I ask those people, they said they were called for an interview within a week of applying. Also this would be considered a transfer, so I thought that would help me at least get an interview. I'm worried HR hasn't even passed my resume to the managers. Can anyone offer any advice on what to do??

[AxelNewRN86]

It is great you called email. But do you know who the managers are for those units? Can you get their emails and just send them an email? Or go in person and just drop off your resume there on those units. I did this when looking for jobs, sometimes it is seen as too bold, sometimes it got me an interview. I also called the hospital's operator after business hours and asked "Can I please be transferred to the phone of the manager of ______ unit." And I would leave a quick message with my name and number and stating I was applying to their unit.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Just because there is an opening doesn't mean they are in a position to train someone new to the specialty. That they have taken others with your same level of experience means little; those people may have had connections (relationships) with others in the unit. The unit may have had a good ratio of experienced to inexperienced nurses and thus were in a better position at that time to take on an inexperienced new team member. Your experience in Stepdown has next to zero applicability to the specialties you are applying to; therefore taking you on is going to be a whole different ballgame than someone who has any kind of previous pediatric experience. You are roughly the same as a new grad from their correct perspective. After all, kids are not simply miniature adults and you will need a lot of support and training as you learn. If they are already new grad heavy, they may be looking to bump up their experience nurse numbers.

Making the crossover from one specialty to another is not easy. Getting your foot in the door is tough. I would suggest you email the managers directly and see if they would be willing to let you come in to shadow, unpaid, so you can start becoming known to them and build relationships that will help them see you are a good risk.