How Do I transfer from OR to ICU nursing?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Dialysis. OR, cardiac tell, homecare case managem.

Hi I have been working in OR and home health. I am an RN with 13 years exp. I have worked med/surg, cardiac/tele step down units and pediatric intermediateICU. I am trying to get into adult ICU nursing but keep hitting road blocks!! Does any one have any suggestions? I work in WI. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:clown:

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I am not in ICU nursing, but I recently spoke with a friend of mine who is, and I was asking him how he got in. He told me that once you have at least 1 year of med/surg you can apply to a post-rn graduate certificate in ICU nursing, and after that it is very easy to find a job in ICU. He is Canadian though, maybe it is different in other countries.

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Just apply for the position. What road blocks are you running into? ICU positions tend to be a little bit more difficult to get this day in time w/o critical care experience....depending on your location.

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Specializes in Dialysis. OR, cardiac tell, homecare case managem.

I have applied to several. I have been blocked by HR. I have asked what it is I need to work on but get no reply. I am just ready for a change and feel like I have a good base background to do critical care.

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

Is this a lateral move in the same hospital? If you are not getting a reply from HR then you need to go there and talk to someone. I had issues with HR when applying for my current position. First they didn't have my info and then they said I wasn't qualified. I finally went to the director of my unit and she pulled my application and resume from HR and gave me an interview. I was more than qualified for the position and I was hired. I would suggest just being a little more proactive and find out what the deal is with HR. If you can get the contact info, I would contact the director of the ICU and inquire about any open positions. More than likely the director has no idea because HR is forwarding your application and resume.

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Specializes in Dialysis. OR, cardiac tell, homecare case managem.

good advice thanks!!! I will try the NM of ICU and HR.

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I have applied to several. I have been blocked by HR. I have asked what it is I need to work on but get no reply. I am just ready for a change and feel like I have a good base background to do critical care.

Go to their office and sit until you get an answer.

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