How soon is too soon to quit a new nursing job!

1. Hey everyone ! I just switched from labor and delivery to critical care and I realize I made a mistake. I am so unhappy in critical care and this experience just made me realize I am happy as a labor and delivery nurse. I have been a nurse for 7 years and had been doing labor and delivery for 4 years up until this latest idea I had to switch to critical care.
   
   My problem is I just got off my critical care orientation and I have only been working at this facility for a little over three months! I am just wondering how soon is too soon to try to switch to the labor and delivery unit at this new hospital. I know I intend to leave it's just a question of when. I used to love coming to work when I was working labor and delivery and now I dread every shift!
   
   Please advise!! Should I go speak to there director or just wait it out miserable until some unclear amount of time that's "acceptable" before leaving?

2. Poll: Do I stay or go?

   • Leave asap, life is too short

     42.11% 8

   • Ride it out a bit longer

     57.89% 11

   19 Votes
3. 

   About Nurse4evervdw

   Joined: May '18; Posts: 2

   13 Comments

   Comment

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4. 
   May 19

   Joined: Mar '16; Posts: 849; Likes: 4,688

   The transfer policy is usually set by the facility and can be found in the employee handbook- have you checked there? Most places have a rule of thumb of one year, but no transfer is guaranteed.
5. 
   May 19

   Joined: May '18; Posts: 2

   Thank you! Great advice!
6. 
   May 19

   Joined: Aug '09; Posts: 6,328; Likes: 26,048

   Transfer, quit.. whatever. They don't own you. You have many adventures ahead.
   
   Best wishes.
7. 
   May 19

   Joined: Dec '03; Posts: 3,070; Likes: 5,134

   what made you decide to a) switch to critical care and b) switch hospitals?
8. 
   May 19

   Joined: Jul '16; Posts: 3,953; Likes: 17,692

   Quote from NurseCard

   what made you decide to a) switch to critical care and b) switch hospitals?

   That's what I want to know. Are you working towards some greater goal, or was it just a whim? If there's a light at the end of the tunnel, it might be worth sticking around. If not, get out now.
9. 
   May 19

   Joined: Oct '10; Posts: 7,492; Likes: 16,642

   Most likely the hospital won't allow an internal transfer until you've worked there for a specified period of time so, if you want to stay with your current employer, you're bound by their rules. If you want to leave the employer, apply for L&D jobs and then, once you've been offered one, tell your current manager that you've realized critical care ins't for you and you'll be returning to L&D. This short of an employment on your resume will be easy to explain in the future- "I thought I wanted a change from L&D but after a few months in critical care, I realized L&D/maternity/women's health is where I'm meant to be."
10. 
    May 19

    Joined: Sep '12; Posts: 291; Likes: 1,222

    Were there bigger issues that influenced your decision to leave L&D and your previous employer? If you left on good terms, and were given the option of an open door, generally going back to a previous job is seen as more positive on a resume or interview.
    
    In fact, my employer requires nurses to stay on a unit 18 months before transferring *UNLESS* the employee wants to transfer back to a previous unit they've worked on. After all, hind-sight sometimes really is 20-20.
11. 
    May 19

    Joined: Apr '13; Posts: 4,398; Likes: 19,011

    I didn't answer the poll because it's important to know if you are running toward something or running away from something. Good luck
12. 
    May 19

    Joined: Jan '18; Posts: 385; Likes: 1,543

    Critical care also takes at least 6 months to feel kind of comfortable with what you are doing, and I don't think you ever feel 100% certain because the latest practices are always changing. Depending why you dislike it, I would wait another few months until you are more comfortable and decide from there
13. 
    May 20

    Joined: Jun '02; Posts: 14,213; Likes: 59,568

    You're in a new environment and a new specialty. It's normal to feel like a fish out of water. Give it at least six months and then see now you feel. A year would be better. It takes about a year to feel comfortable in a new job.
14. 
    May 20

    Joined: Mar '01; Posts: 626; Likes: 479

    When I was in a similar situation HR told me that they required a one year commitment to the specialty before they'd consider a transfer to a different specialty. They wouldn't accept 6 months.
15. 
    May 20

    Joined: Mar '07; Posts: 10,570; Likes: 13,212

    I'd give it at least 6 months. By then, you'll probably have adjusted to the drastic specialty change you just took upon yourself. Look at it this way: jumping from L&D to critical care...well, you're kind of like a new grad again.
    
    If you still truly miserable after 6 months, then start the job search. Don't quit this job before lining up the next one.
    
    In the meantime, I would consider picking up a per-diem L&D gig. A few shifts each month will help keep your L&D skills current and be a potential in towards the next job, should you decide to leave critical care.

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