In hospital transfers with <6 months?

elkpark · Jun 10, 2013

Lots of hospitals have a policy that you're not even eligible for an internal transfer until you've worked six months (or one year, or whatever the specific policy is) in your current position. You might want to check on that and make sure you're eligible to transfer before you start making any noise about wanting to make a change.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jun 10, 2013

After that, it might just be that the unit you want to go to has someone who wants to work where you are. You never know.

If not, see if they'll put you on a wait list, and suck it up and deal until your ship comes in. :)

Meanwhile, show how serious you are by taking some coursework related to your target area. OB and ER are famous for having nurses take a lot of continuing education, and they also get inundated with apps from people who always thought they wanted to work there but are largely clueless. Show them some certificates from, say, fetal monitoring classes, or ACLS, or PALS, or membership in the local EDNA or NAACOG, and that will make you stand out. You might meet up some of your future colleagues at the meetings or classes, and they'll remember that. You could even start by wandering over there and asking some staffers when the next ones are offered. It will also keep your mind happy while you are marking time in your present position.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 10, 2013

The hospital's reaction can also depend on what type of impression you have made on them. If you have made a great impression on them with your personality, work ethic, knowledge, and skills ... but this particular unit is not a good fit ... another unit may well be willing to take a chance on you. But if you have not made a positive impression, another unit may be hesitant to take the chance that you will "run" again if you aren't perfectly happy on their unit either.

I've been involved in arranging such transfers many times. And it often comes down to they type of recommendation your first unit gives you. There is a big difference between, "She's a great nurse and a nice person, but our unit just wasn't a good fit for her." and "She never did get the hang of it ... and she was more of a burden for us than a help."

Can you articulate exactly why your current unit is not a good fit? How do you know those same factors won't come into play on another unit?

SusGob711 · Jun 10, 2013

The hospital's reaction can also depend on what type of impression you have made on them. If you have made a great impression on them with your personality, work ethic, knowledge, and skills ... but this particular unit is not a good fit ... another unit may well be willing to take a chance on you. But if you have not made a positive impression, another unit may be hesitant to take the chance that you will "run" again if you aren't perfectly happy on their unit either.
I've been involved in arranging such transfers many times. And it often comes down to they type of recommendation your first unit gives you. There is a big difference between, "She's a great nurse and a nice person, but our unit just wasn't a good fit for her." and "She never did get the hang of it ... and she was more of a burden for us than a help."
Can you articulate exactly why your current unit is not a good fit? How do you know those same factors won't come into play on another unit?

Very good points indeed. My reason for wanting a change is personal, nothing the unit or I did wrong. It seems I was trying to make a square peg fit into a round hole. Adult oncology is not my passion and it certainly isn't for everyone as it doesn't seem to be for me. I originally took this job because it was a great opportunity and an awesome place to learn-I thought I could will myself into liking it--instead I dread going into work everyday and I watch the clock from the moment I step on the unit. I have done well on this floor so far (as well as any new grad can do) I simply have no passion here.

I know that's a long winded cheesy answer but it's how I feel. I could certainly stick it out at the expense of my own contentment but that seems nearly unbearable to even think about. I get that the grass isn't always greener but I guess I want a job where all the crappy stuff is worth it because there's no where else I'd rather be and I don't think that place is here.

ukjenn231 · Jun 12, 2013

I did this, and there was no "backlash." I got hired on a floor I wasn't interested in, but I was put through a tuition assistance program and was obligated to go wherever the hospital system needed me to. I worked in a smaller community hospital on a tele floor but desperately wanted to go to the level 1 hospital that I had worked as a tech at for many years.

anyways, so the hospital system had a rule no transferring until 6 months. about 4 months in, I saw that the hospital I wanted to go to had a bunch openings on a new floor. I put in my application and got the interview. I told the interviewing manager that I wouldn't have 6 months in until this date, so they arranged for my start date to be the week after. I told my manager with honesty, I wanted to transfer so I could get the experience at a level 1 trauma center. She understood and I left in good graces. The recruiter that placed me in the first job (she knew I wasn't interested and did it rudely) did do a double take the first time she saw me in the hallway.

I would recommend finding the area you want to transfer to and waiting til there's openings - don't just say, I want to leave here, because if you don't get to for a while then people may not want to invest anything else in you.

Munch · Jun 12, 2013

I was in a similar situation as you(though not the exact same situation). I was working in an oncology only hospital(I thought I would be great working oncology because I took great care of my father who died of pancreatic cancer and from then on I wanted to work with cancer patients). Well it backfired because I got the job(which was a great job..a prestigious cancer hospital in Manhattan, many people would have killed for a nursing job there). But everyday just broke my heart and made me think of my father and the horrible way he died. So I applied for a job at another hospital in Manhattan. But what do you know, they only had openings in hematology/oncology and BMT. So I took the hem/onc job and figured I got my foot in the door and when another unit opened I would jump on it. After two months of working hem/onc I was told neurology/neurosurgery had an opening but they usually didn't grant transfers so quickly to new hires. So what they did was granted me the transfer to neuro with the condition that I would still work hem/onc when I was needed there. So I agreed to it and the situation worked out fantastically and that was 4 years ago. I still occasionally work hem/onc because I really love the staff members and I really do have a soft spot in my heart for cancer patients.

What you can do is maybe ask if you can be granted the transfer but still work some shifts in oncology, if your hospital will even allow it. I actually like working both units it changes things up a bit.