Leaving NICU for Labor and Delivery?

[NICUnLDRN]

Hi, ever since I graduated from nursing school I just knew I wanted to work in the NICU and I got hired as a new graduate nurse. So far I’ve been working in my level lV NICU for about 10 months and I like it but I don’t love it. There are days when I really do love working NICU and other days when I wish I worked in a more fast paced environment. I recently applied to a labor and delivery position within my same hospital and I was thinking about switching. I already interviewed and was offered the position but now I’m not sure.

I was told that if you leave or transfer out of a position with less than 1 year of experience that they won’t rehire you. So it’s like what if I leave to do labor and delivery but realize after all that the NICU is for sure where I want to work but now I’m stuck and can’t reapply because I left before my 1 year mark? What if after all I feel like labor and delivery isn’t for me? I would literally be stuck there because I wouldn’t be able to transfer back to my old unit in the NICU. 
 

To be clear when I went to nursing school I was torn between NICU and labor and Delivery but I went with NICU. Due to COVID I never did an OB rotation and unless your trying to get a job they don’t let you shadow these type  of units in my hospital. I feel torn and I don’t know what to do. Anyone ever been in a similar situation? Also where I live there are no other hospitals that have a NICU. We are the end all for these preemies who need treatment so it’s not like I can go to another hospitals NICU locally. 

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

On 8/8/2022 at 9:07 PM, RN2bJae said:

So it’s like what if I leave to do labor and delivery but realize after all that the NICU is for sure where I want to work but now I’m stuck and can’t reapply because I left before my 1 year mark? What if after all I feel like labor and delivery isn’t for me?

Nobody is stuck anywhere,it is a choice you have made,10 months in NICU is not nearly enough time to decide especially if you are so torn in choosing.How fast a pace do you envision?A level IV nicu can be daunting but you do not have enough experience to decide yet.Do you ususally have trouble sticking to a commitment in general? Both areas are big commitments of education,training,experience and I am sure your employer will not be pleased. Make a decision one way or the other and plan to stick it out and fulfill your commitment.We all face such choices in our lives not have the luxury of jumping back and forth,backing out.Do you fear a dull work environment? What is going to solve that for you?

[TheAcceleratedNurse]

NICUnLDRN said:

Hi, ever since I graduated from nursing school I just knew I wanted to work in the NICU and I got hired as a new graduate nurse. So far I've been working in my level lV NICU for about 10 months and I like it but I don't love it. There are days when I really do love working NICU and other days when I wish I worked in a more fast paced environment. I recently applied to a labor and delivery position within my same hospital and I was thinking about switching. I already interviewed and was offered the position but now I'm not sure.

I was told that if you leave or transfer out of a position with less than 1 year of experience that they won't rehire you. So it's like what if I leave to do labor and delivery but realize after all that the NICU is for sure where I want to work but now I'm stuck and can't reapply because I left before my 1 year mark? What if after all I feel like labor and delivery isn't for me? I would literally be stuck there because I wouldn't be able to transfer back to my old unit in the NICU. 
 

To be clear when I went to nursing school I was torn between NICU and labor and Delivery but I went with NICU. Due to COVID I never did an OB rotation and unless your trying to get a job they don't let you shadow these type  of units in my hospital. I feel torn and I don't know what to do. Anyone ever been in a similar situation? Also where I live there are no other hospitals that have a NICU. We are the end all for these preemies who need treatment so it's not like I can go to another hospitals NICU locally. 

Hey, I'm kind of in the same boat. I just accepted a NICU position but my dream unit is to work in L&D. I I was wondering if you ever made the switch and your thoughts on this topic now. Did the NICU ever look up for you?