Leaving the OR/management for a major icu

[mhy12784]

I've worked ONLY as an operating room nurse/coordinator/manager for 5 + years, never having done bedside nursing. Later this month I will be leaving the OR to take a job in a level 1 trauma center high acuity major ICU as a beside ICU nurse.

Obviously this is going to be a challenge as I'm effectively going to be the equivalent of a new grad RN, but expectations will be substantially higher for me because I have 5 years nursing experience and was previously a nurse manager.

I know I'll have some unique strengths (communication, confidence Er sorta, comfort with patients) but clinically/skills wise and expectations will be working significantly against me.

Any suggestions or advice? How can I maximize my chances for success

[JKL33]

3 hours ago, mhy12784 said:

Obviously this is going to be a challenge as I'm effectively going to be the equivalent of a new grad RN, but expectations will be substantially higher for me because I have 5 years nursing experience and was previously a nurse manager.

Any bedside nurse involved in training you is definitely not going to have higher expectations for your scenario. <Sorry ?>. Unless a manager has 1) been allowed the opportunity and 2) made concerted effort to keep all bedside skills sharp through regular use (which is possible but less likely given managers' myriad other legitimate responsibilities), others are just not going to expect what you think they're going to expect. They will expect the opposite, because you have rightfully been focused on other things in a completely different role.

I say you should be completely unapologetic in an upbeat and ready-to-learn sort of way. Don't "lend" anyone else a suggestion/idea that is unreasonable!! If you come at it as someone who needs to learn everything (just tell them straight up) and is eager to do so, it will be fine (all other things being equal).

Best of luck!

[mhy12784]

Well the higher expectations wasn't really because I was a manager, I'm well aware that most are out of touch and clueless.

I more anticipated higher expectations because I'm an experienced nurse with 5 + years under his belt who will be a notch above a new graduate

[JKL33]

And I think it will be clear that you don't function exactly like a new grad - - your applicable experience will be obvious and will benefit you. You've had time to practice the general principles of nursing, experience with the legal and ethical aspects, experience with professional dynamics and interpersonal communication, familiarity with the general way things roll, etc., etc. I just can't imagine that would translate to everyone thinking that you should know a ton of clinical/bedside specifics when making a significant change in specialty.

My personal opinion is that managers have so many other things to worry about that knowing every detail of what is going at the bedside on even in a specialty where they previously worked bedside becomes difficult after awhile. This is why I intentionally used words like "rightfully" and "myriad other legitimate responsibilities." I would not imply (nor do I feel that) people in your situation or managers in general are out of touch and clueless.

When discussing with your preceptor(s), feel free to say something like, "I became really good at _______ [nursing] but this is going to be all new to me except for the general concepts of acute care."

Then have faith that your coworkers will respond favorably. ?

[WestCoastSunRN, MSN, CNS]

I echo everything @JKL33 said. You are an experienced nurse coming from a very different specialty and discipline. No ICU nurse in his/her right mind is going to have high expectations for you from a clinical perspective.

Congratulations on your new job!