letter to manager appropriate, regarding transfer?

[NurseCard, ADN]

So there is a job... well actually a couple of jobs... at the hospital where I work, that I am pretty interested in.

I picked up a transfer form at the HR office to fill out. On it, you have to answer the question "Have you informed your department director of your intention to transfer?" "If not, why?"

Would it be appropriate to just draft a nice letter to my director? The "director" is a step about "nurse manager", but she's below the DON. I honestly would rather do that instead of visiting her office and explaining in person that I wish to transfer to another unit of the hospital.

I mean, something pretty simple like "I have made the decision to transfer to another unit of this hospital. I appreciate the opportunity you have given me to work here". You know, something fairly simple; I'll probably add a bit more to it.

[Noryn]

I would do that hard thing and tell her face to face.

[Munchkin315]

I would prolly tell her something along the lines of you wanting to explore different oppertunities in the hospital or a different area of nursing intrests you. If you say that you have made the decision to transfer elsewhere, and you end up not getting those jobs, then it can make for a sticky situation where you are working.

[rjflyn, ASN, RN]

Most hospitals I have been at require your current manager to sign off on you transferring to another unit. So you are going to have to tell them, better on your terms than theirs. Best to do it before you turn in any paperwork.

rj

[maolin]

I agree face to face, and align your reason to the effect of you have learned a lot there, but feel it's time to expand your skillset...etc. I find this is most receptive and garners support from your current team, rather than leaving with the sense you are bailing on them. Perhaps offer to stay to help train the new hire to fill your shifts. Best of luck to you!

[NurseCard, ADN]

I would prolly tell her something along the lines of you wanting to explore different oppertunities in the hospital or a different area of nursing intrests you. If you say that you have made the decision to transfer elsewhere, and you end up not getting those jobs, then it can make for a sticky situation where you are working.

See that's the thing... it stinks having to tell them that you are TRYING to leave.. and then you don't get the job that you want.

I do however, plan on continuing to try until I do get a different job within that hospital. I do not plan on staying on that unit.

[steelcityrn, RN]

I actually think telling your manager to their face is the proper way to do this. Its not a big deal, and its not like this has not nor will not happen many times again. You just ask for a minute of her/his time and say you seen a job posting that your interested in and are going to apply to it. Then just say " I wanted you to be the first to know in case I am offered it". You may add that you appreciate all that they have done.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I agree with the other posts. It's a face-to-face thing.

You can say you would like to "explore the other possibilities" without making it sound like "I hate you and I hate your unit and am desparate to get away from you."

You'll need to maintain a positive relationship to get her to recommend you to the other unit and for other jobs you might want later. Do the difficult, but professional thing and have to conversation that you need to have.

[pandaboi]

I work in a telemetry unit ratio of 6 patients to 1 nurse ratio. And I am planning to be transferred to the ER department. I got friends there who told me that they are busy but steady. My current unit has 1 secretary, 2 techs & 1 monitor tech. Sometimes when our techs calls out whe need to do primary care nursing and we almost have lots of 3 acuities level of care such as bedbound patient, incontinent, bedsores and the like. Many times of going to work before sitting in the chair my charge will tell me that I will get a new pt from ER and I haven't got any reports yet from the ER and I will get another one. I tried asking why? And the charge will just tell me "welcome to cardiac unit"? which I think very unreasonable.

And what adds to my worries is my health being compromise because of too much load to handle. I am a hardworking person but I just can't handle too much. So I am just waiting for my 1st year and trying to be patient as much as I can. I already talked to the ER manager but she told me that they don't have any vacancies but for sure that they will in the near future and she mentioned that I need to let my manager know of my intent of transfer.

My dilemma is the same thing. I don't think I have the guts to tell my manager of my plans.

I need opinions of anybody regarding my plans. I don't wanna live a life where I hate going to work. I wanna enjoy it. I don't wanna be stressed with my tech, too and demands of my patients in bedside caring.

Please email me. I need your expertise in decision making! :)

[Journey_On, BSN, RN]

What if you are actively looking for internal transfer opportunities, but the area you are hoping to get into doesn't have openings right now?

Would you talk to your manager and/or supervisor to let them know what you are thinking, even if there isn't an opening yet?

I talked with my supervisor about the possibility of trying a different area, so I'm not worried at all about letting her know. But somehow I am feeling pretty nervous about telling my manager my thoughts, esp. since she is the one who hired me.

Has anyone been in this situation? Would appreciate your thoughts. :)