Med/surg to ER or Management?

[CayRn12]

I currently work on a busy inpatient post-surgical/step down unit. I have been a nurse there for 3 years and been charge for 2 of the 3 years. Currently I am the main charge nurse on the unit for day shift. Every shift I work I am in charge. I was the first on my unit to obtain ACLS certification. I am seen as a resource on the unit and am chair of a committee as well as the clinical nurse leadership council rep for my floor. I attend many meetings that require nurse input and work closely with my manager. That being said, I feel like I've progressed all I can at my current position. Prior to my nursing degree I obtained a degree in Healthcare Administration. My main career goal is to work in some type of management/administrative position in the hospital, but I also have a goal of working in the emergency department. I'm conflicted on whether to apply to an ED where I will essentially start over and be the new nurse on the unit. Or stick out my current position to find a management position. I'm not sure if I'm ready to experience the change of going from resource to newbie. And I also worry if I go to the ED will it limit my career options in management since I won't be inpatient anymore. Does anyone have any advice for me moving forward?

Thanks!

[guest464345]

You will definitely experience being a newbie in the ED - it's quite different from the floor you work on now. You'll have the benefit of your good assessment and communication skills, and some technical stuff, but the flow and the range of presenting concerns is quite different in an ED. It might feel a little humbling, given your situation now. I would expect it to take a year to feel reasonably comfortable with common presenting issues and handling the work flow. An unpredictable inflow of patients, with basically any possible problem or multiple problems and often not a lot of information, with the goal of moving them somewhere else as quickly and safely as possible...you have to focus and organize your brain in a different way.

It sounds like your main interest is management. I don't think the ED will limit your shot at becoming a manager, but I don't think it will necessarily help either. If you've got the time to detour for a couple/few years and are really interested in putting in the work, go for the ED! If you're itching to get into management, you can get there more directly. Good luck to you.

[ivyleaf]

Will you regret not trying ED if you go into management and stay there? If so, do it. I wish I had done ED but 13 years into my career its much harder to make the switch.