My Story. Any advice?

Nurses Career Support

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I've been a nurse for 5 years. Started in a sub acute, now in a med surg ortho trauma neuro unit. I applied in a inter transfer to SICU. Had my interview but did not get the position. A little bummed about it because even my manager

recommended me to them. I even thought the interview went well. They told me that the the nurse who got hired had more skills and experience.

I always wanted to be a critical care RN . I'm the type of nurse who loves getting SICU transfers because of their story and helping out whenever there are transfers to SICU because of the rush.

I feel like my next choice is Emergency Nursing. Will this give me the experience that SICU is looking for?

I don't want to get stuck in med surg especially now that my manager wants me to be a charge nurse. Should I go to emergency nursing?

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i think that med surg gives you a lot of valuable experience, and with that experience there is always room for transfer. 5 years is a great amount of time to gain skills and confidence. i say if emergency nursing interests you, then go for it! i was an ER nurse fresh out of the gate and loved it, but quickly learned that as a new nurse i just didn't have the knowledge base for it. good luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Don't be discouraged just because your first transfer request didn't work out. Someone with a better skill set was chosen. It wasn't about you.

I say - jump on that charge nurse opportunity. It seems as though your current manager is trying to make sure that you are provided with career development & this is one way to do it. Leadership skills are much harder to obtain than clinical training. Becoming a charge nurse won't interfere with your quest to move into a more intense environment, it will enhance it.

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

Too bad your hospital only has one position in SICU and you didn't get it.

Are you kiddin' me???? Keep applying. Let 'em know you are still interested. When you get transfers, take report and be nice to the nurse. Say you're interested in SICU and would love an opportunity to work there. If you get a chance to help another nurse with a transfer and have more time, try to strike up a friendly conversation. Ask about the unit, what does that nurse like about SICU, etc. When (not if) another SICU position comes open, one of those nurses you were friendly to will mention to the manager that that nurse in the med surg ortho trauma neuro unit was interested and they might call you! That's the advantage of an in-house transfer.

Also, the nurse that got the position instead of you might have gotten the job no matter who applied. That happened to me. I applied for a job and didn't get it because an internal transfer wanted it. They like me so much though, they actually created a position for me. When I saw it posted I was kinda confused but the manager said, "Don't worry I have to post it". So then I felt sorry for anyone who might see it and apply because there was no way they were gonna get it.

Don't give up and move on just yet. Act as if you're gonna get in and start signing up for an ACLS class. You're gonna need it for your new job!

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Thank you guys.! =)

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