New assignment problem

[WestkyRN]

I am a second career nurse. I spent 12 years in the Army as a combat medic with multiple deployments to Iraq. I always had admired the nurses I had encountered and when I got out I went to school on my GI bill and earned my BSN. I'm at my first hospital job now working in the ED. My problem is that I do suffer from some PTSD and sometimes my time in this department seems to exacerbate it. I've never let it compromise my judgement and treatment of my patients. However I am wondering if the managers would look down on me for requesting to go to a different floor. I've worked hard to get passed some of the issues and I just don't want to risk going back.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

I don't think they would look down on you. You have to do What is best for you at the end of the day.

Thank you for serving our country.

[cardiacfreak, ADN]

First off let me thank you for your years of service and for keeping our country safe.

I doubt if the managers will look down upon you. And if they do then you should find a different place to work. Do you have an employee assistance program? Some places require you to work 6 months before you can transfer to a different department.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

First, thank you so much for your service!

Second, no, they most probably won't turn a bad eye on you for this alone. Nurses are moving between departments all the time for all kinds of reasons, so unless you have something like mandatory 6 months in unit X before moving, it is going to be just fine. Although, I would think of some sort of legend like "being more and more interested in (specialty of your choice)" to cover up your mental health issues, unless they are already well known and accepted. Stigmas against mental health are still common and you don't know if your management can keep their mouths shut as they should.