Newish Nurse Wanting to Change Specialities!!

[MaleSN1996]

Hi everyone! I am about to hit my one year of working at a pediatric bone marrow transplant unit next month. I love working on my floor and I feel like I am being challenged. However, lately I have been thinking a lot about my nursing career down the line. As much as I am content with where I am at deep down inside I know I want to transfer to the PICU or pediatric CVICU. When I was still a new grad applying to residencies I really wanted to start in critical care however I knew it was VERY competitive especially because I did not do my preceptorship in the ICU let alone pediatrics. I feel really lucky that I was able to be hired on the unit I am at right now. My question is how can I make myself competitive to be hired into a PICU or CVICU? There are some fellowship programs for experienced nurses that want to change specialities that I am planning to apply for but I am nervous because I am not sure how to sell myself. The BMT floor I am on is licensed as an ICU setting because we are able to handle SOME drips (dopamine, lasix, bumex, tacrolimus, etc.) and the ratio is 1:1.5 (one nurse gets their own patient and shares another patient with another nurse). I was wondering if this may give me an edge since our kiddos can get VERY sick. Anyways I feel like I am rambling on but I was just hoping to get some advice from you experienced PICU/CVICU nurses! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and offer some insight. I truly appreciate it!

[adventure_rn, MSN, NP]

Just apply! With your experience, I think you'd be a very strong candidate. Many people who do 'new to specialty' PICU fellowships come from non-peds backgrounds, so you'll already have a leg up over your competition (especially with your quasi-ICU experience). Your enthusiasm is clear from your post, and I'm sure that will come through in your interview.

Best of luck!