Please help with this question on my transfer application

suzanne4, RN · Sep 15, 2005

Do not go by a recruiter tells you about another unit in your facility. Go and jusge for yourself. Speak to the manager of surgery and ask if you can shadow a nurse for a day and see if you really like it. Then that way the manager will already know that you are intereted. But check it first before you make a commitment and find that you do not like it. Some nurses cannot tolerate being under a mask all day, just as an example.

stidget99 · Sep 15, 2005

I am looking for an opportunity to expand my knowledge base and skills and I believe that I would be a positive part of the team.

suzanne4, RN · Sep 15, 2005

Again, as a new grad, check out the surgery dept before putting in a transfer.

It will actually be better accepted. If someone is a new grad, there are issues with changing units just after beginning.

limabean · Sep 15, 2005

I feel for you. I felt the same way. When I first graduated I was working in the ICU in a critical care intern program. I felt extremely overwhelmed....it's hard just learning how to be a nurse on your own and then you also have to learn how to deal with new equipment, extremely sick patients, and you have to be quick! I decided not to stay in the ICU, and now I work on a telemetry floor. I love it! I also did a rotation through surgery and hated that even worse than ICU. Like another poster said I felt very clausterphobic wearing a mask all day long. Also you work very close with physicians so that may be a little hard to get used. I'm not trying to discourage you I just wanted to agree that you may want to find some way to spend a couple days observing in the surgical unit before you jump in for a transfer. Many people love it but everyone is different! However, if you do transfer, I think many managers would understand that ICU is a difficult place for many new grads to start and they may not be so quick to judge you for wanting to transfer so soon. Good luck.

I am a ICU nurse, new grad, completely overwhelmed. I'm putting in a transfer for surgery b/c the recruiter told me that the staff in that department is very cohesive and patient with new grads, unlike where I am at now.
What should I put for the Q that says "Why do you want to tranfer to our unit?"
I don't think I should tell them stuff that I "heard", even though it is positive. I need to tell them how interested I am in surgery, etc, etc. I'm sure they will Q me in the interview why I didn't apply for that position to begin with when I started a month ago.
What should I put??