Psych RN wants to move to OR, Oncology or ER

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Truly seeking advice here. 7 years as Psych RN and just resigned. Time off to get my BSN and now I'm ready to move on. My bedside skills are rusty, and I desperately want to move into a new specialty but every job I apply to I don't get hired. Open to doing a residency at this point. I'm high energy, and motivated, not a burned out RN, just sick and tired of psych. 

Your helpful thoughts are much appreciated!

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Specializes in ER, Pre-Op, PACU.

In all honesty, the ED is hard for nurses that are proficient in bedside nursing or critical care nursing skills. A med surg/oncology floor would likely be the best to brush up on skills for about a year and then move on.

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Your best bet would probably be med/surg, and then transitioning into one of those other areas. You are unlikely to qualify for residencies with seven years of experience, although there may be an "odd duck" out there somewhere that would take you.

I hear that you want out of psych, but a med/surg unit for psych patients might find you desirable and make a future transition easier, too.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

I went from psych to OR and loved it!

Of course, that was 34 years ago and I was an LPN scrub nurse only.

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