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Discussion

Questionable Position Change

Hi, I'm a new RN. I graduated approximately 8 mths. ago and have been working at a large hospital as a float nurse for the past 6mths. I am very very stressed out with my job and have alot of anxiety. The stress has been affecting my relationship with my fiance and some of my other family and friends. There is another position at a different hospital in town in OB/GYN that I would like to apply for. Becoming a NICU nurse or working in some specialty of OB/GYN is why I became a nurse. Is it too early to change jobs in my career? WIll it look bad on my resume? If I were not to get I don't want my current boss to be upset that I'm looking for different employment. I have talked to her about my stress and we recently changed my hours, but I am still feeling just as much anxiety. If someone could give me some hints on what to do. THANKS!!!

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  • Experts

I have a few questions for you to think about that might help you work through your decision.

If you always wanted to work in NICU or OB/GYN, then why didn't you get a job in that field after graduation? What were the reasons that kept you away from those in the first place? Whatever those reasons were are probably still applicable today.

Do you really think that NICU or OB/GYN is a less stressful field? A switch to a new place... new specialty... new people ... might be stressful in and of itself.

If you switch, will you be able to get a good schedule? good preceptor? supportive manager? etc. It sounds as if your current employer is trying to be supportive. That can be hard to find. Be sure you can count on that in the new place before you give it up.

You didn't tell us anything about the stress that is causing you problems in your current job. So it is hard to tell whether or not the problem can be solved by switching specialties. You might have even more stress in a new job. But if you actually dislike the type of nursing that you are doing in your current job ... or there are individuals there who are making you anxious ... then getting away might help. However, if it is the stress of taking responsibility for the patients or of being a nurse in general, then switching will not change that.

One last thing ... it is rarely a good idea to quit your current job until you have a new job all lined up. Also, if you decide to leave, give proper notice and thank them for the opportunity they provided you. You don't want to burn any bridges there.

Good luck,

llg

Why don't you apply for the job? If they ask you why you are looking to leave, let them know that you are looking for a place to grow in and while the float job gave you an opportunity to try out different areas, this is the area that you are interested in.

I'm actually surprised that a hospital hired a new grad as a float. I know that mine recommends that only RNs with experience to work as a float.

As Linda suggests(and she hasn't steered me wrong yet), don't leave one job before you have another.

Good luck!

Kris

  • Author

Thanks for the advice. Those were good things to think about. The reason I didn't go immediately into that specialty is that there was not a position available in that field in any of the three hospitals in my area. Leaving the area was not an option because of my fiances career. He had just gotten a wonderful opportunity that neither one of us wanted him to pass up.

The biggest stresses at my current job is being on a different floor every night and sometime switching floors during my 12 hr. shifts. It is very common that I work my first 4 hours on one floor and then at 11, switch to a different floor because I am a float person. I am not as stressed when I am able to be on one floor for a couple days. Myself and another float RN have talked frequently to our mangaers about the 12 hr. shift change from floor to floor and they said there is nothing they can do. Thanks

Go for what you really want. I worked six months in a peds hospital full time and got a great offer for an ASC...more money better hours and no weekends or holidays. In a lot if areas nurses are so in demand that it is not a problem....and if someone questions it on your resume you can always explain your reasons. Go for what you want and be happy!!!

  • Experts

Now that you have explained your situation a little more ... I can see no reason why you shouldn't switch. It makes sense to me and I would think that it would make sense to any hiring manager. You'll probably be much happier with a little more stability in your work situation.

Good luck!

llg

Thanks for the advice. Those were good things to think about. The reason I didn't go immediately into that specialty is that there was not a position available in that field in any of the three hospitals in my area. Leaving the area was not an option because of my fiances career. He had just gotten a wonderful opportunity that neither one of us wanted him to pass up.

The biggest stresses at my current job is being on a different floor every night and sometime switching floors during my 12 hr. shifts. It is very common that I work my first 4 hours on one floor and then at 11, switch to a different floor because I am a float person. I am not as stressed when I am able to be on one floor for a couple days. Myself and another float RN have talked frequently to our mangaers about the 12 hr. shift change from floor to floor and they said there is nothing they can do. Thanks

I think you'll be much less stressed if you are able to get a job on ONE unit, and settle down a bit into a "home" unit, instead of going all over the hospital. Yes, the change will be stressful but you'll have an advantage probably if it's in the hospital you work in now- you've probably already spent some time on nearly every unit so you might have a clue what the basics are! There may be some nurse managers who noticed you did a good job, etc. You may have your foot in the door further than you think.

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