Quitting Nurse Residency to Start A Different One?

[blondegirl98]

Hello, readers. So as you can see from the title, I am currently in a nurse residency. I started on a med/surg-Neuro floor at the beginning of June. The floor itself is awful (most patients in restraints, bodily fluids thrown at me, preceptor making my life hell, etc.). I have always wanted to do OB and had applied for OB residencies this past Spring; however, that was around the time the pandemic started and I ended up having many in-person interviews and interview days cancelled due to the virus. So, I accepted the med/surg residency position. I never liked med/surg in nursing school, so obviously I am not liking it as my job now. I had also applied for public health jobs, but it's hard to get into as a new grad of course. So, my question is...there are many residencies starting in February/March for OB. The residencies allow candidates that have LESS THAN ONE YEAR of experience as a registered nurse...AKA me. Would it be stupid to quit the residency I am in to move to another one where I may be happier? Also, the idea of transferring is farfetched in the hospital I am at because they do not hire nurses into OB unless they have at least 2 years medsurg experience, and I have seen a similar trend amongst other hospitals (basically, if you don't get into OB as a nurse resident, it is hard to break into the area). So would it be dumb to quit one residency for another? Thanks in advance.

[llg, PhD, RN]

It's not stupid to want what you want ... but I think it is unlikely you will be selected.   While you technically meet the criteria for the residencies that you want, you are not exactly what they have in mind -- and it is likely that in a competition against lots of other new grads, your chances of being chosen are not high. 

My recommendation is to apply for the programs you want ... but don't count of being accepted.  You might be fortunate and be selected, but be prepared not to be.   Develop a good "plan B" for yourself.

[blondegirl98]

4 hours ago, llg said:

It's not stupid to want what you want ... but I think it is unlikely you will be selected.   While you technically meet the criteria for the residencies that you want, you are not exactly what they have in mind -- and it is likely that in a competition against lots of other new grads, your chances of being chosen are not high. 

My recommendation is to apply for the programs you want ... but don't count of being accepted.  You might be fortunate and be selected, but be prepared not to be.   Develop a good "plan B" for yourself.

I'm sorry but what? How is it unlikely that I will be selected, when I am still considered a new grad nurse? That doesn't make much sense, as I am planning to exclude this current job from my resume if I get an offer for the Winter residency.