Quitting my 1st RN job

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I current work in the TICU. I really want to work in the PICU; however, they didn't haven't any openings when I was applying. I've always wanted to work Peds!! I don't hate my job. Its ok. The teamwork is great and my coworkers are always there if I have questions. I want some advice on how long I should stay where I'm at before I apply. I will say while I'm here I will learn everything I can (crrt, ecmo, recovering liver, lungs, kidney and pancreas transplants) so that when I do apply I'll at least be marketable! P.S. I might possibly stay PRN whenever I do decide to leave. How long should I wait? TIA for the advice!

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Why ask for advice if you have already made up your mind?

The fact that you seem to think you know it all after a year truly concerns me. A safe competent nurse will never stop running out of things to know whether they are one year or twenty years out of nursing.

Also, it concerns me of how well you mind is on your current job when it appears you already have one foot out the door and are concentrating on the next one.

You also need to think about how it looks on your CV. If I had a nurse that had done 2-3 years in one place, as opposed to another nurse who had 10months-1 year in three or four places, with exact same knowledge, I'd hire the first nurse. I would not be prepared to invest time and resources into a nurse who will likely leave within a year

It concerns me that so many young nurses don't seem to understand the differences between "finishing my competencies" and "being competent." Do they really think that a brief class and a multiple choice test makes them COMPETENT? Or do they not understand the word or the idea of competence?

Specializes in BSN, RN-BC, NREMT, EMT-P, TCRN.

Trauma ICU????

Specializes in BSN, RN-BC, NREMT, EMT-P, TCRN.

Absolutely agree. One size does not fit all.

Specializes in TICU.
Why ask for advice if you have already made up your mind?

The fact that you seem to think you know it all after a year truly concerns me. A safe competent nurse will never stop running out of things to know whether they are one year or twenty years out of nursing.

Also, it concerns me of how well you mind is on your current job when it appears you already have one foot out the door and are concentrating on the next one.

You also need to think about how it looks on your CV. If I had a nurse that had done 2-3 years in one place, as opposed to another nurse who had 10months-1 year in three or four places, with exact same knowledge, I'd hire the first nurse. I would not be prepared to invest time and resources into a nurse who will likely leave within a year

I have not made up my mind about WHEN I will leave. My question was how long should I wait before I apply. Pediatrics and Adults are completely different so the knowledge you gain in one specialty is not always applicable to the other.. I also said I would stay at my current job PRN which means there would be no gaps in employment. FYI I was LPN for years before becoming a RN and I currently work PRN Home Health and MedSurg...

As far as having one foot out the door. How many nurses' (or anyone really) can say their first job was their dream or ideal job?? Who would sits around waiting for the right job? Sorry, but my life nor do my bills allow me to have that luxury..

At what point did I say I would stop learning? Re-read my previous comments. I said while I am there I will take advantage to learn everything I can..

Please don't lecture when you when haven't even read the thread...

Specializes in TICU.
It concerns me that so many young nurses don't seem to understand the differences between "finishing my competencies" and "being competent." Do they really think that a brief class and a multiple choice test makes them COMPETENT? Or do they not understand the word or the idea of competence?

It seems pretty clear that you don't understand what competence is. You have no idea what is required to be deemed competent at my place of employment. Obviously its more than merely "a brief class and a multiple choice test"... You're really reaching..

Specializes in TICU.
Trauma ICU????

Transplant

Apply to another hospital. I could talk to the manager at my current hospital but they don't get really sick kids and I want to work in a higher acuity PICU. I've been at my current place more than 6 months.

Also the PICU (whole children's hospital.. I'm not worried that they need nurses. I know Peds is not for everyone but I've done clinicals at this place and have friends and a sibling that works there and I'm sure this is where I want to be)

Since they are down on nurses I figured it may be easier to be hired now vs waiting. That's why I'm thinking hard about applying. I'm already scheduled to talk to a recruiter.

Could be the time to make your move. When asked why you are leaving your current position..you have the perfect rationale.

Good luck!

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
It seems pretty clear that you don't understand what competence is. You have no idea what is required to be deemed competent at my place of employment. Obviously its more than merely "a brief class and a multiple choice test"... You're really reaching..

If you think you're competent in less than a year, you don't understand what competence is. You don't think getting your nursing license made you competent, do you? Most people understand that the nursing license is just a license to learn. "Completing the competencies" in a job is more or less a license to learn how to care for the patient with the device or condition that the competency addresses. It does not mean that you're actually, for lack of a better word, competent.

Specializes in TICU.
If you think you're competent in less than a year, you don't understand what competence is. You don't think getting your nursing license made you competent, do you? Most people understand that the nursing license is just a license to learn. "Completing the competencies" in a job is more or less a license to learn how to care for the patient with the device or condition that the competency addresses. It does not mean that you're actually, for lack of a better word, competent.

The definition of competence is having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully. Therefore if I've been deemed competent by the proper authority, then I am competent. I've said what I have said. And I stand by it.

Thanks! That really what I'm trying to figure out. Is one year enough experience before applying to PICU?

The answer to this question may in part rely on how your supervisor(s) views your practice. A good reference will go a long way in the face of not so much experience, which is what you will have after only 1 year in ICU.

Specializes in TICU.
The answer to this question may in part rely on how your supervisor(s) views your practice. A good reference will go a long way in the face of not so much experience, which is what you will have after only 1 year in ICU.

Thanks. I know I could use my team manager who was also my preceptor as a reference.

Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
It concerns me that so many young nurses don't seem to understand the differences between "finishing my competencies" and "being competent." Do they really think that a brief class and a multiple choice test makes them COMPETENT? Or do they not understand the word or the idea of competence?

I think I can honestly say after four years if nursing knowledge is this much

Then i know this much

After a year out I knew perhaps this much

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