Quitting my 1st RN job

[Nori.Giselle]

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!

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't think that there's a time table of competence. One could become competent in a short time, while other may make a lifetime of such things. I don't think you can say, "in two years you are a competent nurse." According to most hospitals, they think you are competent in a yr. or others you orientation and training is 12wks!. I wasn't prepared to be by myself in 12wks. My point is, I don't think you can put a number on competency.

I passed my competency and could change a vac/renasys/pico dressing within 14 weeks of starting my first job out of nursing school and included six weeks of orientation

Could I have told you about the contraindications for negative pressure dressings and what to look for when things go wrong, heck no?

All a competency is a piece of paper that shows you have the basic mimimum skill set to be able to perform a routine procedure, its also a bottom overing exercise and something goes wrong and ones employer can say "but we make sure all our nurses are competent in this"

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

Competency is a relative term. The NCLEX deems a new nurse "competent".

No, the nclex deems a new nurse with having sufficient knowledge to start the process towards competency, knowledge building as a novice nurse

Please note my use the the word 'novice'

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

Benner's Stages of Clinical Competence lists five stages; "Competence" being the third after Novice and Advanced Beginner. "Competence" occurs after two to three years in the same job or one very similar to it. According to Benner, there IS a timeline for competence, and one year isn't nearly there...."

Woot, then I'm just the other side of competent:roflmao: and moving on from there

[didi768]

You are so correct. Many are scared to death to post on this site for this exact reason. They really do eat their young.

[didi768]

That was meant for Soliloquy, meant to quote, sorry.