So, I have been at my job for seven months now and I applied for a transfer to my dream unit. My application was rejected, so I emailed the supervisor to touch base to see what more I can do to become a competitive candidate. I had talked with her before and have even went as far as to do what she suggested: join the specialty's organization, volunteer on a routine...she said she would sent off my resume.
Now? She is saying that the manager is recommending TWO years of med/surg experience to even be considered even though I have done EVERYTHING that the supervisor has asked and that unit has hired so many new grads. She says that med/surg is great and blah, blah, blah. But let's face it: how can working with sick adults help with premies? It doesn't. This is the same person who told me she only spent one year in med/surg prior to switching to my dream specialty.
I am livid. I feel like I am being strung along, and that I have absolutely no future whatsoever at my job. I have since started filling applications at other places.
I am half-way done with the residency program with more than seven months of experience, and I am damn sure not going to stay another 17 months in hopes getting something that I probably won't get. I have been at this hospital for damn near five years, and I am furious. I get waiting to a year-mark, but two? Hell no.
At this point, what should I do? Should I leave the hospital and try to get on somewhere else? Contact her after the residency program is over (I will have almost 14 months of experience) and say that I am ready to transfer? I would hate to leave this institution as I am almost vested and it has great benefits, but I don't want to reward this stringing along behavior.
You also might want to check if breaking your residency contract would put you on a do not hire list. If you could get a NICU job in another hospital I might consider it, but going from this med/surg floor to another one probably won't make you like your job any better.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
So, I have been at my job for seven months now and I applied for a transfer to my dream unit. My application was rejected, so I emailed the supervisor to touch base to see what more I can do to become a competitive candidate. I had talked with her before and have even went as far as to do what she suggested: join the specialty's organization, volunteer on a routine...she said she would sent off my resume.
Now? She is saying that the manager is recommending TWO years of med/surg experience to even be considered even though I have done EVERYTHING that the supervisor has asked and that unit has hired so many new grads. She says that med/surg is great and blah, blah, blah. But let's face it: how can working with sick adults help with premies? It doesn't. This is the same person who told me she only spent one year in med/surg prior to switching to my dream specialty.
I am livid. I feel like I am being strung along, and that I have absolutely no future whatsoever at my job. I have since started filling applications at other places.
I am half-way done with the residency program with more than seven months of experience, and I am damn sure not going to stay another 17 months in hopes getting something that I probably won't get. I have been at this hospital for damn near five years, and I am furious. I get waiting to a year-mark, but two? Hell no.
At this point, what should I do? Should I leave the hospital and try to get on somewhere else? Contact her after the residency program is over (I will have almost 14 months of experience) and say that I am ready to transfer? I would hate to leave this institution as I am almost vested and it has great benefits, but I don't want to reward this stringing along behavior.
Seven months is just a tiny speck of time. So is 17 more months. When you look back on it in the future, it's going to seem as if that time just flew past. Seven months experience is nothing. Two years of experience is something. Staying where you are for your entire residency commitment is not "rewarding stringing along behavior;" it is demonstrating that you keep your word and have a commitment to learning and becoming competent in your profession.
You are taking care of sick adults rather than the preemies, but you are building a solid foundation of skills, developing your professional self and making contacts in the hospital. Make sure that all of the contacts you develop see you as a competent professional rather than as a whiner who makes trouble when she doesn't get what she wants. The more contacts you have who see you in a positive light, the better your chances for getting what you want down the road.
Switching hospitals before your residency is complete is only going to be shooting yourself in the foot. Don't do it. Grit your teeth, finish your residency and then go on to your dream job with skills, competence and a good reputation.
Everybody else has given great advice, but I only saw one other person mention this and I think it bears repeating: DON'T LEAVE RIGHT BEFORE YOU'RE VESTED! That's cutting off your nose to spite your face!
Staying and fulfilling at least the terms of your residency is in no way "rewarding" this behavior- by quitting early you'd be hurting yourself (by leaving without a year of experience and possibly putting yourself on Do Not Hire status at the job that will serve as your sole nursing reference for your search) and your current manager (who will not nearly have recouped your training costs in productivity from you at this point- remember, the unit budget was accommodating your salary on top of your preceptor's for the entire time you weren't taking a full assignment, and it's unlikely, no matter how hard-working a new grad you are, that you have the same average productivity as an experienced nurse at just a few months off orientation). Your manager is not the one who did this, and quitting in no way hurts the one or two people who MIGHT (emphasis on the might) be behaving inappropriately, so it's not like leaving in a huff will show them the error of their ways.
Your complaint is that the hiring criteria for a unit you desire (but don't actually qualify to transfer to yet) that you're hearing second and third hand keep changing and you're frustrated at an imagined future rejection. That is not a good reason to quit, lose the money and benefits you'd have vested if you stayed, and make yourself an unappealing candidate to other organizations. Leaving now won't help you. Sticking it out at least five more months definitely will.
Sounds like they are playing you. Don't forget all the politics and favoritism BS.
I can't seem to get into a facility despite my skills, personality, expertise and knowledge. The rumors around the facility are I keep getting over looked because I have the same last name as the CEO (they are my parent). Rumor has it the nurses union and the nurse managers are afraid of the CEO's child on the floor. Total BS.
However the nurse union knows I'm anti-union and opt out of the union at my current jobs.
Rumor has it the nurses union and the nurse managers are afraid of the CEO's child on the floor. Total BS.
Doesn't sound like "total BS" to me. IMO (and experience), they are right to be afraid. There is no way on earth I would be willing to have my organization's CEO's child working for me. I'm sure I'm not the only person who would feel that way. Have you looked for employment at other facilities, maybe places where you don't have any relatives in upper management? Maybe you'd have better luck.
From my personal not so great experience, getting the med-surg experience is going to open up things if something goes wrong years from now. I got my "dream" position in LD and ended up hating it. Trying to find something else without that med surg base was extremely difficult. In 10 years, you don't know where you may be (married, HAVE to move due to family issues, want to finally live in Hawaii) getting that one to two years of med surg will save your life! Good luck on Nicu and reapply once you have hit the year mark. Maybe they had issues after hiring new grads and now want experienced only? If after the year mark they still don't want to hire you, it may be because of something your manager has said and it is time to move on. Get the year, at least!
I would advise to apply elsewhere. I had to leave a job after 9 months for family reasons and I was shocked how quickly I found another job. there is no harm in putting yourself out there. Just be prepared that you will need to invest more time in your next position so make sure it is the right fit.
Doesn't sound like "total BS" to me. IMO (and experience), they are right to be afraid. There is no way on earth I would be willing to have my organization's CEO's child working for me. I'm sure I'm not the only person who would feel that way. Have you looked for employment at other facilities, maybe places where you don't have any relatives in upper management? Maybe you'd have better luck.
I've been a LTC Charge Nurse for a while and I just accepted a position at another facility as Family Practice/Clinic Triage RN. I can't wait to see the kids every night after work instead of the 30 minutes in the morning like I do now. Both are not governed by my parent.
I still think it is BS. But even my parent's C-Suite people have said I just can't succeed at that facility. I would either be successful because of my parent or I can't be disciplined because of my parent.
I have heard it can get difficult. Managers can keep you from moving within the facility based on time there, progress, and also if you are written up for anything.
I have heard it can get difficult. Managers can keep you from moving within the facility based on time there, progress, and also if you are written up for anything.
And in kind of a backhanded compliment thing managers can find ways to block a transfer if they just don't want to lose you either because you are just that good or simply because their staffing is low enough that losing you could be an issue.
Personally I would go with the you are just to good to lose theory.
You are probably right. I admit that I don't know much about hospital budgeting. I was given the bare minimum orientation for a new grad (six weeks) and everyone does corporate training for the first two weeks regardless of level of experience. It has been a trial by fire.
I just don't understand where the money is going because it clearly did not go to the orientation process or the residency program!
I did a casual lit search in the past when this question came up and found figures ranging (depending on the source) from $40k to $100k (that's pernewgrad). Another member (UVA Grad Nursing) has posted this in the past:
"According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the University Health Consortium, the mean cost of training a new graduate in their first year was $77,000 in 2008. This includes the cost of mentoring (when two nurses are doing one job), classes, reduced workload, etc. The 'break-even' point for most employers is this 24 months."
In my mind, I know that I should wait at least until September of next year. By then I will be fully vested and have used up all my vacation time to go to places I want to go to. But my irrational, emotional side is just furious about the situation right now.
And that is what is so great about this site.
We can vent , get advice from fellow nurses.. and then re-evaluate.
I so wish I was on this site earlier than 2009. The support from AN may have changed some career decisions.
SubSippi
911 Posts
You also might want to check if breaking your residency contract would put you on a do not hire list. If you could get a NICU job in another hospital I might consider it, but going from this med/surg floor to another one probably won't make you like your job any better.