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.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I did back in January. If that is the case, then I guess I don't even see the point in staying. I never got written up or received any patient complaints and I received good performance evaluations to my manager.
It's great that you never got written up or received any patient complaints, but that doesn't necessarily mean you were a good employee or that they thought you had what it takes to be a NURSE in that department. You may have -- and I'm not saying this IS the case, because I don't know you -- just skated by on the verge of getting into trouble and never quite pissed anyone off enough to pursue it. Good evaluations TO your manager or FROM your manager? Because sometimes all that means is that no one has taken the trouble to point out to the manager the things you've done that are deserving of a less than stellar evaluation.
Finish your residency. You are learning a lot about how to be a nurse. And then stay until you're vested -- you're shooting yourself in the foot if you don't. And then go about deciding what you want to do next.
If seven months isn't sufficient then why are so many new grads who were licensed at the same time as me being given specialty jobs including the NICU?
I have treaded very carefully with my conversations with the supervisor and have always made it about what can I do to make myself an attractive candidate not why I should be hired over everyone else.
You will hate to hear this, but I think that your management is correct.
Seven months of experience is not sufficient to switch to a specialty unit. You might interpret this as your management being protective on two levels: protective of you; protective of the specialty unit. It is not fair to the RNs on the other unit to get what most would consider a novice RN. I doubt that you have learned all there is to being a general RN and if you transferred with a total of seven months RN experience the RNs in the specialty unit will be teaching you many things that new RNs are still learning. Additionally, if I were a more experienced RN waiting for this same transfer and was considered equivalent to an RN with only seven months experience I would be ticked. Your exuberant enthusiasm might be coming off to the experienced RNs and management as having a heighten sense of entitlement and being demanding. Enthusiasm is no substitute for experience.
Without a real gut check and self-reflection/assessment you could be laying the groundwork for many dissatisfying employment experiences which could ultimately lead to dissatisfaction with your nursing career.
From my manager. I have my previous performance evaluations and all have spoken about my great teamwork, attendance, etc and I have could get a reference from just about any nurse I worked with as a tech. Nothing to suggest that I have been blackballed.
I definitely plan on re-visiting this after I vest. I hate the idea of giving up my benefits but I don't want to spend the rest of my career in med-surg either.
It's great that you never got written up or received any patient complaints, but that doesn't necessarily mean you were a good employee or that they thought you had what it takes to be a NURSE in that department. You may have -- and I'm not saying this IS the case, because I don't know you -- just skated by on the verge of getting into trouble and never quite pissed anyone off enough to pursue it. Good evaluations TO your manager or FROM your manager? Because sometimes all that means is that no one has taken the trouble to point out to the manager the things you've done that are deserving of a less than stellar evaluation.
Finish your residency. You are learning a lot about how to be a nurse. And then stay until you're vested -- you're shooting yourself in the foot if you don't. And then go about deciding what you want to do next.
The whole situation just reads like you pissed off someone or made a less than stellar impression. All it takes is ONE person who has the ear of the manager. We have a situation like that on my unit, right now, actually. You can interview great and everyone raves about you during the shadow but if this one particular nurse doesn't like your nail polish, you aren't going to get the job.
Should I bring up my concerns with the residency coordinator? Let her know that I am concerned that I am not seeing a future here and that I may have to leave right after the end of residency?
Should I bring up my concerns with the residency coordinator? Let her know that I am concerned that I am not seeing a future here and that I may have to leave right after the end of residency?
No. At least don't mention leaving. Talk about leaving and you run the risk of really damaging your cause.
You're welcome to your opinion, but there are a lot of staff, organization, and expenses "behind the scenes" that must be maintained to orient new graduate nurses. It's a lot more than just the new grad and the preceptor. There is also the expense involved in paying you a full RN's salary while you are significantly less productive than an experienced RN. It's v. expensive for organizations to hire and orient new grads (even when they do it poorly). Many, many thousands of dollars (per new grad). New graduates are a financial liability to the organization, rather than an asset, for at least the first year, often longer, depending on how much the organization invests in the orientation process and how quickly the individual new grad develops.
I respectfully disagree. It is always cheaper to hire a new grad who makes a lot less money than an experienced RN. The organization always benefits from this financially.
Put in at least one year while you also continue to apply to other positions that interest you. 7 months does not count as experience and if you start implying to management that you plan to leave now, they will probably say goodbye and good luck.
While it may not seem fair, it is what it is and there are many people who could fill your shoes. Stay for the year and then decide.
I would also consider whether or not your participation on this site might be identifiable at the workplace. Sometimes it takes little or no effort to make enemies at work and if someone has figured out who you are, you might be contributing to your problem, by being too vocal. These threads often take on a life of their own but they are always traced back to the OP for responsibility.
I would also consider whether or not your participation on this site might be identifiable at the workplace. Sometimes it takes little or no effort to make enemies at work and if someone has figured out who you are, you might be contributing to your problem, by being too vocal. These threads often take on a life of their own but they are always traced back to the OP for responsibility.
That is true. I try to be vague as possible and not give out too much info.
If I had enemies or slighted anyone, I would definitely remember.
I agree with all the people, something happened when you were a tech. Complete the residency. You will not work your whole career in med surg. There are skills that are transferable such as leadership, triage, communications that only come with experience.
I am not sure why everyone is so quick to point the fingers at me. If that were the case, I wouldn't have been able to get an RN job anywhere in the system as you need a good reference from your previous manager. That is policy. I am being honest and I would know if I had done something bad enough to get blackballed from the job.
That being said, I appreciate all the feedback. I will see how the next few months go. Towards the end of my residency, I will look at my options and if I can't get into my dream specialty by fall 2016, I will put in my two weeks' notice as soon as I get a different job.
Ruby Vee, BSN
17 Articles; 14,051 Posts
It's great that you never got written up or received any patient complaints, but that doesn't necessarily mean you were a good employee or that they thought you had what it takes to be a NURSE in that department. You may have -- and I'm not saying this IS the case, because I don't know you -- just skated by on the verge of getting into trouble and never quite pissed anyone off enough to pursue it. Good evaluations TO your manager or FROM your manager? Because sometimes all that means is that no one has taken the trouble to point out to the manager the things you've done that are deserving of a less than stellar evaluation.
Finish your residency. You are learning a lot about how to be a nurse. And then stay until you're vested -- you're shooting yourself in the foot if you don't. And then go about deciding what you want to do next.