Should I stay or should go?

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Hi all, I've been working in an adolescent mental heath unit for 1.5 years now. I got the job out of college because the assistance nurse clinical manager and nurses I worked with as a student went to bat for me to get hired as a new grad, and I am very thankful for them. But as I've worked there, things on the unit have declined and I am ready for a change, very ready to head to medical. Yesterday, I was signed up for a class to be trained as a charge nurse.

Do I hold out and gain some charge experience before I start applying for a medical job? If so, how long? I don't know if I can make it another three months. Yesterday, a therapist told me to do something for him because it was "below his pay grade". It's the tip of the iceberg with staffing, unit acuity, resource shortages, etc.

Any advice is appreciated!

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Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

I think a year and a half of time put into the job is sufficient, especially given the surrounding circumstances (staff, acuity, etc.).

And do you really want to be Charge at a place you can barely tolerate being?

I don't think any HR would look askance at your feeling that you want to move on to gain more experience in a different field of nursing.

So, IMHO, the only 'charge' you should be doing is....out the door!

Just be sure you have a new job ready for you to go to before you turn in your notice.

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Don't stay to learn the charge position, apply to a medical floor and when you talk to HR talk about broadening your experience not that you can't stand your current unit!

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Yesterday, a therapist told me to do something for him because it was "below his pay grade". It's the tip of the iceberg with staffing, unit acuity, resource shortages, etc.

Any advice is appreciated!

Please tell me you had something snarky to say to that. :***:

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