Should I stay or step out of my comfort zone?

[gratefultobeanurse16, BSN, RN]

(Sorry in advance for long post)

I’ve been trying to find out if I should step out of my comfort zone and leave my current unit or stay.

I currently work on an ortho/general surgical med/surg floor for 2 years. 

I love the variety of surgical patients and the acuity of the patients. Some of our patients are on PCA pumps, tpn/lipids, chest tubes, jp drains etc.  I love the early mobilization of patients, providing education, utilizing a variety of skills such from IV starts to NGT insertion.

It is is a fast paced surgical floor with frequent admission and discharges. Some days I may  have a team of 5 patients, discharge 3 patients, and can get 3 new admissions back to back which makes it extremely difficult to know fully what’s going on with my patients. Depending on staffing, it’s typically 1:5, 1:6. When fully staff it's 1:4, which is rare!

While I love my job, I am tired of being pulled in so many directions every shift to the point I feel that I do not do enough for my patients.  I find myself stressed and constantly thinking about work on my days off.  I love my job and patients but honestly I do not want to work like this for another 6 months to a year.

My manager is super supportive and I get along with staff pretty well. However, another reason I want to leave is because there are many times where the assignments are just not divided fairly. Sometimes 1 nurse is stuck with a heavy patient assignment while others are just sitting at the desk listening to music and gossiping. Sometimes the charge nurse allows the unit secretary to create the nurse’s assignments, which completely blows my mind.  

I've recently applied to a few ICU positions and have 3 interviews in ICU coming up (SICU, MSICU, and NEUROICU)

 A part of me is scared of change especially  because I have rapport with much of the staff, MD’s, and I've learned so much about the flow of the unit itself. 

 However, a part of me wants to step out of my comfort zone and explore a new area. 

I guess this is more of a vent than a question but my question is 1) should I stay or should I go?  2) Have you experienced a similar circumstance? 3) If so, what was your decision and were you glad /regret you made the change?

Thanks in advance ?

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

A classic case of the devil you know VS. the devil you don"t. Change is hard, change is scary.

 Every time I changed, it was for the better. I quit  a job I was in for 5 years... because the new manager was unbearable. I knew the hospital like the back of my hand. I was respected by everyone else.  Moved on to many changes and many better places

 The first change is the hardest. 

 Best wishes.

[TheMoonisMyLantern, ADN, LPN, RN]

You've been there a solid amount of time and obtained really good experience. It sounds like you'll have no problem moving on and if you're feeling the desire for a change of scenery and new challenges, I think you should go for it!

[gratefultobeanurse16, BSN, RN]

Thank you!! ?

[gratefultobeanurse16, BSN, RN]

@Been there,done that you hit the nail on the head!  Wow thanks so much for your response. That gives me clarity! Thanks again.

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

Agree with everything the others said - WITH an asterisk.

*It sounds like you are very capable and have learned a lot in your couple of years on the unit. Do you run charge or have any additional leadership role on your unit now? It sounds like a lot of the downsides to this job are administrative decisions, which I wonder if you might have the opportunity to change (a little bit at least) by taking on additional responsibility. It just sounds like you love this patient population and the skills you get to use, so I wonder if more leadership would allow you to stretch your brain a bit while sticking with a place you know you generally like.

That being said, it sounds like you will adapt and be wonderful in any one of the ICUs you are interviewing at, and certainly those places will give you similar learning opportunities once you adjust to the new environment. If this is where your interests are leading you and you get a good feeling from one of the interviews, absolutely go for it! Change is scary, even when it's good and healthy - and, at least in nursing, rarely a permanent problem, even if making a new move doesn't totally work out in the end.

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

I'll almost always recommend moving out of a comfort zone into something new. I worked with some nurses on my med-surg floor that have been there 30+ years and they're fantastic. For them, the work they do every day is enough for them and they were never interested in looking for anything else. They were fulfilled where they were and that's great. I think once people start looking around, it means that there's something you're looking for that's not in your current job, and once you hit that point, you're ready to make a change. You have definitely been there long enough to get a good base of experience under you, I went from med surg to ICU and I've loved it for the past three years. Good luck!

[2BS Nurse, BSN]

Go for it!! Moving to the ICU will open up so many future opportunities for you!

"I think once people start looking around, it means that there's something you're looking for that's not in your current job, and once you hit that point, you're ready to make a change." I completely agree with this statement! I didn't make a big enough change about 9 months ago, and now that I've learned the minor job differences, it's just more of the same. I'm not really stretching my brain at all.

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

I say go for it! If you're confident and competent on a higher acuity med/surg floor with up to 6:1 ratio, you can handle almost anything! Sounds like you're not scared to learn about higher acuity patients and learn new hands-on skills. The time management you learn in Med/Surg will serve you anywhere you go.

I was scared to leave my hospital where I'd been for over 4 years because of workplace violence and staffing issues, administration sucking (usual hospital problems!) because it was comfortable and I love my coworkers. But I am happier in outpatient surgery. My stress is better and I'm no longer losing weight and losing my hair! I think you will be great in ICU, and with 3 different interviews sounds like you have a good chance of getting one of the jobs! Best of luck 

[gratefultobeanurse16, BSN, RN]

23 hours ago, LibraNurse27 said:

I was scared to leave my hospital where I'd been for over 4 years because of workplace violence and staffing issues, administration sucking (usual hospital problems!) because it was comfortable and I love my coworkers.

This is so true. I think I am comfortable with the chaos! Thanks for sharing your experience and I happy that you are happier, healthier, and less stressed! 

[gratefultobeanurse16, BSN, RN]

10 hours ago, JBMmom said:

I'll almost always recommend moving out of a comfort zone into something new. I worked with some nurses on my med-surg floor that have been there 30+ years and they're fantastic. For them, the work they do every day is enough for them and they were never interested in looking for anything else. They were fulfilled where they were and that's great. I think once people start looking around, it means that there's something you're looking for that's not in your current job, and once you hit that point, you're ready to make a change. You have definitely been there long enough to get a good base of experience under you, I went from med surg to ICU and I've loved it for the past three years. Good luck!

 You made a great point in that I absolutely find myself searching for something different. I think I am ready to make a change. I tend to overthink and then I talk myself out of it because of being scared of the unknown. I just have to let go and step out! Thank so much for your insight ?

[gratefultobeanurse16, BSN, RN]

14 hours ago, NightNerd said:

Agree with everything the others said - WITH an asterisk.

*It sounds like you are very capable and have learned a lot in your couple of years on the unit. Do you run charge or have any additional leadership role on your unit now? It sounds like a lot of the downsides to this job are administrative decisions, which I wonder if you might have the opportunity to change (a little bit at least) by taking on additional responsibility. It just sounds like you love this patient population and the skills you get to use, so I wonder if more leadership would allow you to stretch your brain a bit while sticking with a place you know you generally like.

That being said, it sounds like you will adapt and be wonderful in any one of the ICUs you are interviewing at, and certainly those places will give you similar learning opportunities once you adjust to the new environment. If this is where your interests are leading you and you get a good feeling from one of the interviews, absolutely go for it! Change is scary, even when it's good and healthy - and, at least in nursing, rarely a permanent problem, even if making a new move doesn't totally work out in the end.

This is awesome advice! ? I sometimes work as relief charge and I have joined shared leadership (shared governance team) and I do really enjoy it. However,  I think my interests is leading towards a different environment.  Thank you for words of encouragement!