Transferring Early

[NurseShamshey, RN, EMT-P]

Hello! I am a new grad nurse. I have almost a year experience but have been in my current job for 7 months. I've been working at the hospital for 4 years (I worked as a tech before I became a nurse). Long story short, when I graduated in May 2020, the great hiring freeze started so I took a PRN job at a nursing home and continued working at the hospital as a tech until a position opened up. In October, a handful of jobs opened on the Acute Care/Med Surg units so I applied right away. Well the unit I got hired on happened to be the Covid unit. I didn't care, I just wanted to work as a nurse! Like I did all this schooling I was tired of waiting! 

Now, 6 months later, I am not liking it. Our unit has been closed numerous times (due to low census), we ALWAYS have to float, we get leaves at least once a week (I got 2 leaves in a week!). I have no pto from all the time I get called off. Also, having been a paramedic for 10+ years before becoming a nurse I am incredibly bored. You can only learn so much taking care of the same type of respiratory kids over and over again for 6 months straight. Then when we float, we get put on 1:1 patient assignments like ingestions or suicide attempts where we are basically just babysitting. I also work nights, which I didn't mind at first since I work nights as a paramedic sometimes but it's been wrecking havoc on my body these past few months. I am barely able to sleep during the day anymore. 

I've brought it up with my manager that I am bored and not learning anything. I told her I want to go to days, and I am like 2nd in line and she is sending 3 people withing the next month or so. Her solution was to allow me to train for the burn center at the hospital which is an adult and pediatric ICU and people don't tend to train there until 1+ years of nursing experience. I don't mind working down there but I don't love it either.

The hospital just approved a brand new position which is a PICU/NICU flex position that will float between both units. Since it's brand new they have full and part time available as well as day shift. I want to talk with my manager about my interest in those positions but the hospital doesn't usually let people transfer until they have been in their position for 1 year. Luckily, I am in a nurse residency program and their goal is retention and they will help us transfer early in order to not lose us as new nurses because it looks bad on the hospital if their nurse residents leave before 1 year. A few other nurses in my cohort have actually transferred early. 

My question is, how do I bring this up to my manager? She is very open to discussion but she is also kind of oblivious to things. Like in our last unit meeting people were complaining about the unit being closed to save money yet the hospital was offering double bonus and she couldn't understand why we were mad. I just have no idea how to bring it up to her! Would appreciate any advice that anyone has! 

 

[NurseMelly11]

I think telling her exactly how you just explained it here is perfect. Just talk to her and tell her what you need and specifically lay out your request. Be brief and give her the facts, your needs/wants, and ask to make sure she understood what you said. You explained it perfectly here. Do the same when speaking to her and I think you’ll do great! ?

[speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I think you actually explained your points very well too. I would be direct and to the point.....explain you are not getting your hours and need more stability financially, you would like more critical thinking due to your paramedic background, etc. These are all very reasonable needs. I think as long as you are level headed then your manager would understand.

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

Well-said. She will probably be sorry to leave someone as put-together as you sound, but that's life in hospital management.

And if it's a hard no, then hey.... there will be times in your professional life where four or five months of boredom will sound like heaven. Endure it, and then you can transfer cleanly.