Unit Closed - Should I move on?

[Nurse1220]

Hi, I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe. I am new to this site and would like some nursing advice. I work on a psychiatric unit, which closed down "temporarily" as per leadership a few weeks ago. I have been floating to different units, mostly med surg. I'm not really a big fan of med surg, but I am getting used to it and the staff are so welcoming.

There is an opening for the med surg unit I am working on while my unit is closed, but I am having second thoughts. I really love my unit (psych unit) and hoping that my unit will open again, but I also have to think about job stability (med surg unit).

Any advice? Should I wait and float to the med surg unit until my unit opens up or should I just apply to this med surg job? Thanks!

[caliotter3]

I agree with the PP who say don’t wait. My experience with employers tells me they are likely to staff with new employees when things go back. Never trust the employer to keep you in mind or to even inform you about what you need to know. Look out for your own interests.

[amoLucia]

^^^^^^^ This - double!

[turtlesRcool]

What protections do you have through your contract?  If you are unionized, there might be specific provisions to make sure that if/when your unit reopens, the former staff will have their jobs back.  If the unit never reopens,  there could be protocols for how to transition you to another department. If you don't apply to another department now, you probably have some amount of seniority within the hospital, and would be in a good position to bid into an open job on another unit, if it comes to that.  

One question to consider is your hospital's policy on internal transfers.  Does the hospital have a policy that you have to wait a minimum time (say, 6 months or a year) before you can transfer to another department?  While you might be able to get the permanent job on the med-surg floor now without a problem, you could be shut out of applying to the psych positions if that unit opens back up before the minimum time elapses on your med-surg gig.