What should I do?

[ladydame]

I thought I would get a collective opinion on what my next move regarding my nursing career should be. Thanks for any advice.

I signed a contract back in March for 2 years with my current hospital. I love the hospital, BUT........ don't really care for my floor much anymore. I've only been a nurse since Feb. I've always been a 9-5 type gal. Well, I'm getting married in September and the floor administration which I told before I agreeded to work on the floor knew about it, but now doesn't want to work with me. I have considered OR or Day Surgery. There schedules are more what I'm looking for. Should I transfer now or try to stick it out? I miss working the typical "9-5" and since I have to stay with the hospital, the OR and Day Surgery closely resemble this schedule, but would they consider taking someone only with 5 months experience? What do ya'll think I should do?

[TazziRN, RN]

Can't hurt to try, and if you think you'd be happier I'd try now. What do you mean, they won't work with you about your wedding? Won't give you the time off?

[burn out]

If you don't know what to do sometimes it is better to do nothing.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Would you be transferring because you truly have a desire to do the type of nursing done by the people in the peri-operative areas? ... or ... Would you be transferring primarily because you like their schedule better?

Each specialty within nursing has it's own characteristics ... quirks ... problems ... joys ... etc. If you don't like the actual work of a particular specialty, it is unlikely you will have a happy career there, even if the hours are nice. If you decide to transfer, be sure you are going to a job that will suit you and not one that will frustrate you even if it does have nice hours.

Some specialty units won't hire a nurse if they feel she is only transferring there because of the schedule (or something like that). The orientations are so long and so expensive that they won't waste their money and precious preceptor time on someone unless they are fairly confident that she/he will actually like the specialty and stay -- stick it out through the bad times and be really committed to the specialty.

llg