When should I talk to my manager?

After you have a new job offer in writing.

After you have a new job offer in writing.

Wish I could. I would need my manager to OK a transfer (same hospital). I have to be honest with her or I will always be stuck on the same floor or have to go to a different hospital and there are only a few in town.

Don't be surprised if she is really ticked and retaliates. There are many ways to do this up to and including firing you.

Don't be surprised if she is really ticked and retaliates. There are many ways to do this up to and including firing you.

Exactly. No offense when I say this but a PRN nurse with only 6 months experience would not be a particularly valuable employee to most nurse managers I know. Especially if she does not know you well as you mention.

That doesn't mean you don't start networking now (meeting managers of speciality units, working on committees where you meet more people) but I would be in pretty serious talks with a speciality manager I wanted to work for before I asked to be allowed to transfer.

Thanks for the input. I do have a bit more than 6 months experience overall. Just 6 months at my current hospital. I am not sure why she would fire me, I have a great working relationship with my night shift crew and the junior nurse manager. Even in my interview she just asked for 6 months. I figured going PRN or even part time is better than leaving all together. Maybe I am just naive.

Thanks for the input. I do have a bit more than 6 months experience overall. Just 6 months at my current hospital. I am not sure why she would fire me, I have a great working relationship with my night shift crew and the junior nurse manager. Even in my interview she just asked for 6 months. I figured going PRN or even part time is better than leaving all together. Maybe I am just naive.

Even if she only asked for 6 months, you will be leaving her short handed. I would apply for jobs and wait until she says something to you about it.

Maybe if you stick with the med/surg for at least a year it would be better. The manager would know you more and you'll have that one year experience under your belt. Staying with a unit for just 6 months would make it look like you can't handle it and possibly be pointless to include on the resume. A year is a good amount of time to do something then realize it's not for you. Plus I'm sure they orientated you and they probably wouldn't have wanted to do that for someone not lasting past 6 months.

Because she is getting no return on her investment in you. The time and money it took to train you will benefit somebody else, not her and her unit. Most managers do not look too kindly on this. Maybe your manager is different but I've seen situations like this many times before and they rarely end well. The managers play games by refusing to okay the transfer until your replacement is hired then drag their feet hiring someone. In the meantime the nitpicking starts and you find yourself getting written up and there goes your transfer. Or they out and out fire you. If you're in an "employment at will" state they can do this. Or she can suddenly have no PRN positions available. It doesn't matter if you have a great relationship with her. This will impact that relationship. It doesn't matter if you are a good worker if you aren't working for her. Hopefully this doesn't happen but you won't know that until you get the ball rolling and then it's often too late.

I am currently working on a med/surg floor. Love my team but not med/surg. I would like to post to internal jobs but have to wait until I have been on the floor for 6 months. I want to go PRN on my current floor at my 6 month mark in order to look for positions in a specialty. When should I let my manger know my intentions? A few weeks from my 6 month mark or a month? Is this something I need to speak to her about in person or email. I work nights and rarely see her in person. Thanks for any tips.

The time to talk to your manager is when you're ready to start looking seriously for work in a specialty -- at about the one or two year mark.

Thanks everyone. I think I am going to take the risk and talk to her sooner. I am getting to old to not go after what I want. I am not a new nurse. I owe my current manger and co-workers time on the floor because I was given 3 weeks of orientation. I plan on offering my time on a part time status or PRN. Now I just need to get up the courage to discuss it with her.

Call her. I would not do it until you reach 6 months. Why do you have to go per diem or do you just want to? I would keep one job until I get the other. You can explain your reasons for applying for other jobs.