When do you know when it's time to move on? Need advice!

[kacs13]

I've recently decided to potentially leave my floor of 8 years and I'm struggling with the decision.

Some background, I've been on my current floor (a surgical unit-post op orthopedics, general surgery, vascular, urology, podiatry, neuro surgery, with some medicine and trauma over flow). I really like my job. It's challenging and fast paced as we have a quick turn over. Ive recently gotten my orthopedic nurse certification. I've learned so much here and it was the perfect first job. Over the years, I've seen nurses come and go, since its medsurg, it tends to be a job where people only stay a short time and move on. I've stayed and with my seniority has come perks. I'm charge most days, I'm tight with management and looked at as a leader on the floor. I've never thought that I'd be a medsurg nurse for my entire career, but the longer I've stayed, the harder it has become to leave. I know that there are so many areas of nursing and there are so many different opportunities and I've started feeling like it might be time for me to move on. Ive never had a desire to work in a unit and I'm not ready for a 5 day a week gig. I have a small child and plan on having more, so going back for my masters isn't in the cards yet. On a whim, I applied for an ED position after talking to a former coworker who now works down there. I've always thought the ER would be exciting. I work in a level one trauma center in a big city in the northeast.

I have an upcoming interview, but now my panic has set in. Am I making the right decision? I feel so comfortable at my current job. I don't dislike it. What if I hate the ER? Am I ready to be the low man on the totem pole? I feel close to my coworkers now. We're like a family and I'm terrified to never have that again.

We recently had neuro surgery introduced to our unit and as part of that we had to shadow on a neuro surgery floor at our sister hospital. I had an amazing day there. I meshed well with the nurses, I jumped right in, and felt like I was part of their team. I think that experience is what made me realize that I could leave my job and start over and it'd be okay. But I know the emergency room is so different. I'm just scared I guess!

just looking for other people's perspectives. If some ER nurses could chime in that'd be great! Thanks in advance.

[Libby1987]

I stayed in my comfort level when I initially went back to work and stayed there for 8 yrs. There are so many things going on with raising a family, having a job I could accomplish relatively easy was invaluable.

My last has since graduated and I made my move. I now have the time and energy to throw myself into a challenging new role.

[Emergent, RN]

I switched to ER after 17 years of other nursing experiences. You'll go through the learning curve again, with a solid background. It's a very entertaining dept, I've been at it for close to 6 years.

Now's a good time for a change after 8 years. You'll learn a lot and have a richer range of experience as a nurse!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

"I've stayed and with my seniority has come perks. I'm charge most days, I'm tight with management and looked at as a leader on the floor. I've never thought that I'd be a medsurg nurse for my entire career, but the longer I've stayed, the harder it has become to leave. "

Been there did that, for 14 years. For me, I regret that time spent in one place. There is a price to pay for being comfortable. I went out of my comfort zone. I experienced agency, private duty, home care, and travel nursing. Now I work from home. I still don't think I have reached my potential in nursing.

You already know you would fit in neuro surgery, you only have an interview in ER. You would also need to shadow there.

Take some time time to reflect... you could most likely get a position in the area that you want to be in. Figure THAT out and go for it.

With a small child and planning on more... working from home in your jammies might be the way to go.

Best of luck with your decision.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

In my opinion, when you start thinking it might be time to move on, it probably is. When I knew leaving my hospital job was the right position was when I kept thinking about it and kept coming back to the same decision every time.

[Cat365]

Can you dip your feet in with part time? I always have trouble with change if I like where I'm at. It's easier for me to change gradually. I also am a bit of a control freak. I dislike feeling as if I don't understand my job. I get used to being the go to person but I realize it's something I have to work on.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

I may be representing a dissenting opinion here, but I'd encourage you to talk to your manager &/or HR before making a decision to leave. It's natural to want career advancement and escape a rut. But there may be opportunities in your own organization that you don't know about. You are a very valuable asset. They don't want to lose you. Give them the right of first refusal. If they can't come up with anything that appeals to you... THEN, you can leave with an easy conscience.

Wishing you all the best on your career advancement.