How can I get OUT of Med Surg and into ICU ER??

Hello. I have 6 mos. peds. experience and 5 months in general med surg- combined gives me almost ONE YEAR of RN experience. I HATE... I mean HATE the Med Surg bedside nursing job I have now. I TRIED to get into ICU, Cardiac, or the ER out of school. I disliked Med Surg in school and hoped to never work there. These areas are a better fit for me. However, that was the only job I could get basically as a new RN. I have already gotten written up, counseled, etc. and a few pats. have complained about me (over silly things I must say... nothing major-- like I told one pat. I'd be back to help them in 15 minutes as I had a pat. down the hall getting ready to CODE-- well the pat. got peeved because they DID NOT LIKE being told they had to wait (their problem was NOT serious, and I had to stablize a pat. who was getting ready to code). Well that pat. called my boss and complained. The boss came to me about it. Another-- I have family members who got upset because I do not get in the room fast enough to set up their family member who had slumped over in bed (ok... like they cannot sit them up??? come on.....) and I have pats. who curse and throw cups and supplies out of rooms, who void on the floors, who call and ask for take-out menus because they do not like the hospital food, etc. IT IS TERRIBLE. Just awful. I really want to get out of there before the final ax falls. I dont't want to get fired and feel I am headed that way!

How does one GET OUT of the general med surg unit and get into ICU, etc. ?? I am trying to transfer, but so far nothing has developed.

for listening!!!
I do feel your pain and I know you are just venting...BUT: There is something to be said for killing people with kindness. Sometimes I wish I could activate a trap door to send some patients or family into oblivion. However, I certainly make them think I am sweet as pie. I know that the bottom line entails: 1: Did I cover my a$$? 2: Did I at least give the appearance of offering excellent customer service. I think the issue is that you have to learn how to play the game. It's not that I'm putting on a facade, it's that a little sugar can go a long way. Also, think about how you are phrasing things to patients. "I'll be right back, I can sit your mother up then!" as opposed to "We can surely sit Ms_______ up right now if you'd like to offer a hand. I'd greatly appreciate it!" In terms of getting into ICU/ED I don't have the best advice as I'm in the same boat, but I think persistence is the key. Learn how to play the corporate game and touch base with some nurse managers. Good luck to you!

1) patients are the same on every floor. Families are even more involved if the patient is unconscious. So you will not escape all your woes.2) contact the director face to face for the dept you are interested in and ask what they would recommend to make you a candidate. They always prefer experience of some kind. 3) don't complain out loud to other staff, your superivisor or another sup if you get a chance to talk to them. You will not be looked at favorably.

Thanks. I do not complain on the unit. Nope-- don't do it. I know it can bite me! Also.. from the first commment... I was JUST in the room not 3 minutes earlier and the family of the slumped pat. was FINE. I had gone to eat my lunch (off the unit)... and the family was calling for assistance not a few minutes earlier. They never asked for help when I was there to begin with. I told them I was going off the unit and would be back in a bit. The real problem lies in the fact that I was at lunch (told the charge nurse and the secretary I was off the unit), and other RN came rolling into the break room saying "pat. X needs to be sat up!" SHE should have done that OR the charge nurse while I was off at lunch. They should not be running to me when I am on a designated break. IF that other RN would have just sat him up, no one would have gotten upset to begin with. And there you have it!

Ahhhh. Well therein lies your problem. Your fellow nurses have the my pt vs. your pt mentality. :/ Again, good luck to you!

I am a new graduate too. I think you are very arrogant! Each floor is an opportunity to learn. Apparently, you believe you don't have to concentrate on you nursing skills, so that leaves communication. Communication is an excellent skill set to have.

apply apply applyu never know who may want you and when... try peds icu since you have peds experience or medical icu

All I can see by your post is that you have a lot of frustration. Listen, every med/surg floor is very difficult. I don't know how supportive your floor is in reality or not; but you also won't help the situation with your attitude. You *cannot* blame others for a situation. You must always look at the situation, see where *you* could improve, learn from it, and move on. If you carry this frustration or anger, it will show (believe me) and not only will you not be happy in your current job, you won't be happy in any other job, either.If you think families are demanding on the medical floor, just wait until you go to ED. You've been spit at? Try being punched or head-butted.In the situations you gave as an example, rather than think "The charge nurse/covering nurse should have done x, y, z" you need to think about your responsibility: "I should have made clear that I was on break and unavailable to assist the patient" Or "I should have apologized sincerely to the patient and their family when I came back from break" Most people are kind and forgiving, they just need to see a little sincerity. Did you let your aide know you were going on break (if you had one)? Did you *ask* if it was a good time to go on break; ie was someone readily available to cover you? Was it a busy day where not many people were able to get a break? Did you cover anyone while they were on break?I ask these questions not to try to assign blame onto you; I simply think you should step back and attempt to view each situation from a broader perspective. You cannot change anyone else's behavior (your coworkers, your patients) but you do have control over how you handle a situation or how you choose your words.And if you quit this job; you'll have a terrible time trying to find another. All anyone will look at is "a couple of months here, half a year there" and will assume you just can't handle it, whether that assumption is way off base or not. The reason no transfer requests have worked out yet is that you haven't really been at your current position long enough to qualify for a transfer, I'm sure.So you basically have a choice: you can hate your job and be miserable, angry and frustrated every day (and believe me, your coworkers will be well aware of your attitude, whether you realize it or not); or you can take this opportunity to hone your communication skills and nursing skills. Learn as much as you can with a smile on your face. If you can survive and thrive on a busy med/surg floor, you'll learn everything you need to know to provide you with a great foundation for ICU or ED.

Quote from diligent-trooperI am a new graduate too. I think you are very arrogant! Each floor is an opportunity to learn. Apparently, you believe you don't have to concentrate on you nursing skills, so that leaves communication. Communication is an excellent skill set to have.

Quote from FribbletYou can learn and still think your job sucks at the same time. I'd never work med/surg out of choice because that's not the kind of nursing that suits me. There's nothing wrong or arrogant about anyone saying that.

All the problems that you have with med-surg do not get better in the ICU or ER. They will get worse. Pt's and family members are even more stressed and demanding in those places.You say you have almost one year of experence. However, it is in two different units and now you are looking for a third. This does not shout reliability to any manager. Also, are you counting time of orientation in your almost one year. Expereince is normally counted as time off oreintation.

Quote from EponaI have already gotten written up, counseled, etc. and a few pats. have complained about me (over silly things I must say... nothing major-- like I told one pat. I'd be back to help them in 15 minutes as I had a pat. down the hall getting ready to CODE-- well the pat. got peeved because they DID NOT LIKE being told they had to wait (their problem was NOT serious, and I had to stablize a pat. who was getting ready to code).

It sounds to me like you are trying to escape. Afraid of being fired, maybe afraid you aren't cutting it. A natural reaction, as we all want to move away from what makes us feel bad.To echo what has been already said, it stinks but you probably won't get a transfer having been in your current area such a short time. It also isn't good for you to run away from these problems. Growth is painful and this is what is happening here. Demanding patients are everywhere. So are politics. Where you want to go might even be WORSE.Is there someone who can mentor you, who you can approach for insight?