Question:
Dear Donna,
I have worked as a Peds RN for five years. I want to learn a new specialty such as L&D or NICU. What are my chances in southeast or southwest Florida? I am available in three months. How early should I start looking?
Dear Donna,
I have worked as a Peds RN for five years. I want to learn a new specialty such as L&D or NICU. What are my chances in southeast or southwest Florida? I am available in three months. How early should I start looking?
Michelle
Dear Donna replies:
Dear Michelle,
You should start looking now by making contacts in your new area and researching employers and opportunities. Do that by contacting officers in the Florida chapter of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nursing (www.awhonn.org) and the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (www.nann.org). Do some informational interviewing with nurses from both associations currently working in the area of Florida to which you plan to move. Read “The Scoop on Informational Interviewing” at www.dcardillo.com/articles/thescoop.html. Ask about the best facilities to work at, the current job market in the specialties you’re interested in, personal contacts, and anything else you want to know.
Read “How to Change Specialties” at www.dcardillo.com/articles/changespecial.html. You also may find the article “Get Ready to Relocate” (www.dcardillo.com/articles/relocate.html) helpful.
Dear Michelle,
You should start looking now by making contacts in your new area and researching employers and opportunities. Do that by contacting officers in the Florida chapter of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nursing (www.awhonn.org) and the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (www.nann.org). Do some informational interviewing with nurses from both associations currently working in the area of Florida to which you plan to move. Read “The Scoop on Informational Interviewing” at www.dcardillo.com/articles/thescoop.html. Ask about the best facilities to work at, the current job market in the specialties you’re interested in, personal contacts, and anything else you want to know.
Read “How to Change Specialties” at www.dcardillo.com/articles/changespecial.html. You also may find the article “Get Ready to Relocate” (www.dcardillo.com/articles/relocate.html) helpful.
Happy trails!
Donna
Donna Cardillo, RN, MA, well-known career guru, is Nursing Spectrum/NurseWeek’s “Dear Donna” and author of “Your First Year as a Nurse: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional” and “The ULTIMATE Career Guide for Nurses: Practical Advice for Thriving at Every Stage of Your Career.” Information about the books is available at www.Nurse.com/CE/7010 and www.Nurse.com/CE/7250, respectively. To ask Donna your question, go to www.Nurse.com/asktheexperts/deardonna. Find a “Dear Donna” seminar near you: Call 800-866-0919 or visit http://events.nursingspectrum.com/Seminar.
