u/Additional_Humor_399

I currently work Full time as an RN in a hospital in Central Zone. I REALLY want to experience working in the ICU. I know there are a lot of job openings for ED everywhere but I just feel like I want to deepen my understanding of pathophysiology and develop stronger reasoning around why we choose certain interventions and how patients respond over time. I don't have ACLS training yet but am very keen on doing it soon.

I don’t really know if I’m looking for advice, reassurance, or just wondering if anyone else has felt this way.

I’ve been working acute care in Rural Alberta (Central Zone) for years now and lately I’ve been feeling kind of lost professionally. I know I want to learn more and eventually specialize in something like ICU or ED, but I honestly don’t know how people make that jump sometimes.

I’ve had some ED exposure and I’ve taken most of the courses required for emergency nursing, although I still need ACLS, PALS, NRP, etc. The problem is I don’t work there consistently because there are more senior staff who primarily cover those areas. I’ve also been applying to ICU and even OR positions in the city, but realistically I know I’m probably not the preferred candidate because I don’t yet have the certifications or direct experience.

Part of me feels bored because I’m not being challenged enough anymore, but another part of me wonders if I’m just impatient. I’ve only had one interview despite applying multiple times, and it’s starting to make me question whether I’m even moving in the right direction.

I’ve signed up for local courses and I’m trying to keep improving, but sometimes it feels like I’m stuck in this weird middle ground where I want to grow but can’t seem to get the opportunity to really break into those specialty areas.

Has anyone else in Rural Alberta or AHS gone through this? How did you eventually transition into ICU/ED/OR when you didn’t initially have the experience?

I’m an RN under UNA.

Just curious about a couple things.

1.) Is a manager not required to interview all applicants?

2.) How soon will I get an email that I’m not hired? I’m asking this because I have a couple jobs I’ve applied for and some of them have sent me an email that another person was hired instead. So if I don’t get an email, does that mean they have not hired anyone yet?

3.) For nurses who were working rural and moved to the city, Based on some of your guys’ experience, how many job applications have you sent until you were successfully hired?

4.) For additional context, I currently work regular full time and I would prefer to jump to another regular full time line again. It would be difficult for me to have a lesser like with my expenses. Would it be smart to apply for a job regardless of whether it’s full time or not? I just feel like it’s kind of risky.

I’m trying to apply for a job in Chinook Regional actually. I work Acute but also Emergency in one of the rural towns closer to Edmonton.

Thank you so much!