Doubting my decision... I hope I am doing the right thing!

[TigerGalLE, BSN, RN]

Starting Sunday Feb 28th I'll be moving from med-surg to ICU. I'll be leaving my friends and the comfort of what I know. I'm having some anxiety about the move. I'm nervous, scared, and afraid I'll be eaten alive. I was so comfortable on my medsurg floor that I was usually bored. ICU is my dream job so you'd think I would be excited and not so afraid. I'm beginning to doubt my decision.

I'm about to lose all of my seniority and confidence.

I have so much to learn....

A bundle of nerves

Tiger

[niteowlrn29]

Hi Tiger,

I totally can relate. I have been working on my floor for about a year and half. I love the staff, the work, schedule, nurse patient ratio is even a dream on nites 3 to 5 patients everything really, however I too am finding myself bored. I am starting to look for different work myself. I am thinking about doing per diem, part time, or even something totally different like homehealth or hospice. I too have thought about ICU cuz I worked in it as a student nurse tech and it was very fascinating. I can understand being nervous but thats because of the unknown. But you will learn new clinical skills, it should be challenging, and you may even make new friends. Congrads on your ambition to step out of comfort zone and thinking outside the box. So I wish you luck in your new journey. Please update us so we know how you are doing.

[scoochy]

I am certain you will not regret your decision. Working in an ICU provides many, many opportunities for learning. You will not be bored; you will be a nubie, so seize every chance you can get to learn!! I was nervous when I went from a med-surg floor to the ICU (2 years out of school), but working in an ICU was also one of my career goals, and I was so happy I stuck to my decision! Tap in to what ever resources provided to you..shadow a respiratory therapist (for example) if you are able. You may want to subscribe to a critical care nursing journal; read, read, read, and keep your mind open!

Good Luck!

[txredheadnurse, BSN, RN]

Change, even change sought out, is innately stressful. Regardless of the long term outcome you will get something positive out changing units. remind yourself if the manager felt you lacked the skills to learn, function and contribute to this unit she wouldn't have chosen you.

Be a little humble and willing to feel uncomfortable for a few weeks. This is a version of stage fright which we all go through whenever we change jobs, move, go back to school etc.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

You can do it Tiger! Just think back to your excitment when you got the job.

[fungez]

consider this - do you want to work in M/S forever?

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I thought I'd love the ED but I hated it. Knew it the second day of orientation, but gave it a year. Just not a good fit, but I don't regret the experience. good luck to you.