Where to go from here?

[jessicaRN32]

Hi, everyone!

I am currently an RN - have been at my current (and first RN) job for a year and two months. For 2 1/2 years, I worked as an LPN at a nursing home for one to two days a week. I work on a medsurg floor at one of my town's two hospitals. I enjoy it for the most part, but I know that I do not want to do medsurg forever. I enjoy the fact that I get to interact with patient's and I like that I have been working there long enough that I have a routine, but I still do learn every day.

I feel like it's nearing time for me to move on and start a different area of nursing, but honestly, I have no idea where I want to go. I know most people will probably say to just stay where I am in the mean time, which is what I plan to do, but my question is for those people who have been in the same boat as me - how did you figure out where you wanted to transition to? I do still enjoy bedside nursing, but would be open to trying anything. I do love elderly people, but I did not enjoy my nursing home days - too little actual interaction with the residents and too much focus on med pass and charting.

Thanks in advance for any replies!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

More clarification would be helpful. :)

Do you want to enter another area/specialty of acute care hospital nursing (e.g. critical care, radiology suites, cath lab) or are you seeking an area of nursing outside the hospital altogether?

[jessicaRN32]

I would be up for anything, I think! What makes me the most nervous is moving to a different area and feel like I'm starting all over again - which I know is what is expected for the most part. Going to an ED has interested me, but (luckily for my patients), I have never been part of a code. I have observed and have done what I can, but I usually just end up watching (because everyone has already claimed a spot and I'm just there to observe and learn, or I end up being the runner for needed equipment. I do love to learn, so, as mentioned earlier, I'd be pretty much up for trying anything. I just figured that by now, I would have some sort of particular passion that I could work towards trying to accomplish, but I don't!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

"What makes me the most nervous is moving to a different area and feel like I'm starting all over again ".

You are seeking change, you WILL be starting over again. If ED is interesting to you, ask to shadow. Change is hard but worth it.

Passion is overrated and hard to come by. Do our own research on your areas of interest. It takes time to discover what you really want.

Best wishes.