First Day Jitters - Peds

[NurseNugget]

I am an LPN with almost ten years in nursing. I have worked mostly nursing home, but also pediatrics in a low income clinic and some time in a peds ENT office. I made the jump to hospice just this month, after feeling the call to this area. I even am planning to go back to school (finally) for my RN specifically to work hospice case management. I know I am where I belong, and I feel specifically called to pediatric hospice, and I am confident in that calling. But...

Tuesday it will become "real". I will visit my first pediatric hospice patient. Despite my conscious choice to pursue pediatric hospice and my certainty of my calling, it is starting to weigh on me heavily what I'm about to have to actually do. I'm NEVER nervous about new endeavors, but on this I am. I can't even put my finger on why. I have multiple friends who have lost children in the past two years, and they have all been eager to share with me what is and is not helpful, but somehow I'm still a bit of a wreck about it.

I won't back out just because it's hard and scary. Nursing itself is a hard and scary profession! However, I would love some advice. I'm asking God for guidance and wisdom. I'm asking Him to put the right words in my mouth and guide my hands. But I would really like to hear from some "veterans" on this. How did you adjust to doing this day in and day out? Were the first days, weeks, or even months, particularly hard? Were you this nervous at first? Does it ever get easier? What advice do you have for a newbie?

I would greatly appreciate your input!

[nursecathi]

Bless you. While I love working in hospice (in patient adult unit) I could never do peds. Maybe having 10 grandchildren has something to do with that. You have experience in pediatrics so that's a plus. I'm sure you'll be fine. The kids and there parents need someone there for them.