Transitioning stages

[tnicnat]

This is my first post I'm starting, I hope I ask the right questions!

This is a big day for me, I'm transitioning from being just a student and working to being a student and working at a hospital. I've been a server for 2 1/2 years, and have gone to school full time (and yesterday I had a big party, who I have waited on 2 of them for the past 2 years, they left me a $100 tip and wished me luck - my customers have been wonderful and I made many friends)

I accepted a job as a PCT on a med surg floor at the #1 teaching hospital in the state and will continue going to school full time. This is my transition from just a student to a serious nursing student, finishing my pre-reqs - ONLY because I was going into a different direction at the beginning, so I finished my Medical Billing and Coding and got a bit behind on the science courses. BUT, billing and coding helped immensely with diagnosis, the medical record, procedures, etc.

I get tuition reimbursement for the fall semester, free health, dental, vision care, and I get to take certification classes in IV, medication administration, wound care and EKG.

So I have 3 science classes and their labs over the summer - I have my books, goggles, notebooks. I start orientation at the hospital tomorrow, have all my forms, notepaper, folders, etc.

So I say goodbye to the life as I knew it and venture to a new life, I'm looking forward to it, I'm nervous, I'm scared, I'm elated....I'm ready! So after I finish hyperventilating, what advice does anyone have? Is finding a nurse mentor realistic?

Another side note, I am an Army vet, I do know about NOT volunteering for everything, but yes to some stuff LOL.....does that still hold true? I think I rambled on enough!!!