Afraid to switch specialties

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Specializes in ER.

I am looking to try a different area of nursing but I am too nervous to make the switch! I am a not a new grad I have close to 2 years of ER experience. This is the only type of nursing I have ever done; I have never worked on any inpatient unit, not even as a CNA. I am interested in a hospital rehab job but not sure if I could do it. I know this sounds crazy. I have never done a large med pass and never have called a doctor since there is one always in the ER. I didn't want to work ER because I don't enjoy chaos, stress, nights, or 12 hr shifts but this is the only job I was offered. The job I am looking at is 8 hr shifts, no nights. What would you do? Would you leave the known for the unknown?

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Specializes in hospice, ortho,clinical review.

I hear you!

From what you wrote, I'd think you may find better fulfillment switching. I know you'll probably get some feedback to be happy you have a job etc... But whole life satisfaction to me can't be underestimated and being at work takes up a good deal of anyone's time, may as well enjoy it.

I'm in the same boat that although I'm doing LTC I feel constant stress, too many meds to pass at one time and on and on.

I know I'm new but I've been scheduled for the last few weekends in a row being off on Mondays and Fridays. Frankly it's wearing very thin as I am going nuts not having 2 days in a row and I miss my family and family is important to me.

I didn't sign on to this that nursing would be my life and my free time suffers.

I'm starting to realize big time I don't like nights either I've expressed this, they're working on getting me days but it may be awhile. At my place it's not unreasonable to not want nights, as a new nurse from August recently went to days in December b/c she's getting married and no longer wants nights, so it's not unheard of.

I'm realizing a bigger problem is as much as I say I don't "mind" working weekends, I'm finding I don't like to! Maybe b/c I've been scheduled too many in a row and hopefully that will even out, but I think it's more the not having 2 days off together that is getting to me. I'm kind of recovering on my day off and it's back at it.

I just told my H that if things open up by summer and I could get a rehab hospital job with better hours, I'd be crazy not to take it. But it sucks b/c I do absolutely "love" the place I work at. It's very supportive for the most part, but I'm feeling too much stress taking on 24 patients and the schedule right now bites.

Maybe I should find that out patient clinic job or doctor's office job that doesn't require nights and weekends, b/c as much as I went into this with my heart in the right place, it just doesn't exist to do what I want to do in the time alloted and I'm becoming increasingly frustrated with what I'm seeing and being told "that's just the way it is".

So I think after your 2 years, you should have a good idea what's making you tick and you're probably dissatisfied for very good reason, my :twocents:

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

Well, to me one of the great things about being a nurse is the ability to try different specialties. I"m sure there are nurses who start out in one specialty and never try anything else, but I bet there is a sizable number who try different things.

I started out in L&D, back in the bad old days of scopalamine "twilight sleep" which of course, is not sleep at all. It's just a state of out of control amnesia. I left because I felt like I was violating mothers every night. I switched to a rural hospital, doing mostly med-surg and pinch hitting in ER. Then a few years later moved with hubby's job and went to Post-partum(this was way before Mother-Baby nursing.) I did Nurse Education for awhile.

Eventually I found my TRUE LOVE--pediatrics. I started off with newborn nursery and went shortly after that to the NICU. I did that for about 10 years until I had a son with severe disabilities and I couldn't give myself 100% at work anymore. So i switched AGAIN, to telephonic nursing. I loved being an advice nurse! I only did pediatric advice. The job was intense, but I loved teaching parents how to care for their sick and injured children.

And tehn after a few years I went to school nursing. And THAT job is different from all the rest. All my experiences previous to this have come to bear on this job. I have to know peds inside out. I have to be able to work independently with no back up. I have to have excellent assessment skills as well as teaching skills.

I say, don't be afraid to try something new. Try it for at least a year, unless it is CLEARLY a mistake. You can always quit and go back to ER if you want. I have probably held 9 jobs in the last 32 years. My work history has never hindered me from getting a job. :nurse:

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Specializes in rehab.

OP

I understand how you feel. However, I wish you could somehow get a prn/partime job in whichever type of nursing you are interested in switching to. That way you will know exactly what you are getting into. The grass always seems greener...always.

I actually work in a Rehab facility and I have been trying to get out for a long time now. I'm looking for an ER position!:eek: I am not a new grad anymore and theses days the tides have changed. Its not easy to move into another specialty once you are pigoned holed into one...lucky for you you already got that opportunity....

Just make sure its not the night shift, or the team you work with, or the inexperience thats making you not like ER...

Good luck, pm me if need to:)

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Specializes in Periop, ER.

I am considering making a choice to change as well. I have done Periop, (pacu.OR) for 10 years and now am wanting to try ER or ICU. I know that means I will go to 12 hr shifts, but since I am a manager and working 50 hrs (5x10s), I figure at least I get some of my life back in the form of days off. Now, I have to decide which avenue to take, ICU or ER?? ( I am leaning towards ER because I tend to get bored very easily).

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

I have--multiple times....but I love new experiences, and thrive on change. I am also easily bored.

Be careful when going from one super adrenaline to NO ADRENALINE.

Make sure you are going there for the right reasons, and whatever it is--make that your priority for going.

Otherwise, you may experience "buyer's remorse."

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

I worked ER for 11years before I changed to critical care. I took a class and had an incredible mentor. It was really scary to make a change out of my comfort zone. But the best decision I ever made.

Take a risk. Give it a year. If you don't like it, find something else.

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I was in pediatric med/surg before I just switched over to postpartum/nursery. It was by default, this unit needed people so I stepped in to help. The hardest part of switching is feeling "out of your element". I have yet to find my routine in this new position, but I found that the shifts actually go by faster because everything is so new and it takes me alittle longer to do things. Its fun to learn new skills, but its stressful at the same time. You will have all new coworkers to meet too :-)

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Specializes in ICU, nutrition.

When I changed specialties I continued to work part time at my original job and worked part time at the new job (2 different hospitals). Would this be an option? It was nice to get my foot in the door without worrying that if I hated it I was stuck.

I loved my new job so much that I went full time a little over a year later and PRN at my old job. Eventually I quit the old job.

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Specializes in ER.

Thanks for all the replies thus far!

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