Can you teach a old dog new tricks???

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in med-surg-tele-peds.

Do any of you feel that you've been working in your current position/field for so long,your almost scared to try anything new because your sooo comfortable where you are at? I feel that sometimes. Ive been doing floor nuring now for 5 years...now grant it 5 years isnt very long (it really is in nursing years lol) I thought about er or icu but feel I scared to make that jump because Im just "comfortable" where im at. Has anyone else felt that way?

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I say go for it!! You will never know if it is right for you until you give it a shot. And while being comfortable can be a good thing being complacent really isn't. Sounds like this is the perfect time for you to make a change. Having fear of the unknown is always scary but more often it isn't as scary as we think it will be.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I felt the same way - hated to float or even work with different people. Finally pushed myself to return to school and, once I started doing all that was required for that process, I began to get more confidence in trying new things and working with new people. I think it is good for us to be challenged sometimes.

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Absolutely 100% true of almost anyone in any type of life style, position, job. We all get comfortable, set in our ways, from our routines around the house, to our social life, to our jobs.

You certainly don't have to leave floor nursing, you don't have to leave your comfortable routine (or rut, ha ha). But it does sound like a tiny part of you is interested. Does your facility have a float pool? Maybe you could ask to float to those units or if you could shadow a nurse on your day off?

In 20 years you can reflect that you are the best, most experienced floor nurse ever. Or you can say I've been a floor nurse, ER nurse, ICU nurse, etc., I've experienced it all!!!! I'm saying both are good options.

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Specializes in Family NP, OB Nursing.

I had 15 years as an OB RN and decided to become an FNP. It was, and to some extent still is, terrifying, but it has been so worth it. I was getting a bit bored in OB, now I'm constantly challenged.

I say go for the change!

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