Career change

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I recently changed specialites and I am struggling. I was in dialysis and went to a stepdown unit. I feel so overwhelmed with the learning curve and am working at night. Do you have any advice for me? I feel like the learning curve is so huge and I am scared.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Big change for you! Are you off orientation? Whats the nurse/pt ratio? Do you have a mentor - someone that you can go to with questions?

Realize that dialysis is VERY specialized so give yourself a break and realize that its going to take a little time to get up to speed.

You mention you are working nights too - that in itself is hard (I did it for 15 years and was always sleep deprived) - practice self-care skills. Here's an article that hopefully will help:

Night Shift for Newbies

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I am still in orientation. The nurse patient ratio can be 1/5 but is typically 1/4. I have two preceptors but have not been completely honest about how overwhelmed I am. I really feel like backing out and going back to dialysis.

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

Think back to when you became a dialysis nurse. Did you immediately understand all aspects of the job, or did it take some time to become comfortable in your position? I'm going to guess it took time. Remembering how you felt as a new dialysis nurse can help bridge this time when you don't feel confident.

The benefit of experience is that we know what we don't know, but also understand that it will improve with time. Your new position is a change, but you know that in 2 months you won't be feeling the same way you feel today. You know that in 2 years you'll feel very comfortable in your new position.

I'm in the same boat, recently making a move to the ICU, but I understand this feeling will diminish as I gain confidence and exposure to this new patient population. Best wishes!

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Hi nurseontheway, I am in a similar situation. The only difference is that I did not choose to do step down unit, I was assigned to the area despite having indicated in my resume that I am a hyperbaric/wound care nurse with no experience in inpatient care in the past 5 years. I still want to do wound care, and I am just overwhelmed with the learning curve in my new area. I feel stuck and helpless.

I do hope it gets better for you.

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