Changing Employers

[froggy93]

I've been sort of stressed and I just would like some outside opinions (of hopefully comfort) on my situation. I have worked for a big teaching hospital since I became a nurse (3 years ago). I started and worked my first 2 years on a heavy general medicine floor where I learned a lot. Then I transferred within my employer's system to a campus that was slightly closer to my home where I worked on an Observation/Extended Recovery unit for the last year. On this floor the patients are not as sick, but truly med-surg and I got a lot of good experiences here as well. It is a long story, but for various reasons I decided I needed to move on. After considering various options both within the same system and outside of the system, I ultimately decided to leave this employer and took a job with a different employer. It is also a large health care system in my area, but not a teaching hospital. I accepted a job on a cardiac/telemetry floor. Basically, I am just really stressed as I get closer and closer to moving on to a new employer. I thought long and hard about this decision and I'm sure it's the right choice considering everything in my life right now and this situation. However, the hospital system that I work for now is all I've ever known and they taught me how to be a nurse. I'm sure the culture is different where I'm going. I know I will probably learn a great deal more than I already have, but I can't stop being paranoid that I made a mistake and should have only explored options within my current company. Any personal experiences to share?

[ICU-BSN]

Change is hard, it's scary. It sounds like you did your research and put a lot of thought into your decision. Have faith that it was the right move for you at this time.

As far as personal experience, the single best thing I've done in my career was leaving my first employer. Yes, culture is different and every health system does things differently. But you will learn the ways of your new employer. Best of luck to you.

[cleback]

I second the above poster. Also realize that you will come to the new employer with valuable experience. No system is perfect but each has its strengths. You can bring the good habits your old system taught you.

[MunoRN, RN]

Keep in mind that "teaching hospital" refers to a hospital for teaching Physicians, not nurses, all hospitals are basically teaching hospitals for nurse. In my experience there's often more learning potential for nurses in non-"teaching" hospitals since nurses often play a more independent and broader role in patient care.