Leveling up!

[LRN_RN]

I'm currently working in a small 25 bed Level III unit. We get 24weeks and older. Not many vents and even fewer body cooling kids. We typically run a census of about 12-14. (Right now we have 12 pts and 4 RNs) We often get called-off and have a few runs of low censes each year.

The unit as a team (at least NOC) is very good. We all assist one another, teach one another and our CS team is amazing. (No nurse eat nurse here.) We have one Neonatologist and 3 NNPs, so we all know each other quite well. Leveling up is problematic due to the fact that we don't often get high acuity kids and so those that have been here 10+ years alwasy take the reigns and so us newbies (I'm 3 years in) never get the chance to learn much.

All this to say, I have been applying out of state to have a possible chance at more learning and some higher accuity experience. I was just offered a postion in a Level IV in a busy 44 bed unit. They do everything in this unit minus hard organ transplant. For me it's a cross country move (single-mom with 2 kids) but with family 1.5 hrs away. I'm hoping I haven't bitten off more than I can chew.

Here's my question. What do all of you seasoned NICU RNs do to help calm your nerves enough to learn and grow? And how do you make yourself approachable in a new unit in order to find support? I don't start for another month + (they allowed me to wait to start until my kids were out of school) and this inbetween time is almost killing me. Here's to learning and adventure right!?