Moving on from my first nursing job.

[MariaC]

Hey Everyone, I could use some advice... I started working my first nursing job at a small hospital without a Nurse residency program. I am coming up on 6 months working here and I am concerned about not being able to be confident in my skills when I move on due to our very low census (most nights we have between 2 and 4 patients with 4 RN's and a CNA). Obviously I'm going to continue with this job but should I be looking for a residency program or will my limited skills suffice when moving to a larger hospital?

I also have to say I am learning a couple of different specialties Med/Surg and ER. Since we are a rural hospital we cross train in different areas. I also get a lot of experience with children however we do not have a women's health or OB department which is where I really would like to be.

TIA for all your answers.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Your experience at the smaller hospital is still very valuable for the reasons you describe. Yes, you may have a steeper learning curve when you transfer to a bigger hospital, but hopefully you will have a good preceptor and you will catch on fast. Time management will be more of an issue than skills I suspect.

If you feel anxious and want to try for a residency, your window is closing fast and may already be shut, since you have worked as an RN for six months. However, there is nothing to say you can't give it a shot. Most residencies are open to those within one year of graduating.