Need Advice..Transitioning from subacute to hospital

nightowl29 · Mar 7, 2010

Hey,

I'm in the process of transitioning from working as a subacute nurse for 6 yrs to getting my first job on an acute care unit. I have a couple more shifts and then I'll be off of orientation. I'll be honest...I had a lot of fears making this transition. I had people tell me that I was going to be "eaten alive" after spending so many years in subacute nursing and then trying to transition into acute care. From the sounds of it, my previous job had a lot of the same responsibilities as yours. Anyway, yeah, I was a little scared and intimidated. That all said...even though I've only been on the unit for 4 weeks...I'm absolutely loving my new job. The skills I had learned in the subacute setting have served me well, and I'm loving the challenge of increased critical thinking/a different set of patients/expanding my skills set, etc. It also has really helped that everyone on the unit has been so supportive of me. They remind me that even though I expect myself to know everything...that they don't...and that they or someone else is always available for my questions or whatever. Making this transition has really put a spark in my career that I was starting to feel kind of ambivalent about.

Hope this helps a little and good luck!

rngal74 · Mar 7, 2010

Thanks so much for your input.Yes,I am intimidated also thinking about making the change,but I feel as though I've done all I can at the subacute setting. It helps knowing other nurses feel the same way,but I am glad you are doing so well and wish you all the best!