Not going so well?

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I started my first job in professional development last week. I learned right before I started that the Director is moving on one week after I start and that the assistant for the department left one week before. I was given a very nice office and taken on a tour of the facility and introduced to pretty much everyone we encountered (small community hospital). All friendly, happy people. I was excited. There is one other educator, who is kind and whom I like very much. I was told by her and one other individual who participated in the interview process that I beat out another strong candidate who has a Ph.D. simply because they liked me so much. All nice to hear.

However, there has been no structure or plan for getting me up to speed. I have had some computer modules to do that every new hire has to complete. Sat in on a committee meeting. Told competencies are coming up and assigned putting those together for certain departments, but given no guidance or even prior examples as to how those are written up, what criteria is used, etc. ACLS and BLS classes are taught often, but I am not an instructor for those yet and was told yesterday they don't want me to be for six months.

I am encouraged to round on the floors independently so that I am "visible" to the staff. I have been told I will head up certain projects and ongoing topical coursework but those don't happen for some time. There are no goals for my day, no training schedule of any kind and zero structure to help me understand what I should be doing day to day. A new director is starting next week. Two days ago we were told the hospital is looking for a buyer. I spent yesterday in my office with literally no idea what I ought to be doing, fretting about that and the future and this job.

I feel really, really low and my confidence is pretty shaken. Why did they hire me if they knew they are selling the place? I left a viable job to take this one and turned down another opportunity. Is this normal in terms of the lack of structured guidance or training? I know I have an MSN, but I have zero idea what to do or how to go about doing it yet. This is my first PD job out of school. Yesterday the director asked me for emailed feedback on what they ought to be doing to train me and what I hoped to get from being trained. She seems very concerned that they are letting me down....that or I am not up to snuff and she is trying to figure out why. Tomorrow is her last day. I have no idea if the new director is aware that the hospital is looking to be sold. Rumors are swirling that it may close down.

Any feedback is welcome. At this point I am seriously questioning myself. Is this normal (in terms of no training activities, shadowing, nothing)?