scared to death

I changed specalties from med surg to a neuro surgical ICU almost 2 years ago. It can be done. You can do it. You will be nervous at first, but you will learn as you go. It took me sometime to feel comfortable. I realized I really like the ICU and will never go back to med surg.

I'm about to go back to work after a maternity leave. I'm changing hospitals and taking on LD after 6 years of PP and NICU work.

I'm sooooo scared...I just feel that mabye it would be best to just stay put and not worry about a new job where I have everything to prove all over again. or mabye I'm just chicken...

I feel I am a good nurse and I know I won't have a hard time learning the ropes but working in a new environment, with new docs and new nurses and all just makes me so nervous.

please help me get over this.....

did you ever change jobs?...what is your experience?

Everyone hates to be new but basically just being friendly and working hard will earn people's respect. I always take my time learning the personalities I'm working with before I let them know that I'm crazy just like them! haha

THey will probably welcome you - we love nurses with EXPERIENCE even if its a bit different - you will find all kinds of people but you'll soon learn whats what on your new unit!

THe docs...well ....you will figure them all out too....hey they don't sweat knowing who the nurses names are half the time...so don't worry about that. I still ask docs I don't know/rarely see their name and specialty...I'm not a mindreader esp when they are trying to give me orders!

Good LUCK!

I understand being scared. I just got done with my orientation on SICU and I'm on my own and very scared.