Seeking encouragement to try new area of nursing

[Genista, BSN, RN]

Hi everyone. I haven't been here in awhile. Here's my story:

I've worked on two different med surg type floors for 5 years and was so burned out that I wanted to leave nursing. I transferred to a new floor, which I liked much better, and embarked on earning a teaching credential (while still working part time at the hospital ). Well, after 2 years of school, I got the credential to teach elementary school. I loved the kids, but there was too much other stuff that I didn't like. I like to teach, but not being a salaried schoolteacher. I missed nursing, so, I returned to my nursing job on a part time regular basis.There is plenty opportunity to teach in nursing, and I feel healthcare is a better match for me.

Here's where I am now: I work part time and make great money. My floor is staffed decent usually, and my coworkers and manager are great. I pick up extra shifts when I feel like it. I have tons of leisure time. I really like my floor and specialty, but am not sure if it's my love, or passion (calling). Last fall I interviewed for a public health position in maternal child and didn't get it. I would really love to try public health. The only thing holding me back is my fear and insecurity in starting from scratch again.

In the public health panel interview last fall, they asked several questions that I had no way of knowing the answer to. I did the best I could, but my maternal child days trace back to nursing school 7 years ago. I went in feeling pretty good about myself and my skills, but afterward I felt like, "How could they possibly hire someone like me- what a fool I was." Also, I'm not fluent in Spanish- and there is a large Spanish population in my area. I speak a little, but am nowhere near fluent. I was glad to slink back to my old job where I felt at least respected and somewhat knowledgeable.

Well, I got another invitation to interview for public health maternal/child again! I would be lying if I said I wasn't interested. I am petrified of going to the interview again (though I know what to expect now). I am also scared of leaving a comfy job I like for a job that...I don't know for sure if I will like it. I did public health clinic work in nursing school, but never got to go on field visits. There will be a $16/hr paycut too. Nothing ventured, nothing gained I guess. I love the idea of working in the community, and connecting people to resources. I love to teach. I am also interested in improving my Spanish. I just wish I felt more confident about it!

The ideal scenario would be that if they hired me, and I like the job, I could still hang on casual pool at the hospital for extra money or until I felt ready to leave for good. I had good vibes when I met the director of the field nursing program at public health...but I just feel like such a wide eyed new grad! I hate that feeling.

Has anyone some words of wisdom or suggestions for boosting my confidence? I am pertified that if I did get the job, that I would miss some important clinical sign or something with one of my patients, since I haven't done ped or OB in awhile. I *know* I'm a good nurse, and that I could take classes and pick things up, but the fear and insecurity is holding me back. Part of me also thinks maybe I am being too picky- because I do like the floor that I work on now.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Sometimes you just have to put your feet to the fire and do it. It sounds really encouraging that they are asking you to come in to interview. They must not be concerned about the language thing. It means they are interested in you. My impression of public health was that they did a lot of teaching and not all that much hands on patient care. The public health department we did our clinics with mostly did a lot of teaching and follow up of reports of contagious diseases like Hepatitis A in food workers and elevated lead levels in infants and toddlers. We went into some real ratty homes too trying to find these people to do education with them.

You'll never know what it is like unless you give it a try. If you never try it you'll always wonder what it would have been like.

[llg, PhD, RN]

My suggestion is that you go into this interview and give it your best shot ... BUT ... if you start to feel that you do not have the qualifications they are seeking, be prepared to turn the interview into an "informational interview" for you. If it becomes clear that you don't have the experience they want, then be up front about that and use the opportunity to ask them what types of experiences they want to see in a new hire. What should you be doing to get qualified for such a position?

Armed with that information, you can begin to make a plan for yourself that will get you the kind of experiences you need to qualify for the job you want. You may have to get some maternal/child work experience in a hospital ... or take some classes in maternal/child ... to update you knowledge/skills before you can be hired for such a position.

Good luck,

llg

[Genista, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the feedback. I already asked about orientation in my last interview. They start you out with a mentor, and you get a very small caseload. They build you up to a normal caseload over several months.

I think I would feel better if I had an OB/ped refresher. I hate to let the opportunity to interview this time slip by, though. It's been 8 mos since my last interview. Maybe there are some classes I could take to brush up on my skills and confidence. Thanks for the suggestions.