Transitioning into a new specialty

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

I am thrilled to say that I'll be starting on a step down unit this month, after a 6 year career of doing only public health nursing. I get the full 12 weeks of orientation a new grad would. Any words of encouragement or advice for transitioning successfully?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Many of the "new grad" threads will have nuggets of information that you can use, especially since you're new to the hospital.

In general, learn to keep an eye on your patients' monitors/rhythms.

Pay attention to your preceptor: your focus should be on learning as much as possible, not in proving how much you know.

Ask questions, but make sure you're asking good questions. No preceptor likes to be asked "Now what is the number for the ICU again?" three or four times. Don't just find out the number -- find out where to find the number. And next time, look it up yourself. Or write down the answer. There's a difference between asking "How do I cath someone?" and "Mr. Prostate needs a Foley. I have an order, and I've looked up the procedure and gathered all of the supplies it lists. I've never done this before, so can we go over it first?" Make an effort to look things up.

One of the very first questions you should ask is where do you find the policies and procedures. Then make the effort to look up the ones you see every day. Make a special effort to look up the ones you see only once in awhile -- when you see them.

Expect to study at home. I've had to do it every time I switch specialties or even when I switch jobs within a specialty. Brigham and Women's does things differently than Mass General, and Hopkins does things differently than the University of Maryland. Brigham and Women's certainly does things differently than Stanford!

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

I'm now working ICU instead, but, Ruby Vee, your words of wisdom still ring true! Thank you!