What to do as a new nurse....Help!!!

[LenaCat]

Help, I'm a new nurse, who hasn't started working yet, and I'm just so confused about what to do!

Here's my situation, I am currently working in a hospital as a Social Worker, and would like to start working as a nurse sometime in the near future.

I wonder if I should try to start working as a nurse at the hospital I work in. The medicine is not the best, but I know and like most of the staff. The floor nurses are very nice and say that they would be happy to train me. I haven't approached anyone yet. Here are my fears about this...people have told me that I'd always be known as a social worker there, and that could interfere with my new role, also, we get a lot of repeat customers, and that could be strange having a different role.

As a new grad with no experience, I feel that I know NOTHING! and would need a hospital that had a really good training program.

Does anyone have any suggestions or comments for me?

Anything would be appreciated!!!!!!

[suanna]

If you can get a job at the hospital where you now work I would take it- at least for a while. You know the staff, the charing system, the management. You have worked within thier phylosophy of care for a while. At a new hospital this is a lot to learn while you are trying to hone your very new nursing skills. If you find you want to change employers after a few mos to a year- go ahead. I think you will have a better chance to focus on your nursing if you continue where you are at for the time being.

[LenaCat]

Thanks

[Natingale, EdD, RN]

Well when you switch roles youre going to (hopefully) go through a extensive orientation seeing that youre new.

Im a little confused, theyre not going to feed you to the wolves. Im a unit coordinator in a ER and whenever theyre short a nurse theyre like can you hurry up and graduate already. So if you prove yourself in orientation I think they will be SOO grateful to have you there.