I should be excited!

I start my new job on Monday morning. I should be excited, or at the very least nervous! But I'm neither! In fact I feel a sense of dread!

I already miss my old job, and as much as I hated it at times, largely because of having to work short staffed and being completely bagged and 100% exhausted at the end of a shift, I mostly loved it.

I've always loved bedside nursing. What I didn't like in the end was running up and down the hall from one end to the other looking after more patients than I felt comfortable looking after and not being able to give 100% and the type of quality nursing care that I expect of myself, to each one of them: Leaving me most often feeling completely defeated and wondering if I made any serious mistakes during my shift because I was so busy.

The job I'm going to is a dream job for nurses. A clinic setting. No heavy lifting. Monday to Friday day shift. All weekends and holidays off. More responsibility and the opportunity to work more independently out from under the thumb of a ward charge nurse; basically the opportunity to make my own decisions instead of relaying the situation to a charge nurse and having her decide what to do.

I've been preparing for this day for an entire month, yet not even a flicker of excitement.

God! I hope I made the right decision. It wasn't an impulsive move on my part. I had given it much thought over the months about wanting and needing a change in nursing setting, about not wanting to work shift work anymore, about wanting a less physically demanding job. It's everything that I had been looking for!

I just don't get why I'm not feeling all pumped up about this move.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

I start my new job on Monday morning. I should be excited, or at the very least nervous! But I'm neither! In fact I feel a sense of dread!

I already miss my old job, and as much as I hated it at times, largely because of having to work short staffed and being completely bagged and 100% exhausted at the end of a shift, I mostly loved it.

I've always loved bedside nursing. What I didn't like in the end was running up and down the hall from one end to the other looking after more patients than I felt comfortable looking after and not being able to give 100% and the type of quality nursing care that I expect of myself, to each one of them: Leaving me most often feeling completely defeated and wondering if I made any serious mistakes during my shift because I was so busy.

The job I'm going to is a dream job for nurses. A clinic setting. No heavy lifting. Monday to Friday day shift. All weekends and holidays off. More responsibility and the opportunity to work more independently out from under the thumb of a ward charge nurse; basically the opportunity to make my own decisions instead of relaying the situation to a charge nurse and having her decide what to do.

I've been preparing for this day for an entire month, yet not even a flicker of excitement.

God! I hope I made the right decision. It wasn't an impulsive move on my part. I had given it much thought over the months about wanting and needing a change in nursing setting, about not wanting to work shift work anymore, about wanting a less physically demanding job. It's everything that I had been looking for!

I just don't get why I'm not feeling all pumped up about this move.

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Any change is stressful, even when it's a good change. How long had you been in your previous position? I'm thinking you may have some exhaustion left over from that job, which makes it hard to be enthusiastic about anything. that your first day goes well and you come home excited at the end of the day.

I worked at the hospital for almost 15 years. I was in the float pool and went all over the hospital, and I've taken jobs on different wards too. For the past year I have been working on a ward instead of floating through the hospital.

But from my time floating I got to know a great number of people and gained a huge sense of familiarity with both the staff and the building itself.

You're right about being exhausted. I took this week off as vacation so I could deal with my water bed issue and get some much needed rest. But I've been so busy with errands and stuff around the house that I just haven't had much time. I have been getting sleep, plus naps, but it hasn't been enough probably because my sleep is all turned around. I stay up late, wake up early, have a late afternoon nap which means I don't go to bed until 1 or 2 am and my cycle repeats.

Thanks for the well wishes. I just ironed my lab coat. Good thing I tried it on because I just noticed that the sleeves are about 5 inches too long and need to be hemmed. I'll have to do that tomorrow.

Any change is stressful, even when it's a good change
this is true!...well said
so is natural that you feel nervous instead of excited...

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

God! I hope I made the right decision. It wasn't an impulsive move on my part.

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I believe you do it right because think very well all advantages & Disavantages about!...

Don´t give up & don´t fear about!... TCS is here for you!..

... & good vibes for a less stressful monday!

It's true, any change is scary a little at first.

You wanted this so much, and you have to trust your instincts that this is the best thing for you.

Going to a brand new workplace is nerveracking for everyone, but you will be great

im new here and read your story,i went through the same thing just after my devorce,i was not open too a change but my friends told me thats what i needed,nervous as can be i went for it and havent looked back,im glad i made the change and im sure after time you will feel the same.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

You're right about being exhausted. I took this week off as vacation so I could deal with my water bed issue and get some much needed rest. But I've been so busy with errands and stuff around the house that I just haven't had much time. I have been getting sleep, plus naps, but it hasn't been enough probably because my sleep is all turned around. I stay up late, wake up early, have a late afternoon nap which means I don't go to bed until 1 or 2 am and my cycle repeats.

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The above tells me you are exhausted, and have not had enough time to unwind... and the below tells me that in fact you ARE excited, but your exhaustion is playing an ugly little trick on you :

The job I'm going to is a dream job for nurses. A clinic setting. No heavy lifting. Monday to Friday day shift. All weekends and holidays off. More responsibility and the opportunity to work more independently out from under the thumb of a ward charge nurse; basically the opportunity to make my own decisions instead of relaying the situation to a charge nurse and having her decide what to do.

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Watch - If I just put the clap sign aftewards what happens:

The job I'm going to is a dream job for nurses. A clinic setting. No heavy lifting. Monday to Friday day shift. All weekends and holidays off. More responsibility and the opportunity to work more independently out from under the thumb of a ward charge nurse; basically the opportunity to make my own decisions instead of relaying the situation to a charge nurse and having her decide what to do!

Girl...... Exhaustion and stress can do weird stuff with us... don't let that take you down - you just got your self a DREAM JOB

Lots of for tomorrow, Linda. You'll probably get excited/nervous tonight or early tomorrow.

Linda, you've wanted a change for a while, and you're moving to a FANTASTIC job! You're tired and remembering all the things you loved about the job you had - but you are going to LOVE it once you're there. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

your transition is happy and smooth!

Sometimes anticipation is equal parts excitement and fear, so they cancel each other out and you just feel neutral. Wait'll you get there -- I'm sure it'll be fun meeting new people, being more independent, starting to establish your new routines... I bet you'll be back here bouncing up and down with stories for us tomorrow night!

I'm sure everything will be great and you'll have an absolute blast.
I agree with everyone who said it's stress from the changes. I know I have a tendency to over-think things at those times. I over think and plan it so much that when the thing actually happens, I'm more worried than anything. Just kick back tonight and try not to worry. once you get there and start working tomorrow, everything will fall into place.

Change can take some getting used to at first. I have a feeling once you get settled there you will love it!

for a great first day. Change is always a little scary.

Well, it's almost 6pm the night before and I'm starting to get that queezy ugh feeling! So maybe that's my excitement!?

Well, I survived my first day!

Didn't do a whole lot. Filled out some paper work, had a tour of the building, received a whole bunch of stuff to read! Got my computer user name, password and email account sorted out, and spent the rest of the time with a Resource Nurse who oriented me to some procedures etc.

Tomorrow is more of the same but I get some hands on computer work too. Wednesday will be more of the same and then Thursday and Friday I spend 2 days in the basement learning about radiation treatments and the various machines used etc.

When I was interviewed I was told I was applying for a "medical oncology" position. Seems since then they redid their whole clinic roster and all kinds of changes were made. Instead of "medical oncology" I'm going to be working with 2 oncologists who specialize in various types of Lymphomas and one Oncologist who specializes in Breast Cancer. And instead of chemotherapy I'll be working with patients who undergo radiation therapy.

I'll have 3 afternoon clinics and 1 morning one.

The rest of the time I spend either finishing up paperwork from the prior day's clinic or preparing for the next days clinic. As well as fielding phone calls from patients.

I may also have to cover other clinics in the event of someone calling in sick.

It's all good. I think I'm going to like it. I haven't really seen what is involved with a clinic yet: that comes next week. But so far just watching what was going on during my tour, I think I'll be very happy there. It's professional, but it's also way more relaxed than the ward I was working on.

Another girl was being oriented today too. Ironically she is coming from the same hospital as I am, and she worked on the same floor in the same program, only she worked with sick babies.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

...It's all good. I think I'm going to like it.

...

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There ya go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Woohoo! A good report! I'm so glad for you, Linda!

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

It's all good. I think I'm going to like it.

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Yay! I'm so glad to hear that!
Hope you have a great rest of the week.

I'm glad the first day went well! It sounds as though it will be an interesting job, and it's nice you have another newbie to talk to - it's tough being the new person, but nice when you have someone else you can discuss things with.

Hope the job continues to go well

I knew it you can do it my friend!...
as sarah said more good wishes to you........