I am going to start blogging again

I start a new job tomorrow morning. After two years of working in the MHIPU (mental health inpatient unit), I am about to begin nursing in a medical ward  (respiratory and renal).  I am excited, nervous, scared, and another dozen or so feelings. I began working in mental health two years ago because when I graduated there were only two new graduate nursing positions in the area where I live (moving was not an option), they were in mental health. So I applied, I thought if I get a position it will be meant to be. Well I did, and I have been there for two years. I am settled there, feel safe and comfy but I told myself a few months ago that this was not what I had wanted, and if I did not start attempting to find another job it would end up being to late. I might find myself still there in 10 years. I needed to get back into the nursing that I had spent three years learning, loving and now I have.

I have a permanent contract of 32 hours a week, so I am keeping a casual contract with the MHIPU and will hopefully do 8 or 16 hours a fortnight there. I would love to only work 64 hours a fortnight in the medical ward but money is tight and I need to get as much as I can at the moment.

I have spent some time reading articles on the website www.allnurses.com
and have attempted to read a few text books to remind myself what medical / surgical nursing is all about. Some of the articles I have read have scared the s*%t out of me, lots of scary stories about to many patients and not enough staff, med errors, mean managers and very sick patients. Today I had thoughts about ringing my new manager and explaining that it had all been a mistake and I was not going to be able to take the job. I know I could still have my old job if I wanted it. But no I told myself,  I  need to do this, I want to have a fantastic nursing career,  I want to get down to the ED and then flight nursing and this is the path I need to take.

Fingers crossed I have a good day and the nurse assigned to orientating me actually wants to do that, passed experience has shown me that sometimes nurses get lumped with students or new staff whether they want to or not. Now one would hope that all nurses love to teach and help a new nurse grow into a confident, independent being but this is not accurate. There are many old, grumpy farts in my hospital. Please oh please let my nurse me interested in my orientation, let her be funny but professional, a team player. And please oh please let her still love her career and want to pass on her experience and wisdom.

I am also attempting to start myself on some sort of fitness regime as well as a healthy eating plan.  I thought  that since I am changing jobs now is as good  a time as any to start living my life how I want to every day instead of telling myself I will start next week. Anyway we will see how I get on with that.