My five days off where filled with one job interview and two days of work trials. But it paid off - on Tuesday, the hospital in the Thuringian forest with the high reputation was quite eager to hire me, so they already gave me a verbal agreement followed up by an email. Yesterday I followed up with a phone call since I needed a written document by them to apply for an extended police clearance certificate ("erweitertes Führungszeugnis” in german - basically a background check if you have a criminal record that most reputable jobs need if you’re working with minors or disabled people, both could be possible in a hospital setting). The HR lady on the phone as well as the receptionist were so friendly and helpful that I felt - and still feel - like I’ve made the right decision. The written contracts will be sent to me and I will need to bring them on my first day, but now I at least have some security in this written document confirming their intent to hire me. It’s quite unusual, even for them as HR admitted - but nursing is a bit unusual in general.

I’m looking forward to a new challenge and leaving the nursing home behind me. It seems like my potential would be wasted there, since there are simply not many tasks to do that required a high skill level. The work trial day at the hospital was quite stressful, but it was different stress than what I am used to and dread. There’s less of a race against the clock to get things done. There are difficult patients too, but most only stay for 5 to 10 days. And some are really thankful for any kind of help, even if it’s just a short chat.

However, it’ll be a totally different setting to what I am used to and I need to expand my medical knowledge by a substantial amount. I already ordered a book, but theory alone won’t be enough. On the one hand, it’s kinda like my teenage dream job came true (I wanted to be a male nurse thanks to watching Scrubs - yeah, very original, I know). On the other, it’s a very demanding job with lots of responsibility. But since I come from my nursing home background (have worked in 3 different ones, 1 just as an OT, 2 in nursing) and a few other colleagues on my future station also have that background, why shouldn’t I be able to master that? I’m only 31. I was, together with a classmate, the best of our year in nursing school. And said classmate now works at a big hospital in Leipzig on the graft surgery station. I know I should be able to do this while even finally enjoying the work that my RN degree brings, but there’s still that voice of doubt in the background. But I’m determined to shut it up. Actually, it should be a time to celebrate - I found something new and possibly very fulfilling for my future career in very short time!