I worked in child welfare for 17 years after I first earned my BSW. I was an expert in everything child welfare. I finally decided I wanted to try a new path. (Which is one of the awesome aspects of social work–there are always different paths to choose!) I accepted a job as a dialysis social worker and I had no idea what being a medical social worker entailed. At all. I started working for an independent dialysis center and I was the only social worker there so no one to train me. I asked my supervisor –not a social worker – for training for my job, she said – “Do social work things.” Not the most helpful advice andI really had no idea my responsibilities were and the positive impact I could have as a medical social worker. I learned on the job, picked up a few things and now have years of experience in the medical field.