Specialties Emergency
Published Mar 19, 2011
I'm going to have my practicum at an ED both peds and adults.
I would appreciate it if anyone would please let me know things that I have to be knowledgeable about to be a good standing student.
nursing.mypassion
43 Posts
wow, thx so much for all the helpful and thoughtful advice. I'm so thankful. :)
EmergencyNrse
632 Posts
I'm a little worried however in terms of what to prepare for the 1st day of ED practicum. Do you here have any ideas
You only really need the gray matter between your ears.
But...
Get up early. Eat a good breakfast. Coffee optional. Pack a lunch
(you don't want to waste time getting it from the cafeteria should you actually GET a lunch)
Pack finger foods: Sandwich, SunChips, Chewy Granola bars, other snacky-things
that you can eat on the go. A water bottle or two in your bag.
Show up a little early.
Clear your mind of as much anxiety as possible so you can observe and learn.
Ask lots of questions. Thank the people that help out.
A thank you goes a long way in getting invited back.
Send a card when you're done. Again "Thank You"
Lastly- Have fun
Calixan
140 Posts
I think MesaRN gave an excellent list. One more thing I would add for you is just be a go getter. In my few months experience in the ER I fine the nursing students to be a little hesitant at doing things. They tend to not want to get their hands dirty so much and sit at the nurses station. The EMS students are the ones on top of everything to say the least and asking every one if they need any help. Just don't be afraid to get your hands dirty and be ready to learn a lot. Don't sit at the nurses station the whole time. You'll do great! You already have a good start by asking what you should expect/do. Have fun! :)
hiddencatRN, BSN, RN
3,408 Posts
Yes, I've started just bringing our disposable thermometers in to give to parents when they bring an afebrile kid in with a fever.
Also, had a patient recently who threw up. Once. That morning. And parents rushed her to the ED because "they take no chances."
The patient whose vision is blurry when they don't wear their glasses is still my favorite "OH NO THEY DIDN'T" story.
Strep throat is going around now, RSV is still strong in my ED.
traumaRUs, MSN, APRN
88 Articles; 21,250 Posts
Combined both threads.
ImThatGuy, BSN, RN
2,139 Posts
Mesa threw up a pretty good list.
herowneulogy, BSN, RN
141 Posts
This is what I send out to our senior students before their ER rotation: Items to Review Skills Whether you have done a lot of IV starts or none at all, don't worry!! Learning is what the rotation is for! I just want you to be familiar with the procedures so you know how to measure the NG tube before we place it. Don't be nervous about skills, there will be ample opportunities to practice in a safe environment. Review these skills: IV starts Venipucture NG tube placement OG tube placement (with a ventilated patient) EKG lead placement 3 lead (red, white, black) 12 lead placement Foley catheter placement Straight catheter placement ABG collection Medications: Remember, just a few important points about each. Why would it be used it in the ER?: Morphine Ativan (lorazepam) Epinephrine Haldol (haloperidol) Benadryl (diphenhydramine) Solumedral Metoprolol (Lopressor) Nitroglycerine Versed (midazolam) Albuterol Magnesium (what type of dysrhythmia is it used to treat?) Zofran (ondonstrone) Phenergan (promethazine) Cardizem (diltizem) Dilaudid (hydromorphone) Compazine Protonix Xanax (alprazolam) Valium (diazepam) Pepcid Lidocaine Amiadorone Adenosine Atropine Dopamine Propofal (diprivan) Normal Saline Dexamethasone (decadron) Heparin Lovenox Vicodin Percocet Tordal (ketoralac) Ancef Rocephin (ceftriaxone) Activate Charcoal What drug do you use to reverse opioid overdose? What drugs on this list are narcs? What drug do you use to reverse benzodiazepine overdose? What drugs on this list are benzos? Systems Review Keep pathos short, I mean 10 words or less!!! Think about assessment!! You will be doing a lot of focused system assessments while in the ER. Cardiac: Common signs of an MI Remember MONA?? What is Troponin? What does it mean if it's elevated? Be familiar with the following rhythms: Atrial fibrillation What does supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) mean? Normal Sinus Rhythm Ventricular Tachycardia Ventricular Fibrillation Sinus Tachycardia Cardiovascular: What is shock? What are the four (major) types of shock? What is anaphylaxis? Renal: How do the kidneys regulate BP? (no long patho, just the big picture in 10 words or less) Common signs of a kidney stone Hepatic: How does the liver effect clotting (in 10 words or less!) GI/ Abdomen: Common signs of appendicitis Common signs of cholecystitis Endocrine: What is DKA? What are the common sign and symptoms? Neuro: Common signs of a stroke Differences in treatment of hematic stroke vs ischemic stroke Common signs of herniation What is involved in a nuero assessment? What is a Glasgow Coma Score? Respiratory: Common signs of pneumonia Common signs upper respiratory tract infection Croup, RSV, bronchitis, pharyngitis (we see a LOT of these!)
This is what I send out to our senior students before their ER rotation:
Items to Review
Skills
Whether you have done a lot of IV starts or none at all, don't worry!! Learning is what the rotation is for! I just want you to be familiar with the procedures so you know how to measure the NG tube before we place it. Don't be nervous about skills, there will be ample opportunities to practice in a safe environment. Review these skills:
IV starts
Venipucture
NG tube placement
OG tube placement (with a ventilated patient)
EKG lead placement
3 lead (red, white, black)
12 lead placement
Foley catheter placement
Straight catheter placement
ABG collection
Medications:
Remember, just a few important points about each. Why would it be used it in the ER?:
Morphine
Ativan (lorazepam)
Epinephrine
Haldol (haloperidol)
Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
Solumedral
Metoprolol (Lopressor)
Nitroglycerine
Versed (midazolam)
Albuterol
Magnesium (what type of dysrhythmia is it used to treat?)
Zofran (ondonstrone)
Phenergan (promethazine)
Cardizem (diltizem)
Dilaudid (hydromorphone)
Compazine
Protonix
Xanax (alprazolam)
Valium (diazepam)
Pepcid
Lidocaine
Amiadorone
Adenosine
Atropine
Dopamine
Propofal (diprivan)
Normal Saline
Dexamethasone (decadron)
Heparin
Lovenox
Vicodin
Percocet
Tordal (ketoralac)
Ancef
Rocephin (ceftriaxone)
Activate Charcoal
What drug do you use to reverse opioid overdose?
What drugs on this list are narcs?
What drug do you use to reverse benzodiazepine overdose?
What drugs on this list are benzos?
Systems Review
Keep pathos short, I mean 10 words or less!!! Think about assessment!! You will be doing a lot of focused system assessments while in the ER.
Cardiac:
Common signs of an MI
Remember MONA??
What is Troponin? What does it mean if it's elevated?
Be familiar with the following rhythms:
Atrial fibrillation
What does supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) mean?
Normal Sinus Rhythm
Ventricular Tachycardia
Ventricular Fibrillation
Sinus Tachycardia
Cardiovascular:
What is shock?
What are the four (major) types of shock?
What is anaphylaxis?
Renal:
How do the kidneys regulate BP? (no long patho, just the big picture in 10 words or less)
Common signs of a kidney stone
Hepatic:
How does the liver effect clotting (in 10 words or less!)
GI/ Abdomen:
Common signs of appendicitis
Common signs of cholecystitis
Endocrine:
What is DKA? What are the common sign and symptoms?
Neuro:
Common signs of a stroke
Differences in treatment of hematic stroke vs ischemic stroke
Common signs of herniation
What is involved in a nuero assessment?
What is a Glasgow Coma Score?
Respiratory:
Common signs of pneumonia
Common signs upper respiratory tract infection
Croup, RSV, bronchitis, pharyngitis (we see a LOT of these!)
LOVE YOU LONG TIME
Hacker
19 Posts
Another one for kids: CIAMPEDS
C: EC + duration of illness
I: Immunizations
A: Allergies
M: Meds
P: PM Hx, Parents' perception of illness, Prenatal/birth hx
E: Events around illness, sequence
D: Diet, Diapers
S: Symptoms associated with illness / progression of symptoms