New Grad ER Nurse

[Tuesday]

Hi! I'm a new grad and will start my nurse residency in an ED in about a month. I was wondering if anyone had any advice? The hospital is not a trauma center, but is in a large city. I will be paired with a preceptor for a couple of months and I have worked in an ED before (during school as a pct). My practicum was on a med-surg floor, and I'm worried about prioritizing my actions/anticipating doctor's orders/not recognizing signs and symptoms(quickly), and etc. I did well in school and on the NCLEX, but is there anything you reviewed/studied that made your critical thinking faster?

[DayDreamin ER CRNP]

Do a search on this topic. It has been discussed ad nauseam here. Lots of great info if you just search a little bit.

good luck!

[amzyRN]

Talk to your preceptor. Tell them you need to know that your priorities are correct. There are correct orders of operations in the ED. Sometimes certain things can go in different order, but there are certain things that always come first second and third and so on. There is a method to the madness in the ED which in part depends on your support staff and how your ED operates. When I started in the ED (I was not a new grad) I had to adjust to thinking like an ED nurse. After each shift my preceptor would debrief with me. She also would tell me if I was prioritizing incorrectly and how to do things to not only properly care for the ED patient but also to have a quick and efficient flow. As a result of her training, my flow is pretty good. Congratulations and good luck!!