What are your pet peeves when orienting a new ER nurse?

DebanamRN, MSN, RN · Jul 21, 2011

Yeah, that drives me crazy. Don't spend 20 minutes hunting down a tech to do something you could have done in two minutes. I mean, really? Where is the logic in that?

Amen. I've been on both sides of the desk. Nurses who sat and waited for me to do everything and got mad when I fell behind. Now that I'm the RN I still do a lot on my own. It's easier for me to run preg tests, draw blood (hey I'm probably gonna start an IV anyway, and if not, I'm a pro with a butterfly), collect urine, all kinds of stuff. I can't stand nurses who wait for the tech and crab about stuff not getting done. I run my own EKGs if need be, because sometimes the tech is tied up with something else. I once had a patient with chest pain and RN yelled at me because I was doing another EKG and couldn't get to it then and there. Hello, if you want to work in the ER you had better know how to run an EKG. I also clean, wipe, bedpan, pick up trash, empty the dirty garbage, tie up dirty stinky linen bags, and generally do what needs to be done. I've wiped up all kinds of bodily fluids. Its all part of the job.

mmutk, BSN, RN, EMT-I · Jul 22, 2011

The ones that let the patients run all over them and don't stand up for themselves.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2011

"We did it THIS way at my other place"...other hospital, other unit.
Really annoying. Enter with an open mind and absorb what's going on.

Understanding the rationale for doing something is important tho. Anytime I've asked a question like that it's because I want to understand why something is being done one way and not another. My hospital actually changed their policy on confirming NG placement after enough new nurses asked why it was being done by auscultation instead of pH.

Have open communication with your preceptor : if something isn't working for you, let them know. Learn the resources and where to look things up early on.

F.E.R.N., BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2011

Please don't whine. You can complain, ask for help, or tell me you're not ready for this next ambulance...but don't whine.

When you get the problem patient, the next one that has to go in the hallway, the drunk, the trauma you don't feel ready for...whatever it is that scares you...it's okay to be nervous and you can share that with your preceptor/fellow nurses. Just don't whine about it. One behavior shows legitimate, sensible concern and awareness. The other makes us wonder why you came to the ER if you only wanted smooth sailing and easy patients.

When you voice an honest concern, I'm likely to know just how you feel and help you cope. When you whine, I'm likely to wonder why you think you're the only one who doesn't have to work in the same conditions as the rest of us. I'm going to wonder why you wanted to be here. After all, you probably implied in your interview that you could handle anything the ER could throw at you...so by all means, ask questions, admit when you don't know something, but FAKE the confidence if you have to and HANDLE it.

Sanuk · Jul 25, 2011

Everyone's given good advice, I just want to add one thing. In every ER I've worked, the first impression is VITAL. Word gets around very quickly and trying to reverse a negative first impression can be impossible. The biggest negative rep you can have is laziness. If I hear from the other nurses that so-and-so is lazy, it's gonna be in my head. As hard as I try to meet everyone with no expectations or preconceptions, it's still there floating around. Second worst is the know-it-all (regardless of if you actually do know it all or not :). Just go in with your A-game. Show that you're there to work collaboratively and you will be appreciated! Good luck.