[NursStudent1980]

Hi everyone,
I am a fourth year nursing student about to start my placement in the emergency room... Does anyone have any tips or advice for me before I start? This is where I want to work when I graduate so I really want to get the most I can out of it! Thanks in advance

[ernurse93]

Congrats!! Your almost finished!! I have precepted many of the new graduations hired in our ER. The most important thing to remember go in with a positive attitude. Let your preceptor know what you need the most help with. I always ask my orientees/students what they need or want our of their orientation, afterall, this is their time to learn. Always try to observe any new procedures, patient types (peds, OB, older adutl, etc), watch codes or traumas. Take it all in. Don't be suprised if you don't become addicted, ER is a great place to work.

As far as preparing, really brush up on your rythm identification skills. Review peds, cardiac diseases, neuro assessments(really important), and assessment skills. If you can review any protocols your ER will have that may be helpful.

The main medications we give in my ER is toradol, morphine, demerol, phenergan, lasix, insulin, iv antibiotics, cardiac drips (Cardizem, Lidocaine, Cordarone, Dopamine, Nitoglycerin) and a ton more.

Try to learn something new everyday. I have been in the ER for 11 years, and I still learn something new almost everyday!


Have fun!! Good Luck!!

[Faeriewand]

ernurse what good advice! I hope to become an ER nurse myself and am looking up all those meds! I know I keep seeing Toradol but never knew what it was for so thanks for the impetus to get going!

[NursStudent1980]

Originally Posted by ernurse93

Congrats!! Your almost finished!! I have precepted many of the new graduations hired in our ER. The most important thing to remember go in with a positive attitude. Let your preceptor know what you need the most help with. I always ask my orientees/students what they need or want our of their orientation, afterall, this is their time to learn. Always try to observe any new procedures, patient types (peds, OB, older adutl, etc), watch codes or traumas. Take it all in. Don't be suprised if you don't become addicted, ER is a great place to work.

As far as preparing, really brush up on your rythm identification skills. Review peds, cardiac diseases, neuro assessments(really important), and assessment skills. If you can review any protocols your ER will have that may be helpful.

The main medications we give in my ER is toradol, morphine, demerol, phenergan, lasix, insulin, iv antibiotics, cardiac drips (Cardizem, Lidocaine, Cordarone, Dopamine, Nitoglycerin) and a ton more.

Try to learn something new everyday. I have been in the ER for 11 years, and I still learn something new almost everyday!


Have fun!! Good Luck!!

Thanks so much for the advice! I'm already looking up the meds and making a list of procedures I want to do lol! CAN'T WAIT!!

[helloworld]

Don't be intimidated. A lot of things can happen in the ER all at one time that can make you run screaming for the hills. The top thing on my list of things to do when I walk into the ER every day is to "stay calm". Don't allow yourself to feel rushed or harried, because then you'll start trying to overcompensate and you can make errors. Do your best to work fast but be careful and if you're not sure, ASK, ASK ASK. As a new ER nurse still in orientation I never hesitate to ask or to say when I am not comfortable with a task or assignment. But I am also not afraid to try even when I have never done something before, you just have to learn to distinguish between fear for fear's sake, and gut instinct.

The ER is awesome, and very addicting. You will learn a lot!

Life in the ER