[MEME_BSN]

Hi everyone.
I have been a nurse a whopping 6 Months, and I went straight into an ED. I was a ED tech two years prior at the same ED. Anyway, we are using the ENA orientation program with some additional courses on 12 lead EKG, peds trauma, and such the program has been good, and will continue to improve. It is really pretty cool some of the ER physicians are guest lecturers.
I am just curious what programs other ED's are offering and how successful they have been.

Thanks,
MEME

[cursenurse]

the er i am interested in has a 2-3 month orientation. you have to attend and pass a 9 day critical care course then you get orientation in all areas of the er.

[traumaRUs]

Meme - what you are describing is what we use in our level one trauma center also. It is very good and thorough. New grad orientation is 12 weeks and can be extended to 16 weeks. Good luck...er is loads of fun.

[Doublej0601]

I need some advice here on my Grandpa's condition. He had a stroke several years ago and has recovered from it. Not to the point he was, but better. He is 84. Recently, he stopped eating and talking. We had him to the doctor and they say it is depression. They have given him medicine for depression, medicine to make hime eat, but it's not working. We even have trouble getting the medicine in him. Advise appreciated.

Thanks.

[cursenurse]

how long has it been that he has not been eating? you should get in touch with his dr, because his nutrition/hydration status must be addressed ASAP. it may be time to consider a peg tube. if you can't get him in to see his dr, then take him to the er for eval.

[Doublej0601]

We have had him to 2 doctors and a phyciatrist about his depression. They have given him pills for his depression and envatol to make him eat. We may get 2 tsps of soup and a half glass of boost in him per day, but we did get 2 chocolates in him yesterday. At times he says he's hungry, we get what he asks for, toast, soup or else, and once he has a taste, that's it.

[cursenurse]

your grandpa is not eating enough. has the family considered having a feeding tube placed so that he can receive food and water (and medication)? he can not survive long just taking sips and bites of food here and there. how long is his dr going to wait before he addresses these serious issues? have you told the doctors that your grandpa is not taking medications? all the antidepressants in the world aren't going to help him if you can't get them in him. you should take him to the emergency room and tell them everything that is going on and how long it has been happening. i am sure he is already seriously dehydrated and malnourished.

[sbnurse04]

I just graduated from nursing school in may of this year, I'm going into an ER of a Level One trauma center. We are required to participate in a new grad program that consists of a critical care class, working on several floors in the hospital for a 1-2 week period in each location, we rotate to all of the ICU's in the hospital, we ride along with EMS, and we fly with a helicopter one shift. When after all of this we are with a new grad orientee for several weeks in the ER. All together, the orientation takes about 5-6 months.

[DVarmit]

EEEGHADs! I am just finishing my orientation at a LVL I trauma center ED. I love it so far - but what I've gotten is 6 weeks of orientation. We don't have any classes, unless we get scheduled for some later and that is based on seniority. My co-workers are great and they have a strong sense of teamwork. I know I don't ever have to do anything "alone", but I also know I'm going to be functioning on very-slow-speed for a while until I get confident making decisions on my own.

I was an lpn for years.........then got my RN. I did 6 months on a med/surg floor as an RN before I took this position and for me, that was a good move. It helped me get some critical thinking skills and learn to think through what might be going on with a patient that's crashing.

We have 3 GN's starting next month.........so I won't be the only "green" one there. And, hence, the waiting list for "classes" gets longer....

Dawn in PA

[MEME_BSN]

thank you all for your input. i really believe the program i am in is a great start.
That is really cool that it is similar to a level one trauma center orientation. the hospital i work at is not labeled a level one trauma center but we do give that level of care very often. I am going to share this information with the directors of the ED and my instructors and preceptors.
I like that idea of going to different units and all ICU's as part of the orientation. i believe i will ask them to add that to future classes, especially for individuals who have never worked or had clinicals at our hospital.
This past week I started on my own with a mentor to ask questions when needed. I had 4 high acuity patients. I felt a little overwhelmed but i made it through. i shared the experience with one of the ED directors and she is going to cut myself and other new grads back to 2 high acuity patients with the option to take a third for a few weeks reasses and then increase our pt load if we feel prepared to.
They are very supportive, open, willing to listen and most importantly take action.

MEME
Opportunities dance with those already on the dance floor.