Experience...How much is enough?

[vinstafa]

So, I know at least 1 year, maybe 2 years need to travel, but how long is long enough in a certain speciality? I currently have over 5.5 years in an ICU, but I was looking to transfer to the ED, gain some experience there and hopefully open some more opportunities. I was looking to travel sometime in August, and I am assuming I will be looking at having around 5 months ED experience. Has anyone else done this? Any help would be great.

[Bluebolt]

I'm an ICU RN. I worked in the ER for about a year during nursing school as a PCT just to get an idea of what the demands and typical work in the ER entails. I also work with RN's who transferred from ICU to ER and ER to ICU, PCU to ICU etc. From multiple peoples experiences and the roughly 6 years I have experienced around the ICU and ED I'd say to go with your gut. I have met some nurses that it takes 6 months to be proficient and very capable in a new area once they transfer and others that can be in it for 3 years and still lacking. Most management and veteran nurses have told me if you can do the ICU then you're capable of doing just about any field. Although I'm not saying you'll be best suited for every field nor will you enjoy every field. I've found that some nurses just think in a way that best suits them to a certain area. Task oriented enjoys busy work = Med Surg; Independent, Well educated on new research and techniques, Stubborn and Self Confident, prefer to do action (fix problem) and notify MD later = ICU; Adrenaline Junkie, love starting IV's, ADHD/ADD, enjoys MD at side at all times = ED.

At my hospital management expects that any ICU RN can float to virtually any other bedside location in the hospital and be proficient and even an example to the other staff (including the ED). Although in reverse there is virtually no other dept in the hospital that may float to help us and be expected to be even adequate in the ICU. That speaks for itself.

Although I'll admit that floating and being a travel nurse is different due to the expectation of proficiency by a travel RN on assignment.

I have friends that are ER Nurses and I know the statements I made can rub the wrong way, it isn't meant to. I love ER nurses and admit they are better at starting peripheral IV's (just call anesthesia and get a triple lumen CVL!). Please take this as my opinion and don't rant in righteous indignation.