About to start in the ER after 1 year of Med/Surg....too soon?

[soldiersgirl]

Hello all,

I wondered if anyone would have some insight on the drastic change coming up in my nursing career. I have been working day shift on a Med/Surg unit for the last 8 months and our hospital is going through some changes (opening up a new hospital which is very exciting). I had to bid on a job as a displaced nurse because I have no senority and all of the Medical jobs were taken. I was eligible for an ER position, day shift, at the new hospital because I will have been a nurse a year by the time my 6 week training program starts in July. I loved the ER in nursing school, but it is totally different when you are the RN in charge. I have much improved on my organizational skills and though the first year has been very hard, I am able to handle a team of 4-5 patients.

Am I ready for ER? I know it can be very intense. Any ER nurses have any advice?

[bill4745, RN]

The ER can go from fairly quiet (don't EVER say the word quiet in the ER!!!) to total chaos in 2 minutes. I made the move 4 years ago after 10 of ICU. I wish I had done it sooner. The ER is never boring, I honestly learn something new or solve a new problem every shift. You are really expected and allowed to think on your own, and not wait for an order for everything. You will learn how to set priorities and also how to change them when things get bad. Be patient. It took me over a year before I felt like I knew what I was doing.

[Sflowerssweeney]

I have only 7 months experience in Med Surg in a large metropolitan hospital and took a job in the ER in a community hospital 4 weeks ago. Oh my gosh, I can't tell you how challenging this is. You definitely are scared to death at first and I can tell you I have dreams about work every single night. But I do feel better about it every week. I know its going to take me quite some time before I feel comfortable with my skills and my speed, priorities, etc. I don't think you're ever really ready for it until you just plunge right in. Good luck to you, you will learn something new or do a new skill every day. I can say it's soooo much more interesting than Med Surg and I'm glad I made the move.

[Dave11, BSN, RN]

take all the orientation you can get. the more the better.

if at all possible, stick with one preceptor. bouncing you around from one person to another will only confuse you as everyone does things a bit different.

if anything comes in that you either haven't seen before or only a couple of times, go stick your nose in that room and at the very least watch what is going on.

most importantly, DON"T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS. (bold for emphasis).

[KatieBell]

I would say it is not at all too soon. Some ED managers prefer M/S nurses as they often multitask more easily than ICU nurses.

If you have the oppoetunity, go for it. There is only one way to learn if it is right for you!

[whitman]

Hey very cool!! I start next week too after a long time in med. Nerve racking huh? But very exciting. I'm thinking that I will get the shock of my life and feel very nervous to do well but hey one shot at life and how cool is that that we got the jobs. Let me know how you go. Have fun!!

[bamagt]

Everyone has explained it to me kind of like when you're jumping into water and you know it's cold, you just have to do it.

So do it!!!!!!!!!!

[Hilinenursegrl]

My oldest son was killed 3 weeks before I graduated nursing school. Because of that my employment plan changed and I took a year off. My very first job as a newly graduated RN who had taken a year off was, and still is, in the ER of a small IHS hospital. I can't tell you how scared and incompetent I felt! Now I've been here 6 months and I feel confident about myself but I am still asking questions, there are no stupid questions when someone's life is at stake. I wish you the best of luck and hope you love it as much as I do.

[Party-of-Five-NY]

I think I can answer this pretty well; I started in the ER exactly one year after I became a nurse. I worked on a busy med-surg floor for the first year, and knew that I wanted something else.

I have been in the ER for one year now, and I think it was the best decision! I love working in the ER. The main reason I like it, is because you always have a doc. right there. If your patient is "going bad", you don't have to wait for a resident to come, or a private doc. to call back, you have help immediately! Also, you learn so much from being right in the thick of it.

The biggest challenge for me, have been the technical skills. I hardly ever started IV's on the floor, (they already had them!). Now I have to start IV's on dehydrated, sick people who sometimes have no veins! It can be hard, I used to have to ask for help alot, but now, I get most of them!

Our ER has a GREAT team of experienced nurses who are always willing to help me, and it has been a wonderful learning experience for me.

Good luck!

[kay2701]

I am starting in the ER next week after working Med Surg for most of my nursing career. I am so glad that i joined allnurses.com today , because i was so nervous about my decision to start ER nursing,but you guys have helped so much .Thank you all and keep it coming, many of us need you guys.

[Anagray, BSN]

ER is a great place to work. I think some people are ready after 1 year and some are not. It all depends on your personality and skill level. It took me 6 months to be able to function on my on on med-surg, 2 years to get to being a charge nurse on med-surg, but the slow-going paid off, because I became very good at what I did. In ER I transitioned very well, no difficulty.

I've seen new grads came right to the ER and they were very good as well, but this is very rare.

Good luck! Nat