Advice please!

Specialties Emergency

Published

I have been a floor nurse for 7.5 years, my background is cardiac medsurg and surgical, cardiac PCU, ortho, small bit of oncology, charge nursed, and traveled for about 3-3.5 years. For those of you who used to be on the floor how did you change your thinking? Were you overwhelmed at first? It's also been hard for me to change my thinking from learning so quickly on travel assignments. I've only just started but just looking for any advice! Right now it's a level 2 trauma center, but they just got reviewed to become a level 1. I just feel like I have SO much to learn and I want it to happen now LOL! Also, any tips on report sheets? I'm used to writing stuff down! Thanks!

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

My report sheet is a piece of paper taken out of the printer or a paper towel. LOL. Get used to keeping things at the top of your head. I was very overwhelmed at first and I still am at times (been there 11 months) but it has gotten a lot better past the 10 month mark. It really is a whole new way of nursing and I like it so much better that the floor. One thing you will have to get used to is that in the ER off the wall vital signs and labs are much more common than on the floor, especially med/surg and as long as your patient is alive and breathing, there is no reason to freak out about a BP of 225/114 or a HR of 163. Of course treat it but don't freak out. You will treat them and they will live. The monitor will become your friend. The teamwork is awesome. When there is an emergency all is forgotten and we work together.

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Never worked on the floor. Did a few clinicals and saw how others did report sheets. Mine go on a 1/4 sheet of paper, one side for 4 rooms.

As I get report I write down age, sex, cc. Pertinent hx (much less than floor nurses), occasionally a lab value if it really jumps at me, and things ordered that need to be done soon or so the pt can be expedited (out the door or to the floor). 3 lines max, often only age sex and cc cuz my report was, " they're new, haven't even been in there. I saw them as I walked past and they looked stable".

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Never a floor nurse, though I did spend a couple years in the ICU.

Assuming you work in an er with a reasonable computer charting system drop the "brainsheet" and lengthy report. Learn the system. All the info you need is there. Get only the big picture stuff. there is a reason most experienced ER nurses are comfortable with a 2 minute report.

Recognize your strengths. With your background there are a number of areas in which you are far stronger than most ER nurses. If you help others in those areas, you will feel more comfortable asking when you need help.

Ask when you need help. Nobody expects you to be an expert ER nurse when you show up. If you act like you think you might be, your peers won't trust you.

In my it is pretty rare for a floor nurse who sticks it out long enough to develop competency to go back to the floor.

Good luck. Welcome aboard.

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