After I graduate can I start right off in the ER?

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My ultimate goal is to become a really good Trauma ER nurse. That was my goal when I started and that is still my goal with only three classes left. Some people say if you want to become an ER nurse then that is where you should start. Some say that you need at least 1 year of med surge experience to get your feet wet. What do you guys think? Should I do Med surge for a while first and then go into ER? Or should I just jump right into ER?

It probably would be to any new grad's benefit to start on med surg. I myself started on the Cardio Interventional unit and gained immense knowledge that helped with the transition to the ER. Remember though, in addition to having incredible prioritization skills, you must also be able to not only deal with the patients but also the families, especially when situations do not turn out as expected. Remembering too that when this happens, you still have 6-8 other patients and their dr. orders you must keep up with.:nurse:

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Sorry old thread. Put it this way, this nurse came to the ER after her experience in a Nursing home. Spent a week after orientation, and left.

I see it time and time again. Above poster is right about burning yourself out of it, you need to acclimate.

My best advice is to work yourself into it, I think my hospital offers a rounds on a regular floor for like a month, then 2 months in step down IMCU then maybe another 4 months in ICU then finally an extensive orientation in the ED.

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Hello,

I am a SNE in the ER. I will graduate May of 07. I really am hooked on ER. Now that I have read these posts though I am beginning to wonder if I should stay until graduation. What is your advice? Should I stay and get a year as a SNE in ER and then apply for a position there or should I try to go to Med/surg, etc. before applying to the ED? If I go to another floor, how long before I should apply back to the ED? Thanks!

In my opinon a med-surg floor will not expose you to what is needed in the ED. Just go for it! Get all the certs. needed to undersand your position and make certain the preceptorship has what you need. Find out who the tenure nurses are and mentor with them. Absorb all you can and realize it will be stressful and frustrating, but in the end......The ER will always be the front door to the hospital and you will see everything under the sun. It will be a great learning experience and it sounds like you will join the ranks of nurses who love the ER. Goodluck!:smokin:

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Specializes in ER - trauma/cardiac/burns. IV start spec.

Go straight to ER I did and I can tell you that with the extreme differences between floors and ER any time on floor will ruin you for the ER. It moves fast keeps you on your toes nothing is ever the same - even the same dx. It will differ from pt to pt. Do not let others pressure you to the "medsurg" thing they were doing that in 1993 and nothing has changed since then. If you want to be ER go to ER I was 1 of 3 grads that always wanted ER and the only one that stayed.

If you can do nights it is best ( no suits or prima dona docs to deal with) and when you call them at 4am for a pt that was to be there by 10 and he starts to yell at you you say would you like ER to see and admit or just give me orders or shall I just write your usual admitting orders? They usually shut up say admit be sure to ask about pre-op meds suddenly same Doc asks for you when he calls and politely asks you to admit patient if they show late. You smile say sure thing. :yeah::coollook:

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Specializes in ER - trauma/cardiac/burns. IV start spec.

Strange - there were never any critical care nurses that could come to ER and stablize closed head tramua with flail chest broken rt humerous, fractured pelvis, insert dual chest tubes. start emergent release blood and order the correct units ahead. Know dose of solumederol for brain swelling. No you get the patient intubated, chest tubes inserted, dressed, right arm in long arm splint, ng tube down, foley in, cleaned, antibiotics started, blood count accurate and all charting up to date. Duh.

ER is a world unto itself and it takes special (somewhat crazy, weird sense of humor and can't really think of something so gross that you are so disgusted that you cannot handle it) dark humor is best. People that work in ER cannot survive in the units with the more restrictive autonomy.

We get gsw abc's done find holes identify if thru and thru body areas affected start large bore IV x2 draw blood type and cross hold 4 units ahead labs ordered xrays ordered and the doc hasn't even gotten to the pt yet. In the ER thats your job.

Yeah there are the citizens that abuse the system but thats when you use teaching:banghead:

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Specializes in ER - trauma/cardiac/burns. IV start spec.
It probably would be to any new grad's benefit to start on med surg. I myself started on the Cardio Interventional unit and gained immense knowledge that helped with the transition to the ER. Remember though, in addition to having incredible prioritization skills, you must also be able to not only deal with the patients but also the families, especially when situations do not turn out as expected. Remembering too that when this happens, you still have 6-8 other patients and their dr. orders you must keep up with.:nurse:

Boy small ER. normally we had 1 nurse in chest pain center - 7 patients, fast track 2 nurses with 14 to 20 pts, trauma beds 4/ nurses 2 1 Doc and 1 PA or NP.

Hell we asked ortho to send someone to help put pt in halo No one knew how. :confused: We had one ER nurse that knew what to do.

As each person is an individual with different abilities and the ability to pick their speciality.:bow:

Any new grad want ER go to ER do not mess around with other areas. It is your choice and only you will know if you are happy:up:

Patty

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