Air Tight Cliques-Level One Trauma ER Nurses/ Hospitals

silentRN · Dec 5, 2009

I work in a level one trauma center too, in the trauma ICU. Don't believe all the hype. Ya there are cliques and you usually have to just go through a baptism of fire. I first was a floor nurse and then transferred to the trauma-surgical ICU and I was still treated like a new grad when I transferred even though I wasn't. But, we had a great long preceptor program which lasted about 12 weeks for experienced nurses. And during that preceptor period you get to know everyone, and once you're on your own you get treated a lot different. When I first got my first trauma red, they died within an hour of the patient coming up. But the good thing was was that I was never alone. A more experienced nurse came in to help me. The only way you learn is through experience. It doesn't matter if it is a trauma 1 or a trauma 3 level hospital. But that night was truly a baptism of fire because out of that mess I learned what I needed to do next time. Since you are applying in the ER, you probably wont see your first serious trauma until a year in, until then you'll be seeing the stomach pains and people who c/o constipation or vomiting. The good thing about working in a trauma ICU if you like trauma is that the patient will go to where ever the empty bed is, and if that bed is yours then you will be getting it. You don't have to wait a year.

I would say go ahead and apply for the position you want. I didn't do that at first, I applied first on the floor and I couldn't wait to get out and into something I really liked. So don't take that route because who knows when another opportunity will show up again like the one you have now.

-David

vanderth · Dec 5, 2009

Hi there,

I am not a nurse yet, start school in January. However, I find that this situation can be applied to any profession. I think you should go for it. I think it would be impossible for them to stiff you for a long period and if it were me I would do research on the web about the unit you will be working in so that you don't have to count soley on the "clique nurses" (which, in my opinion is infantile and laughable) for all of the info you will need to succeed. Don't let them scare you....you can do it! BTW, I am married to a surgeon and doctors also have cliques LOL. I just don't understand why you would want to prevent someone from functioning on your team. Wouldn't it be easier to help them so that they could help you in the future? I guess it is lack of logic and more ego based eh?

Good Luck!!!!!!

Remember, defensiveness and the unwillingness to help is weakness disguised as strength... in any situation.

Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2009

Congrats on the interview! :balloons:

DO NOT let the rumor of "mean girls" keep you from something/anything. There are more that think like me (the giving everyone a chance and the support to allow them to be successful) than the ones that get some reward from seeing you drown (thankfully, they are rare - but they do get too much attention! - but not from you - got it!?).

I say - Go to the interview! Get the job! And blow their socks off on the road to being the best nurse you can be!!!

PM if I can help further. Good Luck!

webmansx, ASN, RN · Dec 5, 2009

Thanks you for your responses nurses and nurses to be :)

I got called for the interview, which is in itself a suprise!! They must have seen something in my resume or something to concider me for this position......I don't know what!

I will take your advice and at least give it a shot, like David said, i don't know when this chance will come again.

Its not as much as the "mean clique nurses" that scar me, but rather the very steep lerning curve ahead of me. Its like going fom 15 miles /hr to 110 miles/hr !!! from starting an IV or 2 every 2 months or so to getting one started several times a day on various types of patients!!! yikes and thats just one of the minor things!! :eek:

But Like ya'll said , i should just go for it!!!

Thanks again! keep em coming!:w00t:

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2009

I told you before you're going to need thick skin.

Don't show your weakness...and whether or not there are mean people are irrelevant. These people are like war vets. They've seen it all and if you can't handle the load they will eat you.

Don't come here whining about them. I don't like inexperienced people; they will only get in the way.

I am not going to sugar coat for you.

Former L1 nurse.

RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2009

I agree with the above poster.

If you don't have thick skin, you will get it very quickly. Don't show your weakness. there are a lot of good people out there to work with and there are a lot of nurses who "eat their young' so to speak. It's every where, not just ER or trauma. You'll find out very soon who you can trust and you you can't.

I suggest you remain positive and if you get the job, remember that you're there to do your job which is being a nurse. Your not there to please your co-workers. They're not the

one's that sign your paycheck. Good luck.

webmansx, ASN, RN · Dec 5, 2009

I told you before you're going to need thick skin.
Don't show your weakness...and whether or not there are mean people are irrelevant. These people are like war vets. They've seen it all and if you can't handle the load they will eat you.
Don't come here whining about them. I don't like inexperienced people; they will only get in the way.
I am not going to sugar coat for you.
Former L1 nurse.

Hi Former L1 Nurse,

Don't show my weakness? meaning?!? There is no way i can hide my inexperience, I can hide fear..but not knowing how to do something in the ER (anywhere in Nursing really) and hiding it means someone dies/seriously injured....Even I know that!

Thankyou for telling me how it is, I needed to hear that so that I can come prepared.

I would appreciete you telling me "how" I can "not get in the way" and "handle the load" so that I don't get eaten.

Thanks

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2009

Hi Former L1 Nurse,
Don't show my weakness? meaning?!? There is no way i can hide my inexperience, I can hide fear..but not knowing how to do something in the ER (anywhere in Nursing really) and hiding it means someone dies/seriously injured....Even I know that!
Thankyou for telling me how it is, I needed to hear that so that I can come prepared.
I would appreciete you telling me "how" I can "not get in the way" and "handle the load" so that I don't get eaten.
Thanks

Weakness: Don't let them see you stressed. And Don't give them an in when they think they can get to you. ALWAYS a straight face. And why I left? I had a 12-year-old's brains on my hands one day--all over me. That was it. TOO MUCH.

WATCH and LISTEN.

and always tell them, "I'm learning, teach me."

if they yell at you, don't take it personally. It's usually related to the situation.

If they tell you they don't like you, "It's okay. But teach me anyway. I want to be as good as you." (Sounds like a lame thing to say, but they can't argue with you on that.)

There will be some nice people, but generally this area requires a very STRONG PERSONALITY. And you will be tested.

Always put on your game face.

Don't wear your heart on a sleeve.

KNOW ACLS, PALS, etc., WELL.--Don't know how you will considering you've never done it.

Act confident, even if you are mush inside.

Don't cry till you get home.

I'm not trying to discourage you, but having this background has made me a very, practical and straightforward person (my posts show that) I do not think an inexperienced person should be there. That's my opinion. I don't know you enough to be able to assess you except via this post.

Jo

webmansx, ASN, RN · Dec 5, 2009

Hey Jo,

Thanks 4 being more specific. Points taken: Poker face, watch, learn and listen, ask for teaching, get busy on ACLS, PALS etc. get ready to be yelled at and not to take things personal, cry only at home (or in the car )

One more things, how about physical appearance affect my being able to be taken seriously?

I'm female, wear both top and bottom metal teeth braces, 5'3 115 lbs, smilley happy person generally...not a good fit?!? :nurse:

Thanks!

Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN · Dec 5, 2009

I hate the first impression stuff. But I will tell you that if you know the important stuff life in ER does get easier. I think they act that way at first because they don't know how much You know, so they will treat you like an idiot until you show them. I have had to prove myself every time I started a new job after that everything else was hunky dory. Good Luck

webmansx, ASN, RN · Dec 5, 2009

I hate the first impression stuff. But I will tell you that if you know the important stuff life in ER does get easier. I think they act that way at first because they don't know how much You know, so they will treat you like an idiot until you show them. I have had to prove myself every time I started a new job after that everything else was hunky dory. Good Luck

How do I make that first good impression...I will be clueless for a long time?!?