Or am I just trying to prove to myself I could do it?
I've got 6 months til graduation, getting my BSN from TCU. I decided to go to nursing school after already getting a bachelor's from UVA because I'd been working for a nonprofit medical society for Emergency Docs (administrative stuff). I guess on some level --and because the docs are the ones that inspired me to go to nursing school--I was hoping I would be cut out for the ED. I always want to be the best at what I do. And from what I can tell (or have been told), ER nurses really are the best. You have to get your skills down and be efficient at them. There isn't time to waste.
When I share this with anyone "well, I'm thinking I might want to work in the emergency department"-- they say: oh, are you an adrenaline junkie? But if I'm being honest, the answer is NO. But, just because I don't love stress and thrive on pressure doesn't mean I couldn't be good at it, right? I have learned things about myself in school that I didn't realize before, namely that I have the ability to stay calm under pressure. I don't "freak out." I hate drama and am quick to offer my help. I want to be part of a team, not "the nurses versus the docs" as it seems on the floor. I also have no illusions that I'm a genius or have it all figured out. I'm humble and I will learn from others whether they're the head of the department or the tech. That's probably my main reason for wanting to be in the ER in the first place -- I want to learn as much as possible and make the most difference I possibly can.
Still, I can't help but linger on what my clinical instructor said to me when I told her I was thinking about emergency nursing. She said "oh, I don't think I see you there." But just because I'm not the stereotypical hardass (no offense intended!) emergency nurse doesn't mean I couldn't be great at it, right?
I'm probably showing my age, and perhaps my prejudices, but I do not think new grads belong in either ICU or ER. Both areas require EXCELLENT assessment skills and the ability to act fast and efficiently in an emergency situation. If I as a patient show up in the trauma bay I do not want someone learning the trade caring for me. I'm sorry if that sounds rough, and I'm sure there are posters on here who went straight to ICU or ER and did fine. But I think they are the exceptions. I believe that for most new grads some time in Med Surg is valuable and will make the transition to another area much easier. And I know the ER isn't all real emergencies or trauma--but enough of it is that I think my point is valid.
Somedays I'm not sure I'm 'cut out for the ED'... and I've been doing ED nursing for a while now [ED = Emergency Department. It's a Department, not a Room. Just sayin' ]
And on other days I feel like I was born to do this!
But that's neither here nor there. So...
ED nursing presents with it's own unique set of challenges.
Just an FYI (and echoing the thoughts of an earlier poster) - much of what we see in the ED is not "emergent" and not "adrenaline junkie worthwhile". Even in trauma centers.
The vast majority of our pt. complaintss are "routine" - N/V/D (Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea. Side note: I can't WAIT for Zofran to be available over-the-counter!), Abdominal Pain, lady partsl bleeding/discharge, Chest Pain (non-MI), Shortness of breath etc.
Heck, if you do ED nursing long enough, even certain emergent complaints (stroke/STEMI) become "routine" - because you've done 'em multiple times before!
Don't even get me started on the drunks, chronic OD'ers, "seekers" etc. who will also show up ...
T o decide if you're cut out for ED nursing or not - depends on how comfortable would you be dealing with typical ED patients and working conditions (I often joke that even hookers get to say "no" with regards to clientele, we in the ED do not! Pleasant and co-operative or rowdy, violent and abusive - we see 'em all, we treat 'em all).
A lot of it also varies ED to ED - in my ED nurses are fairly independent (expected to start workups and interventions based on protocols if the Docs are backed up due to patient load while in some other EDs in the same county, nurses cannot intervene unless a doc has assessed the patient and placed neccesary orders).
Are you cut out for the ED?
Well - are you a competent nurse who is comfortable with your skills? Competent enough to recognise an emergency? Competent enough to figure out what needs to be done when/where/how? Competent enough to recognise when you need help because you are overwhelmed?
There... that's a good list to start from :)
I did not work ICU prior to starting in the ED, and believe me, the nurses I work with in the ED who have an ICU background are a tremendous resource.
I second this - especially for competent ICU nurses!
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thelema13
263 Posts
You will tell when you are thrown to the wolves...........