Anybody work in medical short stay/ER no experience?

[Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN]

Any GN's take this sort of position?

I am being offered a position within the medical short stay dept which is like a mini ER for our hospital. Everything sounds wonderful, love the manager if I like the shadow, she will take me on but warns me that it's extremely difficult for a GN.

There's no orientation :uhoh21: and that's the big thing for me. She told me that the 1st day I would have 2 patients, after that I would need to have the full 5. After one month of preceptoring I'd be on my own.

Part of me would love the fast pace, increasing skills, great opportunity, in line with my future goals. (I wanted burn unit but they're not hiring) The other part thinks that the lack of orientation would be suicide.

I honestly don't feel super strong in my assessment skills, however I was able to take on 5 patients for my preceptorship on a cardiac step down unit. I didn't get to do near the things that I wanted like multiple blood draws, IV starts etc...

I have no idea what to do and usually I can reason it out and come to a conclusion!

Anybody take on a similar unit with no experience and succeed? Horror stories?

Any insight appreciated.

[CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Any GN's take this sort of position?

I am being offered a position within the medical short stay dept which is like a mini ER for our hospital. Everything sounds wonderful, love the manager if I like the shadow, she will take me on but warns me that it's extremely difficult for a GN.

There's no orientation :uhoh21: and that's the big thing for me. She told me that the 1st day I would have 2 patients, after that I would need to have the full 5. After one month of preceptoring I'd be on my own.

Part of me would love the fast pace, increasing skills, great opportunity, in line with my future goals. (I wanted burn unit but they're not hiring) The other part thinks that the lack of orientation would be suicide.

I honestly don't feel super strong in my assessment skills, however I was able to take on 5 patients for my preceptorship on a cardiac step down unit. I didn't get to do near the things that I wanted like multiple blood draws, IV starts etc...

I have no idea what to do and usually I can reason it out and come to a conclusion!

Anybody take on a similar unit with no experience and succeed? Horror stories?

Any insight appreciated.

The lack of any orientation and the expectations of you hitting the ground running seem to be setting you up for failure. Even after nearly 20 years in EMS, I wouldn't have the "testicular fortitude" to jump into a nursing job with such high expectations yet such a lack of orientation. In terms of precepting, what are they offering? Are you going to have somebody working with you 1:1 for that month, or are you going to have to hunt them down & beg them for help? To expect you to start with 2 pts on day 1, then jump to full speed (5 pts) on day 2 sounds troubling, to say the least.

I wouldn't see this issue as a lack of readiness on your (or my) part, but as a lack of dedication by your employer to helping a new grad succeed in the medical short stay role.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I would run like the wind to the another unit! Or another hospital!

This is professional suicide to be a new grad and have no orientation. You and they are just asking for a lawsuit and/or bad pt outcome.

For instance, I'm an APN in a nephrology practice. These are my patients that I sent to the short stay unit of the nearby level one trauma center:

1. Elderly, malnourished male needed paracentesis and recovery. BP usually runs in the 60's. Ooops did I forget to say he is a dialysis pt - read - no usable veins.

2. Elderly, dialyisis pt needs transfusion for hgb 8.5. You start first unit, pt goes into flash pulmonary edema, starts bleeding out from a rectal bleed.

3, Young female dialysis pt admitted for transfusion from heavy menses. She just up and codes - no one knows why yet.

Okay - that is your first three pts. Do you really want 5 like this?

[webmansx, ASN, RN]

Scarey!! I too am a fairly new nurse, and was thinking ER. i think i'll stick to med surg thankyou very much...

[NewAggieGrad09]

Yeah, if I was offered a job with no orientation, I probably wouldn't take it, unless it was something I had alot of experience in. I just applied and interviewed for an ER position, and I am worried I won't get hired (still waiting on the final decision) because I was unable to get an ER rotation during my preceptorship and I don't have my ACLS yet. However, there is an orientation at this hospital for 12 weeks, so I wouldn't be thrown out there. I think you should at least go the first day, but honestly, I agree with the others.