Best unit to work before ER

[amylburk]

So far through school I have worked as an aide for 1.5 years in Rehab at the University of Michigan hospital, done a 3 month nurse externship in the ED at St. Joseph Mercy (50 bed, level-one trauma ER), and am working currently as a tech in the ED.

I have one more year in the nursing program at U of M (SO ready to be done, as I'm a super senior this year due to my change in majors from Psych to nursing) and would really love to work in the ED eventually. I am skeptical about starting out in the ED as a new grad, which is clearly a controversial topic! I think I'd be eaten alive, not so much by the workload, or by the patients, but by the other nurses - and I don't want to have to deal with that.

Already working quite a bit through nursing school, I am really comfortable with a lot of my skills - especially communication, being comfortable with patients, etc. etc. BUT I think it'd be a good idea to get experience elsewhere before starting in the ED before I start killing people.

What's the best sort of unit to work on?? ICU? SICU? Step-down? Med-Surg? Let me know what you think!

[labcat01, BSN, RN]

I think a lot of that will depend upon what options are available to you. Do you have internships at your local hospital? If so, I say apply for an ER internship and go for the ER.

I think it is hard to be a new grad on any of the floors. The ICU might be the hardest to start out in because there is SO MUCH information to learn and the acuity of patients is really high. Tele might be your best option because you can get really comfortable with your EKGs and assessments. Really, I'd say go the ER route if that is what you really want.

NOW, if you tell me that your goals are to one day be a flight nurse/CRNA/NP/etc...then I might have different advice for you.

[AprilCNA]

I've worked in the med/surg floor as an aide for two years, and I feel as though I'm quite comfortable with my skills,also in nursing school I'd be apt to go to the er too or back to med surg. I think you have an advantage with working in the er already, and if you feel like your ready for the er than id say go for it. hospital expierence for cna prepares us a lot once we cross the bridge as an RN. If your dream is to work in the ER i'd say go for it! And don't worry about the other nurses, they can be harsh on any floor, you can only do the best you can and everyone has to start somewhere.

[Forcemaster]

I think you might find a year long stint in any acute unit setting will be of benefit as it helps you get used to the idea of being 'the nurse' rather than 'the nurse student'.

I started in trauma ortho and ended up doing it for 3 years before switiching to trauma plastic surgery, then moving to the ED in the last month. I now have an extensive background in traumatic injuries assessment and treatment, and as many of my ortho patients were older people, with concurrent medical problems (i.e a bout of fast af caused them to have a postural hypotension and made them black out, fall and break their hip) i have a fiar experience in dealing with medical problems.

At the end of the day, if you want to do the ED, do the ED. You will learn the specialist skills and knowledge you need while on the job.

Whatever you decide, make sure it is right for you.

Good luck!