Calling all new ER grads starting Feb 2013

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Hi. Im starting this topic for any new grads or new to the ER. I think it will be good to come here to compare notes, encourage, vent and support each. I myself, am so nervous and excited at the same time. Will I be a good nurse, will I learn quickly, will I easily pickup a good technique to start IV"s or blood draws. I'm in count down mode to start my new career, 22 days. My orientation will be 4 months

New grad here, in my 3rd week of orientation in the ER. I was a tech there for a year and a half and also did my senior level preceptorship in another ER. I LOVE my job. LOVE. I have had some challenges but my preceptor is amazing and the transition has been much smoother than I thought it would be. I'm allowed up to 12 weeks of orientation. It's going we'll so far. Good luck to you, ask for help as you need it!

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Excited and biting my nails at the same time. One more week before orientation

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just a student here, but very interested in reading all of this great insight! thanks for the info guys

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Specializes in Emergency.

Scared is good. It gets better. By 6 months you'll be comfortable. By 9 months you'll be scared again because you've realized how much you don't know.

And then it gets better. By 2 years you'll have reached "bring it on".

EMTB2RN - Endorphin Junkie

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Specializes in ER.

New grad ER nurse here too! Just received the job offer today actually. Sooo excited!!

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Specializes in General Surgery.

So jealous of you all! ER is my life! I'm hoping and crossing my fingers/toes I get into my hospital's new grad program. They always open ER positions so I'm so anxious for my interview! Good luck to you all. Hopefully, I can post on this thread about my new grad ER position!

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I would also recommend listening to EM Basic podcast, you can find it on iTunes or google it and I think you can listen to it on his page. It's made for Med students/Residents but there is so much great info on commonly seen issues in the ED and you'll get great tips for your assessment and it'll give you an idea of what tests/labs to expect. I've learned a ton of great info from this podcast. Also Sheehy's Emergency Nursing Principles and Practice is a great book.

Thanks for the podcast recommendation! I've downloaded it and look forward to listening/learning. Having gone to school in the rural West, everything was so far away, I always listened to medical podcasts on my long drives and learned a lot. Podcasts I like are: EMCrit podcast, and ERCast. Sometimes they are certainly over my head but nonetheless I've learned lots. Also, freeemergencytalks.net has thousands of recorded EM lectures. Just do a keyword search for whatever topic you are interested in and away you go.

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I'm 6 months into my ED nursing career (RN), after a 16-week residency. I'm at a super busy level 1 trauma center. I like it a lot. It's stressful for sure though. We have a peds ED and adult ED, and we work both. I learn so much every shift and am always asking questions. I also watch other, more experienced nurses with their procedures and make it known I want to learn. :) It's a crazy ride as a new grad in the ED but its so much fun!!

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Specializes in Emergency.

I started my RN orientation in the ER Jan 18th. I worked there during the summer in the extern program then during my last semester as a student. I'm stuck in 2 transition phases... either the drs (and other staff) are so familiar with me being there so they think I am "seasoned" and know how to do it all, or they don't trust me at all (which is understandable for a new grad) and treat me like I'm still a student. It's been a wild and exciting experience so far, and I'm constantly learning!

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Hello. I'm in my 3rd week of my 4 month orientation. I'm in the classroom for 2 days and I rotate to various department for the other 3 days to shadow the nurses. I will be with my ED preceptor starting in about a month and that's where I suspect the stress will start, lol

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Specializes in PACU.

Hello everyone! First, congratulations my fellow ED nurses! I will be starting my new graduate residency program March 4th! I am terrified as I did not precept in the ED. I actually precepted in the NICU and ended up not liking it as much as I thought I would. I have however worked in urgent care (non-nursing position) and loved it so I thought why not up the antes a bit and try the ED!

Good luck everyone!!

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
Hello everyone! First, congratulations my fellow ED nurses! I will be starting my new graduate residency program March 4th! I am terrified as I did not precept in the ED. I actually precepted in the NICU and ended up not liking it as much as I thought I would. I have however worked in urgent care (non-nursing position) and loved it so I thought why not up the antes a bit and try the ED!

Good luck everyone!!

First off, don't be terrified. Terror yields nothing helpful.

I, too, precepted in a NICU but ended up as a m/s nurse before landing in the ED. When the ED is fun, it's an absolute blast... especially at a level I academic facility.

When it sucks, though, it sucks like very little else I've ever experienced.

ED nurses can be hard to crack but, in my experience, they have your back when you need them.

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