Characteristic of a Emergency Department Nurse (My drive/endeavor seeking)

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Been a medic for a short period of time, 6 years to be exact. I consider my self to be seasoned since I've been exposed to critical care and 911 field work. I've always had a interest to expand my knowledge and I feel the ER is where I want to be. I feel being a ER nurse will be rewarding because you get a taste of everything. A few unique characteristics that intrigue me to choosing this path once I reach my endeavor.

Proficiency- you become proficient in task. You must be prepared to be independent. This is right up my alley!

Patience and Awareness - you have to act quickly, calmly and efficiently without much info to go on.

Emotions- it's a human instinct to get attached, but you cannot get emotionally involved.

A few characteristic I noticed some nursing mentors of mine carry that or similarities to what you will need to practice Emergency Medicine. I love it!!!!!!

What is your field of choice? And why do you find it unique?

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coming from a similar background, I think you will be disappointed.

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I second that.

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Why do you state disappointment? Feedback on your experience please....

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I'm a fire medic for a busy dept and a medic in a busy ER. The majority of people that call 911 probably don't need a squad. However, a good percentage do and those calls are exciting. But in the ER the majority of patients are walk ins that couldn't get an appointment with their doctor, were unable to find a dentist that accepted their insurance, ran out of medications and need refills, and other stuff like that. If that sounds fun, then more power to you. For myself, I intend to work critical care transport or in an ICU as a RN because I want to work with people that are actually sick. Not to mention, the nurses in ERs always seem to have way too many patients assigned to them.

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the benefits you state above all apply to ems and none of it applies to the er. I am new to the hospital, but you don't need nurses there, or probably anywhere. medics could do the same thing, and usually better. how nursing became a "profession" is beyond me. on the other hand, you could say the same thing about the fire dept. oh well, it pays the bills, and I enjoy it, but a profession? come on...

in the er you basically say "what's going on today?" start an iv, draw blood, then wait for orders. depending on the hospital and complaint, you can do some things without an order (x-rays, a few meds). once the orders come, you can go ahead and give the tylenol, antibiotics and discharge papers.

my best advice to you is to drop out while you're ahead. esp being in excelsior. unless your goal is crna, I can't imagine wanting to become a nurse. it's not as bad as my buddies think, but it's nothing special. the reason I got into it was to become a nurse practitioner but I'm pretty sure I don't even want to do that anymore. but to each his own.

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addition: lest I be accused of being 100% negative (which I often am), I can tell you the route I would have liked to take would have been based on the medical model. so get your sciences (bio, chem, organic chem, physics) and then you'll be able to apply to all the good programs, such as PA, AA, medical school, pharmacist.

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That's actually my goal is to become a nurse practitioner. I do agree with both of you in regards to societies complainers and pointless hospital visits. I want to broaden my experience in all specialties such as med surg, ER, ICU and etc to make me marketable. Seem like the ER will be the best route. I believe it Looks out standing on a resume. I guess the lack of experience in working in a ER is why I suggest this, but I can't elaborate on workmanship in a ER until I've been there. I may pick up a PRN shift in a busy ER to get my vibe and personal opinion. Im just speaking from observation, bringing patients in ER after cardiac arrest or everyday trauma and wanting to understand in more depth. I guess I should apply to med school.. Lol but life changes bring on obstacles, my reason for choosing Excelsior path... I surely want be dropping out anytime soon, unless I get into a BSN program at a university. Until than I"ll face my challenges with excelsior and buckle down to reach my path of mastering test reaching the gold.

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Good luck with the program. And stay motivated.

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@ medic625, thanks!!!! I believe it's important to support everyone in the goal to better healthcare... I have other options in regards to specialty, but having my RN and seeking my ultimate goal of a profession is the path and another license and degree, next to my 4 year under my belt while waiting for more prestigious schools acceptance. I support everyone who opts a plan A.B. where ever there is life, comes change and we must all stay focus on bettering as humans rather profession, tangible needs and money. It always ticks me off when I hear someone entering a health industry for money. Money is a motivation, but should not be the means to helping others living a healthy life.

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Specializes in Emergency.

in the er you basically say "what's going on today?" start an iv, draw blood, then wait for orders. depending on the hospital and complaint, you can do some things without an order (x-rays, a few meds). once the orders come, you can go ahead and give the tylenol, antibiotics and discharge papers.

Horse excrement... where in the world did you get your ER RN perspective and information?!?!?

I am an EMS paramedic (and happily remain so today). I am also a fulltime ER nurse. However, there was a serious "wake up call" when I started at our 40+ bed ED; no sir, your statement that "medics could do the same thing" simply does not apply. Paramedics are skilled in many things that works well in the emergency department, but the standard-issue paramedic is no replacement for an RN. I can only hope you posted all that to troll.

While paramedics do tackle a lot of that initial critical medicine in the field and can work a code in the ER like no one else, we're horribly deficient in the meat-n-potatoes of nursing. Everything from patient education to a whole mess of medication administration to not letting the doctor accidentally kill the patient lies in the hands of the RN. If the doc orders an inappropriate medication or treatment and we don't catch it as nurses, we are just as responsible for that patient's demise. The emergency department physicians are overworked and they do make mistakes... daily. As an RN or physician, precious time is very limited, but the number of patients you care for at once is usually not.

I'm sure I'll never change your mind, and that's really not my goal anyway. But this propagation of "nurses only wipe butts" mentality that seems to plague rookie paramedics and EMTs has no place. No wonder we earn little respect as paramedics when our own "professionals" are vomiting out false information.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Flightmed123, I do apologize for running off topic with my post above. I do admire your motivation and your desire to help others lead healthy lives, and do wish you the best of luck in the path you choose to pursue!

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