ED Extern

[ktsummar, LPN, LVN]

One year of nursing school complete and in the books. I have spent the last 2 years in the CCU of a smaller hospital doing tech, unit secretary, and telemetry monitoring. When I graduate, I would love to work my way toward being an ED Nurse. This past Friday I interviewd for an Extern position in the ED of a large hospital. I feel like the interview went great and feel very confident in getting the position. However, the wait is killing me and I needed to post. My question to the ED nurses that will read this is what have your experiences been like with externs in your unit? What advice can you give me? I am a hard working young (34) man and have always taken the initiative to learn on my floors and will do anything I am allowed to do under my scope of practice.

I look forward to the responses and thanks in advance.

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

In my er, externs are folks my nm is thinking will fit in as new grads and the externship is somewhat of a "pre-orientation". We have 1, maybe 2 max.

You have 2 eyes, 2 ears and 1 mouth. Remember the ratio. That said, do ask questions. Just wait until it's appropriate. Things might (will) be done differently than what you've seen in the unit and at clinicals. That's ok, the er marches to the beat of its own drummers (yeah, billy & mickey). Have fun, enjoy the rush.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

be sure to know your job description. Since you are not licensed you do not have a scope of practice yet. In Texas the externs have the same limits to practice as a tech, aide, orderly,etc. Just because you learned it in school does not mean you can practice it here. That is part of BECOMING a nurse, learning what is legally appropriate for you. I believe you will learn a lot in that area.

[ktsummar, LPN, LVN]

I understand that. Thats what I meant by scope of practice, what I can legally do. Great advice from both.

[ktsummar, LPN, LVN]

I got the call today. Start ED externship on June 6th.