ED/trauma shadow last nite... should i transfer??

Specialties Emergency

Published

Specializes in cadiac-thoracic post sx.

Last nite I shadowed in the ED. It was a good experience. It was not a crazy nite but it was steady. I got to see a gunshot wound to the head. gunshot wound to the knee. Pt was astolye came in with the thumper. One guy came in thru EMS because of constipation.... went the bathroom when he got there, took a crap then left. Ankle dislocation. It was a good variety. I saw pretty good teamwork. Overall I thought it went well. What worries me is that I hear you gotta know what your doing, gotta know safe dose on drugs, ect because of residents are still learning. Another concern is that I heard you may have two ICU patients, CP, and more for other stuff. That doesn't sound so safe to me. So Im just racking my brain on what to do. I really think I would like the variety. I have been in my job now for about a year and a half. Its a great job. Great staff, management, pt nurse ratio, but i am getting bored. I work on a tele floor. So it has just gotton so repitious. Just looking for a change. Some nites are very busy and crazy and doen't get to chart until like 3 or 4.... but then other nites I am finished at 930 at nite and then I feel like I am staring at the clock for time to pass. So I have itch to do something different. My other thing that I am thinking about is going back to school for my BSN. ( i have my ADN). So if I did go back to school (which is something i def need and want to do) my current position would probably be more ideal. I would have more time to do school work while Im working. So anyways these are just some thoughts that are crossing my mind. So just wanted to put this out there and would love to hear you two cents. Thanks

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Specializes in ED, Clinical Documentation.

hey there nightowl. sounds like you are ready for the ED! it's great and it sounds like you are well suited for it and your concerns are justified but you will learn how to practice safely. i would encourage you to go for your BSN. it is a prudent career wise thing to do, it seems, and also you are right that your current job is ideal for having time to work on that. i wish you the best! : )

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

Go for the ED. You sound like you are ready.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
what worries me is that i hear you gotta know what your doing, gotta know safe dose on drugs, ect because of residents are still learning. another concern is that i heard you may have two icu patients, cp, and more for other stuff. that doesn't sound so safe to me.

this is very true - you do need to be able to work autonomously, in the er we work with the doctors on a constant basis, not like the floor where you see them 5 minutes a day. you need to be confident to be able to approach them with your nursing assessment and judgment to suggest interventions for your patients. as far as safe drug administration - that is important across all fields of nursing! your licence and patient saftey is on the line every med order you fill - you should have a handy reference always for meds. i see the most seasoned nurses using med books, that's what they are there for. patient acuity is high, that is the nature of er nursing. what i've found in my short experience in er thus far is no one expects you to run a code right off the bat. people are there to help you and (hopefully) you are not left alone. a lot of training and precepting should be provided for a nurse to become sucessfull in the er.

good luck to you!

christine

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Telemetry, SICU.
One guy came in thru EMS because of constipation.... went the bathroom when he got there, took a crap then left.

hahahaha OMG I am dying laughing!! Gotta love it.. What a waste of an ambulance ride and an ER co-pay! LOL :lol2:

Since you're already feeling motivated to go back for your BSN, that's what I would do. Get the school out of the way and then try out the ED, but that's just me. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

I would go with my feeling and go ER. :)

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Specializes in Emergency, Critical Care (CEN, CCRN).
hahahaha OMG I am dying laughing!! Gotta love it.. What a waste of an ambulance ride and an ER co-pay! LOL :lol2:

I'm reminded of a case I dealt with as a first-aid volunteer, where a patient at a college sporting event developed foodborne illness from a bad stadium hot-dog. A single bout of diarrhea and abdominal pain got spun into an emergent case of ovarian torsion by an overzealous resident at the first-aid tent, who refused to allow the patient to sign a refusal form, called 911 and instructed the EMS crew not to let the patient refuse transport - he was going to call the ED and have Surgery on standby. Patient got to the ED via involuntary ambulance ride, had a second bout of diarrhea that resolved the symptoms, and LWBS. (Of note, not only did the surgeon on call rather explicitly decline the resident's order to activate the emergency team, but there was a six-hour backup in Triage that day. Pooping and going home was the best thing that poor lady did. :uhoh3:)

Back on topic, I'd give the ED a shot. It sounds like you've got the skills for it, and it also sounds like you'd enjoy the variety and the acuity level. Do ask what their orientation process is like - how long do you get, is it directed or self-paced, are there classes involved, etc. (For example, we do a directed orientation that's six weeks for experienced RNs and 12 weeks for GNs and new RNs, comprising both a one-to-one preceptorship and a six-week classroom component. Your hospital's policy may vary.)

Let us know how it goes for you! :D

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Specializes in ER.

I just took a FT night position in a level 1. Let me ask you this, how long have you worked nights? Have you always worked nights? How did you acclimate to the hours? I'm looking forward to nights - since in my crossover hours, I always found night staff to be more cohesive.

As to your post, I left the floor once I got bored, you'll never turn back. Go for it!!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Gotta love it.. What a waste of an ambulance ride and an ER co-pay!

You're assuming he paid? Now I'm laughing! :D

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Telemetry, SICU.
You're assuming he paid? Now I'm laughing! :D

LOL, good point!! :lol2:

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Specializes in cadiac-thoracic post sx.

Thank you all for you comments and suggestions. I have not yet decided what to do. I know my current nurse manager will probably not be too excited about me wanting to transfer. There is the possiblility of me going to days where Im currently at right now which I would love to go to days. But I know that is not promised to me and things can change all the time. I still think I would love the ER. Still just really thinking about it. Plus Im sure my manager will say something when she sees I worked in the ED when she does payroll. So maybe I will see if she says something to me. I will probably try to do a list of pros and cons and just pray about it.

@MassED.... working nites can be great it is a little more laid back environment. But it can be hard on the body because of your sleep wake cycle. What I have found to be best for me is to work all three of my nites togethor. so that when i have four to 6 nites off in a row i can be awake during the days and be productve. If i have one nite of in between working that whole nite is just wasted for me. cuz i sleep all day then when im awake most everyone is asleep. having two nites off in a row is much better. of course 6 nites off is even better. hope you enjoy the change. good luck to you

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