Considering Emergency Nursing Internship

[PammieRN]

I am considering an internship offered by one of the hospitals in my area. I have been an RN for 1 1/2 years. My first year I worked in L&D and I have been working as a nurse manager for the last few months in LTC. I feel like I am stagnating. I recently went on a trip to Jamaica and was the only nurse on the resort. An emergency arose and I had to handle it. It just made me realize that I need a little more action.

Any pearls of wisdom out there for me. I feel like I am job jumping. I just haven't found my niche or something.

Pammie

[debbyed]

Basically the old saying "You'll never know until you try" is true. I ended up in Emergency Nursing by accident (only job available in the area I moved to) 20 years ago and never left.

Now I don't mean this in a bad way, but because of your limited exposure (L&D/LTC) make sure the hospital you choose has a good preceptor program. Ask if the hospital will pay for you to go to additional classes (if offered in your area) related to Monitor/EKG interpertation, Pediatric assessment and Trauma courses. I would also become ACLS certified ASAP. Fruther into your orientation/preceptorship/internship request to go to PALS, ENPC and TNCC.

I wish you the best. If you have any questions I can help with or just need to vent, feel free to contact me. I'd be glad to help.

Debbye

[kaycee]

I went into ER nursing 19yrs ago and also never left. Had critical background for 7yrs prior.

I agree with everything Debbyed said.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do and also feel free to contact me for any help or suggestions.:)

[NickiP]

I say give it a try. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I went to ER 4 months ago and absolutely love it now. Not to mention getting addicted to adrenaline rushes! It sounds like you are bored anyway and probably due for a change. I was there several months ago and even considering leaving nursing. I had 1.5 y of critical care but had been in same day surgery for past year(great hours) and the routiine was old hat. Switched to ER and feel alive again. Give it a shot and good luck. Nicki

[ERNurse752, RN]

Go for it! I just started in the ER not too long ago...I did Cardiac ICU and ICU during school...didn't want to stay there after graduation, so I did a 16 week internship at my hospital between cardiovascular recovery room and the ER (8 weeks each). I found that I liked the ER better than anything else I've ever done. It's just a great place to work b/c you never know quite what to expect when you go in, and there are so many things to learn. Just in case you don't know, ACLS is advanced cardiac life support, TNCC is trauma nurse core course, ENPC is emergency nurse pediatric course, and PALS is pediatric advanced life support. Another cert out there not required, but that I think is interesting is SANE --sexual assault nurse examiner. All kinds of things to do!

[PammieRN]

Thanks for the encouragement. I have decided to go ahead and fill out the app. I feel better and more settled now that I have made the decision to make another change. I'll find my place eventually. It sure is nice to know that I have you guys as a resource and somehwere to vent if I need to.

THANKS...