Emergency Room Rotation - HELP!

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello all,

I've posted on here a few times, but mainly I'm here to read. I'm a pre-nursing student (working on my BS in Biology now, applying to an accelerated BSN next year), and I'm taking an EMT course at my college for preparation. In order to complete the course, we must do 20 hours of rotations in the Emergency Room at a local hospital. I have my first shift (10 hours!) tomorrow, and I'm hoping you guys can give me some tips?

I'm not sure how much/little I will be expected to do - but my professor has stated he has had students assist in surgery (:eek:). I just want the basic things I should remember or look up when working in the ER. Clearly I'm not at a nursing level, but any tips would be great!

Thanks in advance.

Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

I'm pretty sure that if it's only 20 hours in the ER he/she's probably getting an EMT-B so no IV's in most states that I'm aware of. To the OP if you are a guy please remove your ballcap and store it for the day. I know FF/PM wear them all the time and it looks really cool but not when you are going to be in the ER all day. Yeah, it's old fashioned but it just doesn't look professional...trust me.

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As an EMT-B myself, when someone says EMT, without anything else, EMT-B is understood. It is national scope of practice that EMT-Bs do not start IVs. Sorry I ruffled so many feathers.

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OK y'all, you scared our puppy off.

OP, sleep well, eat a good meal and be sure your hydrated before your shift. Dress well, have your stethoscope around your neck, scissors on your belt/pocket. Be courteous and a good listener. Find a friendly nurse introduce yourself and offer a hand to shake, smile! and with her/him find your friendly doctor. Ask permission to follow, and ask to be included where appropriate. Be sure to thank them all, even if you have to find the doc or nurse to thank appropriately when the day is done.

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Specializes in OB, ER.

I work in an ER and EMT-b's (so there isn't any confusion) just observe for the most part. They can take vitals and do CPR but no IV's or procedures. It is more to see how an ER works and what happens in one, it's not so much to practice skills at this point.

My advice go and observe. Don't sit in the nurses station waiting to be invited. We are happy to teach if you are willing to learn.

Eat breakfast! If something is bothering you excuse yourself from the room and take a break. If you don't feel like you have time to exit sit. Nothing is more embaressing for you then passing out and trust me it happens all the time!

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No, don't wear your stethoscope around your neck. EMTs shouldn't do this. Many do, but no one should. Complete safety hazard. EMS personnel work in completely uncontrolled environments often with only the aide of a singular partner. Don't let some wacko use that as a laso to your head.

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I am a nursing student starting this February and I have also been through my Community College EMT program. We did a few shifts in the ER. One was specifically in triage, we basically observed the process and did all of the vitals. The next shift where we were out on the floor we just did the same thing basically. Assisted when needed, but nothing too scary. Two times I helped them maintain C-spine, one was a a guy totally high on Meth and had just come in after a police chase. The other was a little girl who needed to be held still while getting stitches.

Those are the only things that stick out in my mind. OH! This one unlucky guy was at the hospital when they brought in a guy whose parachute failed to deploy! He said that the guy he was following around told him he 'couldn't miss out', so he was dragged to the trauma room and actually felt the guys heart:eek:. He ended up dying :crying2:.

I would say the toughest clinical for me was the Psych facility. I am just super uncomfortable around those types of people. Not trying to offend, but it gives me the creeps.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I like the statement....ER people are not shy....don't take it personally! Boy ain't that the truth! :) After working ED for 30 years.......ask questions, move when asked (or ordered) watch the patient EMT/RN handoff to understand communication listening skills. Give no one a drink of water without checking. Get blankets for patients....help transport. ASK QUESTIONS! nurses love to teach! good luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
No, don't wear your stethoscope around your neck. EMTs shouldn't do this. Many do, but no one should. Complete safety hazard. EMS personnel work in completely uncontrolled environments often with only the aide of a singular partner. Don't let some wacko use that as a laso to your head.

I am guilty of this bad habit myself! You will be choked once with your sthescope and it won't happen again. I remove mine when in the room and put it back on when I leave. Oh and your laynard.......make sure it is a break away type........they will choke you with that too!:uhoh3:

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Thanks everyone for advice. I canceled today (sick :crying2:) but I rescheduled for Friday! Let everyone know how it goes!

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Thanks everyone for advice. I canceled today (sick :crying2:) but I rescheduled for Friday! Let everyone know how it goes!

Please get well soon. We'll look forward to an update after Friday!

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Thanks everyone for advice. I canceled today (sick :crying2:) but I rescheduled for Friday! Let everyone know how it goes!

Fridays are better especially if it's not really cold. People are more ignorant on that day of the week, generally speaking. Sure, crap can hit the fan at any time, but people, as a whole, tend to do more partying thus more drinking thus more fighting and wrecking on Friday nights which leads to more "fun" :rolleyes: for the medics, police, and ER. I've done two of those and am working on the third, lol. I've found that the full moon thing is hocus pocus. I really don't see a difference on full moons. Another good time to do it would be the first of the month when they get their government checks. About 70% (a conservative estimate, btw) of that usually seems to go to alcohol so that always makes for more "fun."

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.

I'm going to add a couple of things too :)

When you observe, listen carefully to the questions asked by the nurses and doctors. Verbal assessment/ questioning is the most important skill to possess. Listen to what questions are asked according to the patient's main complaint.

Remember SAMPLE and OPQRST. Notice what interventions are performed in response to those questions. Perhaps for the more stable patients, they'll let you perform some verbal assessments on patients for practice after they finish their questioning.

Practice taking manual blood pressures. Ask to perform chest compressions if you have the opportunity.

Some say there are not many skills you can do as an EMT-B, but I disagree. Jump in there and practice the ones you can! It takes a lot of practice to be proficient, especially when you have such a short rotation in the hospital.

Best of luck to you and have fun!

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