ER Lite?

[Mrs Badcrumble, RN]

So I've got a couple of years of RN experience, 1 year ER, some peds and psych for the other year. I'm considering going back to the ER as a traveler, however, I'm not experienced in traumas and really don't like the super critical patients. Where I shine is in more of the "fast track" part of an ER ie fractures, lacs, r/o appy, abd pain, etc. People that pretty much come in, get patched up and go home. Is it realistic for me to present myself as this kind of ER RN to a nurse manager during the interview? I just wanna' be where I can be the most effective and not get thrown to the wolves where I'll stink up the place. Appreciate the feedback!

[trackhead, APRN]

I do ER travel, and the way you describe yourself, I wouldn't suggest doing ER travel. You only have one year experience, and state you don't like critical patients. Not a good combo.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'm not an ER nurse...but I can say that if we had a traveling psych nurse come into the facility with the attitude that he/she doesn't want to work with the high acuity patients but only wants to handle the "lite" ones instead, I could guarantee that they wouldn't be asked back.

It sounds like Urgent Care might have more of what you are looking for.

[Mrs Badcrumble, RN]

Thanks for the comments, guys! I guess I really don't wanna' go back to the ER and was looking for a way to make it more palatable. I'm grateful for the time I had there and all the things I learned, but I just don't want to waste time hating my job and not living my life.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Thanks for the comments, guys! I guess I really don't wanna' go back to the ER and was looking for a way to make it more palatable. I'm grateful for the time I had there and all the things I learned, but I just don't want to waste time hating my job and not living my life.

And there's nothing wrong with wanting that :) But if you apply as a traveller to the ER, that's what the agency will think you want to do, and they're going to throw you straight into the ER.

That's why I suggested urgent care: you have the higher acuity cases but nothing super critical.

I see you have psych ER in your speciality listing...thought about crossing back to the dark side? We got quite a few patient populations in psych to work with, so you need not go back to the psych ER setting.

[Mrs Badcrumble, RN]

Oh I actually want to go back to psych, very much enjoyed it and was good at it. Actually count my time in "regular" ER for psych pt. experience in addition to my specific time in psych ER, but have run into one agency who kinda' doesn't see it that way and wants the solid one year of psych experience. I think I need to continue to look at more travel folks and not get discouraged by one who has that particular view. And I failed to mention that I was applying for psych gigs, but have been overrun by recruiters crazy about my ER cred and so had second thoughts about which direction to go. I like psych, I'm good at. Thanks, Meriwhen for your kind attention!