ER nurse looking for a change.

[jarielle22]

Hello all, my name is Jenna. I have been an ER nurse (BLS, ACLS, PALS, TNCC) for 3 years now and yes, I love ER, it is my baby! However, I have been working nights and it is taking a toll on my person life (marriage life and kids), plus I have Hashimoto's so that does not help with turnaround with trying to be up on days after working long nights in the ER especially this past winter season, which still has not ended with holds in the ER and super sick patients and still trying to circulate in the department with our ER patients in lobby and ambos coming in through the back. Anyway, my boss is unable to accommodate a day shift position for me (totally understandable), so I have been applying to other positions at other facilities. Day shift positions for ER are pretty few and far in between where I live. Maybe this could be God's way of saying it's okay to make a change and gain new perspective. I love my ER work and buddies, but I feel maybe its time to change it up since day shift opportunities just are not an option in my field currently. With that said, I was interested in PACU and interventional radiology nursing. I have started to apply to both departments this past week for day shift!

PACU- for the similar turn around pace, keeping my skills and knowledge sharp, and the teamwork environment. I am aware there is on call and I still will need to ask about their weekends, holiday and on call protocol and how that works since it was not described in the application process. I have a phone interview next week for PACU and I look forward to hearing more about it! So, for my PACU pals, what advice can you give me? Really anything helps! Are you guys cool with ER nurses joining your team? How do you like you schedule? How are you patients? I hope I get awesome training especially on airway management (ICU nurses are usually gold for that as well).

IR interest- I used to be a CT tech assistant in the ER before I was a nurse and I love to see that side of what nurses and radiology. I was never able to see the procedures, but it was something that I became interested in. It's a different place compared to ER, but I had that in my mind as well since I helped in radiology for a few years. What do you like about IR? How is your schedule? Is your turnover quick? What is it like in the day of an IR nurse? I am interested to hear about it! Are you by yourself with some of the radiology crew and specialists?

I have applied to both PACU and IR. PACU contacted me first, so, I look forward to learning more about the position. I hope IR also contacts me. I would love to shadow PACU and IR and see what they are like!

Sincerely,

Jenna- ER RN

I appreciate any advice from you guys! Thanks so much! :)

[EDNURSE20, BSN]

Pacu would probably be a better option. I know quite a few nurses who change from ER to pacu for the same reason and they all seem to be loving it.

I know where I work nights and weekends are on call, as only acute cases are done. So you will get a lot more day shifts. But may be different to what that hospital does.

Pt typically stay in pacu for 30-60 minutes. Once they are awake and stable they move on. You will closely monitor them during this time. Your experience will make you more than capiable. However, there can be a large amount of time wasted just waiting for pt to come back, which may be hard of your used to being on the go.

Just go for it. You have enough experience to get back to the er if you don't enjoy it. Pacu is a great environment, which will only increase your knowledge! Plus better hours.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

Mr. Ruby Jane went from ER to cardiac nursing, and then to IR. Those were relatively easy transitions for him. Your quick-thinking ER skills would be useful both places. It would be a bonus if you had conscious sedation experience under your belt. Codes are few and far between in IR but when they happened, everyone was happy that Mr. RJ was there.

PACU would also be great for someone with substantial assessment skills like yours - but I agree with newgradnurse, you might not fully love the hurry-up-and-wait. If it got boring, perhaps you could pick up a per-diem ER shift every now and again?

I am trying to wrap my head around the fact that your boss would rather lose a seasoned 3-year veteran than try to work with you....

Best of luck.

[jarielle22]

Definitely! I've had many conscious sedations and codes quite a few times in my career so that's good!

Yeah it makes me sad that she wouldn't keep me and took a new grad and from all of my co workers they loved me and my work ethic and I was a good nurse who did a great job (that's from docs and PAs and fellow nurses who told me, they weren't happy at all with my boss's decision either)

I chose IR! I am in orientation now. Looking forward to it because I'm working with all former ER nurses!