I am asking b/c I am considering pursuing ER nursing, but have a non-traditional background. I graduated from nursing school 5 years ago. I didn't have the best nursing school experience; I went to a community college ASN program that was very focused on churning out nurses, not so much on nursing as a profession or academics. I wasn't happy with the professors (a lot of them were negative: "you're not going to be able to find a job after you graduate and will probably be stuck in a nursing home") or a lot of the teaching (constantly having errors in tests, powerpoint presentations), and felt like our rotations were extremely task oriented, constantly running up and down the halls giving meds and doing backbreaking personal care, feeling like I was just following someone else's orders all the time-- I highly value autonomy and this did not seem like a good fit at all. During my second year I applied to go straight into a bachelor's programs for biology, but ended up majoring in psychology. I have been in psych nursing for the past 4 1/2 years, but have started to think about going back to medical nursing, as this would open up more doors, and I am feeling somewhat burnt of out psych.
I did an ER rotation in school and actually loved it, but what put me off was having to do med/surg first. I am wondering if ER programs ever take "new" ER nurses that aren't new grads and give them preceptorships. I would definitely take a refresher course first, as my IV skills are next to nil, and review a lot of med/surg and ER material. I think I would like the ER and could be good at it b/c I value autonomy/independence, work well with minimal supervision, have good problem solving skills, a TON of experience and skill handling "difficult" patients, like a busy fast paced environment, am very organized with good prioritization/time management skills, etc.
I've been working in the OR for 4 years (since I graduated nursing school) and I really want to get into an ER in SE Michigan. I am also looking for any tips, advice or suggestions too!
I spent 10+ years as a graphic designer/desktop publisher/publications manager, became a paramedic, and chucked the day job to work as an ED tech (big pay cut). Went back to school for nursing, stayed on as an RN in the same ED where I was a tech. Very happy with my somewhat strange life path. :)
I think psych skills will help. I'm not an ED nurse YET, but just finished preceptor. My last day EVERY SINGLE PATIENT was a psych patient. I didn't put much stock in psych since I was NOT interested, but pulled back the info I had and it helped. There are a TON of psych patients that come into the ER and having the experience with them I think would make their time there and your work with them much easier.
I spent 10+ years as a graphic designer/desktop publisher/publications manager, became a paramedic, and chucked the day job to work as an ED tech (big pay cut). Went back to school for nursing, stayed on as an RN in the same ED where I was a tech. Very happy with my somewhat strange life path. :)
This is one reason I love nursing. I think the majority of nurses "find" nursing, i.e. it's not something they set out to be as kids or as teenagers like you would with medical school or law school or becoming a teacher. I've found that many of us have these strange life paths and end up nurses, one way or another. It's very cool and very eccentric. I like eccentric.
Sounds like you'd make a great ER nurse. I started out in Telemetry (which gave me a great learning opportunity to gain knowledge VERY useful in the ER setting), but I was also looking for more... Higher acuity, the thrill and excitement of the unknown, the ability to have more independence... And I also LOVE the ER. I'm not sure I'd do anything else at this point... It's also a great way to keep refreshed on just about anything because you see anything and everything.. I love it. Good luck!!
I graduated nursing school in 1999 and was hired into the peds icu where spent a few years and then transferred to the nicu where I worked for fours years, followed by a five year stay at home mom stint. I just got hired into the ER back in March. I have skills and was valued as an experienced RN but they put me through new grad orientation since I was new to specialty. After about 4 weeks I was feeling fairly comfortable but took advantage of my orientation experience to gain the comfortablility with the pace of a very busy day (since they happen almost everyday). IMO, that is probably the hardest transition. I like fast paced but wow, a busy day in the ER can feel like you ran a marathon physically and just finished taking your boards mentally. My manager agreed that is the hardest thing for most new nurses coming into the ER. Just find an ER that is willing to train you new to specialty and I am sure you'll be fine. Don't worry too much about it just go for it!
This is one reason I love nursing. I think the majority of nurses "find" nursing, i.e. it's not something they set out to be as kids or as teenagers like you would with medical school or law school or becoming a teacher. I've found that many of us have these strange life paths and end up nurses, one way or another. It's very cool and very eccentric. I like eccentric.
Yep. Also means we come to nursing with a very interesting skill set.
My first job was in Corrections. I found the transition to the ER very easy after just 1 year of nursing experience in the prison. In fact, the ED is much more slow of a pace than the prison, relatively speaking, and my I swear I used way more assessment skills in prison than I do in the ED. However, I perform many more fun, in depth procedures in the ED and learn something new every day from the physicians and other nursing staff I work with.
EDIT: Prior to corrections I worked as a server which helped me manage my time. Now I think of my rooms in the ED as my tables at the restaurant and I'm delivering narcotics instead of food.
I went from home health CNT to LPN on a med/surg floor to RN in home health for 1 year, then 1-1/2 years on a surgical floor to the ER now in week 2 of orientation. I'm overwhelmed right now but hopeful that I incorporate my med/surg experience into my new job instead of feeling like I am on a different planet!
theenursejo
7 Posts
I've been working in the OR for 4 years (since I graduated nursing school) and I really want to get into an ER in SE Michigan. I am also looking for any tips, advice or suggestions too!