First day in ER - very enlightening

Published

I have been reading the emergency forums for a long time. I love reading, just because this is the area that I will be going into once I finish my BSN in May.

I just wanted to say "wow". In the 6 hours that I was there on Monday, I have 24 patients in my room, and the other nurses were running in their rooms too. I got 3 IV starts, 2 foleys, and lots of portable cxrays. I also had my first experience with a drug-seeking frequent flier.

She came in with mysterious chest pains. was "allergic" to all NSAIDS. Funny thing was, she only seemed to be in pain when I was walking by her. While I was in another room, she would talk, laugh, etc, but as soon as I would walk in, she would start moaning, and clutching her chest. Finally, the doc had me give her ativan... 30 minutes later she reported that pains were much worse, and had moved from being dull to sharp-stabing pains. So, i got to watch an EKG... which was perfectly normal. I told her that the doc would be back in soon, and she could talk to him about her meds. Then, she says "I dont want to talk to him, why dont you suggest that he give me that drug that starts an "M", that is the only thing that will work, but I cant remember the name of it". "You mean morphine?" I asked, "YES, that is only thing that ever works" she stated. Surely my FIRST thought with an M drug for this patient would have been methadone, but sure, morphine would make this patient happy too. I went to the doc with my concerns, who promptly discharged her... with a prescription for Ativan :)

So that was my first 6 hours... then I came home :)

I have 2 12 hour shifts this comming weekend again. I can't wait to see what I get into then :)

The best thing about it, my preceptor is WONDERFUL! This just makes me feel that much more confident that I made a good choice with accepting a job in the ER for after graduation. I just felt like I "belonged" there.

Thanks to everyone to encouraged me in this area :)

BrandyBSN

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I cant wait to get in there and experience that! Good for you! Glad you found your niche!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The ER is both exciting and interesting. I have been in the ER full time for the past year. Even though the ER that I work in is very small we see just about everything. Wait until you get the one that somes in regularly for suicide attempts. After a while you really want to give them a lession on the correct method.

You should go to the area that has jokes, etc. The one titled You work in the ER if........................ These are so funny and soooo real...........

Sharon

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yeah, you'll know you've been around too long when you tell a self inflicted gsw, "Don't shoot here (pointing under chin) you'll just shoot your face off and survive" and then explain better places to point the barrel. :eek:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Brandy, that sounds so exciting! I'm so happy for you. :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Brandy,

I am really happy for you. I just want you to know that the adventure is just beginning....hang on and enjoy it!

Annie

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Brandy,

Your first day was great! Thank God for your wonderful preceptor. Our ER was so busy when my bestfriend and I started 1 1/2 years ago we had a very poor orientation with mostly hands on learning!! We were like deer caught in headlights, but now we are able to survive each night with each others support. Every night there is something new to see or learn. That is what I love about the ER! Best of luck to you!

Karen

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am glad everyone had a lovely experience in the ER ....I applied to the ER at my hospital where I am currently employed and they keep giving me the run around but yet they seem to pick and choose "certain individuals" then complain when the pick of their choice does not work out..............what a crock hey!!!!!!! I will soon venture off to another hospital to get my ER experience.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

At last, I've found a home away from the E/R. I've been training "on the job" to be an Emergency Nurse for 6 months now, and am constantly confronting my perception that I must be an idiot, a failure, incapable of retaining information, etc., because I haven't mastered it yet. I have a psych background, but felt after 5 years that my skills (such as they were) were rusting away daily, so I signed up for a CCRN training program, and when I found out they'd consider me for immediate training for Emergency Nursing I leaped at it. Since then, I've had about 64 hours of classroom time (more than most, granted, but still doesn't feel like enough), and about 640 hours of learning by failure and embarassment, it seems.

I've gotten the most encouragement from experienced nurses, especially E/R veterans. Things like learning that I'm not incompetent if I only hit about half the veins I aim for in the first few months (still wondering when THAT ever gets better); that the doctor isn't asking me to perform a bizarre sex act when she hollers "Ray, SUX that patient NOW!"; that the proper dress for an EWALD tube party is NOT your best set of scrubs; etc, etc, etc.

So, finally I'm glad to be here, and will be back.

Got off work at 7:30, have to be back at 5... g'night! Zzzzz

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, Hospice, CCU, PCU.

I love when I read about new ER nurses that are truely loving their job and I cry when I read about the ones who get no training and no support.

ER is a terrific job if you don't mind running at full speed for 12 hours. Rather than burn you out, if you love it you stay young (at least at heart) I do after 25+ years. If any of you decide to move to the east coast I'd love to have you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Welcome all to my world. I love the ED. Ray, my nick name as a new ER RN was "ofer". Iv starts I was O fer a thousand at one point. I'm still not the best by any stretch unless the patient is pulseless. Then I seem to hit about 95%. Go figure. As Ms. Frizzle says, "Take chances, get dirty and never pass up an opportunity to sterilize a frequent flyer." Gary

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yea Brandy! How cool!!!!! I know how much you've wanted this and for how long....it's been a lonnggg 4 yrs, hasn't it?

Julie

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment