Graduate nurse and ER?

[aghols12]

I will be graduating this May and I have decided that I want to go into the ER field because I like what the speciality as a whole has to offer. It seems like a great learning environment and you're always moving (which is what I prefer). But, I have no ER experience such as working as an ER tech or EMT and such things as those. I have spent most of my clinical hours on acute/chronic care floor such as medical-surgical, ICU and LTAC floors. However, I don't plan to jump and run with the wagon; it's an ER internship at a teaching hospital that I want to apply to first with classroom experiences as well. I am well aware that it's going to be challenging and as a nurse my time management and prioritization must be "on point" most definitely. So, would it be rational to do the ER internship with ER no experience?

Thanks!

[Pneumothorax, BSN, RN]

its up to you. if you can keep up with the pace.

There are girls i know that went into ER nursing with zero expereince and are doing great now., there are others that are floundering so i think its contingint on the individual :)

[aghols12]

I agree. Thanks!

[Dixielee, BSN, RN]

If you have an opportunity to shadow an ED nurse in the same hospital you should take it. You will get a first hand look at how things flow. If you are interested, make sure you have a nice long internship with classroom and clinical included.

I have seen new grads who do make it in ED, but truthfully, they have all worked EMS or as ED techs. It is a challenging field and no one is going to spoon feed you. Many students and new grads find ED nurses cold and impersonal. That is the nature of the beast. We don't have time to coddle anyone. Most of us thrive on the rapid pace and turnover, and understand the seedy underbelly of society better than most nurses. We see society at it's worst sometimes. We care for victims of horrible abuse and neglect, as well as victims of violent crimes. We also must care for the perpetrators of these crimes if the need arises. There are many emotional moments in the ED, and you just have to suck it up and go with it. No crying allowed, at least not at that moment. So if we seem uncaring, cold and cynical, it is a survival mechanism we have developed to cope with our surroundings.

So just be aware of what you are getting into before you commit.

Best of luck to you!

Edited to add: I re-read my post and it sounds pretty negative, but I really do love my job! I can't think of anywhere else I would rather work, and in my nearly 40 years in nursing, I have tried a variety of areas, and I always end up back in the ED! So, by all means, if you think you want to do it, go for it. Otherwise you will never know, but just be aware of what you are getting into and expect to feel like a total idiot for the first year! There is a lot to comprehend in the ED and some of it can never be comprehended!

[thedon781978]

As a new grad, i just got hired into the ED. Very nervous because it's a pretty busy trauma 2 center. I didn't get to do an externship or anything like that. I am almost through my first week of orientation and start on the floor with my preceptor monday. Excited and nervous at the same time. According to some of the nurses i've spoken too, they all tell me not to worry because everyone helps out quite a bit. The best advice i've heard so far is jump in on everything and study your meds and protocols. good luck to you.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

I started in the ER with no patient care experience outside of nursing school clinicals. I've worked hard and it's been challenging but I am enjoying it and doing well. Previous exposure isn't a guarantee that you'll do well, no is lack of exposure dooming you to failure. A lot depends on you and your learning style and ability as well as the environment of the unit and the support and education available to you.

[Misheila]

I agree with Pneumothorax, a lot of new grads have come to the ER and are doing well. I am not sure where you are but in Toronto we have a program that mentors new grads for up to 6 months in the acute setting (even though most new grads rarely ever need that much time to be on their own). I would suggest you do the ER course and apply. You are only going to know how you will do after you have tried it.

[LittleMissSunshine10]

I started out in ER but had four years prior experience as a CNA. The nurses may seem "cold" or whatever but those I work with are excellent. You need to GET IN THERE. If there is something you are unsure of you better get in on it because that's the only way confidence will be built. Jump in on codes, traumas, MI's, everything.

[funnyliz]

I think that the one thing experience gives you is you see it coming ... for instance, we have a triage nurse who can identify a kidney stone from the car - these are things that an experienced nurse brings with them. I precept for our ER and that is one thing I don't have to teach is 'how to be a nurse' - I think for any busy ED it's imperative that the caregiver can 'see it coming' - be it CHF or an MI or whatever - I think the experience helps smell that stuff before it becomes a pile of trouble.