Help! I Want To Transfer To The Er!

bill4745, RN · Sep 16, 2008

You seem ready for the ER. You might want to get PALS certified also. Welcome to the crazy world of ER-never dull, never a typical day.

kalani_ana · Sep 16, 2008

Id say pals and/or enpc.... i liked enpc better. im sure the er will give you adequate orientation but if you want to be a step ahead ive heard of classes that teach the basics of er for those in your position... good luck!

bill4745, RN · Sep 17, 2008

What is enpc?

jenfromjersey · Sep 17, 2008

ENPC is the Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course. It was developed by the ENA. It is run over 2 days. I took it earlier this year for the first time. I already have and keep updated PALS as it is required for my ER.

I thought the course was pretty good. You have to test similar to PALS in the respect that there is a mega-code type situation at the end and a written test which you are required to pass. The thing I like about ENPC is they also test you on triage. You get 3 different presenting scenarios and you follow a method they teach for assessing and obtaining info. You then have to decide who goes back first, second and third. I enjoyed that because the ones who you think look ok...after second glance are sicker than you think...just reminds you to get as much info as possible early on. You can find more info about it on ENA's website:

http://www.ena.org/catn_enpc_tncc/enpc/aboutcourse.asp

futurecnm · Sep 17, 2008

We have to have ACLS, PALS and TNCC. I'm doing them all during orientation.

sissiesmama, ASN, RN · Sep 17, 2008

Hi. I am a new grad, working on a cardiac telemetry floor for 8 months, and I want to transfer to the ER. I always wanted to go to the ER, but when I applied, the managers recommend getting a year of nursing experience. I want to transfer in Jan2009, which would be my year. I am ACLS certified, and enrolled to take a TNCC in Nov. Is there anything else I should obtain before going to the ER? Also, I want to work in a level 1 trauma center. Any advice or information would be helpful?
Thanks!!:loveya:

Hey deeh - You sound a lot like me! Iwent to LPN school first then finished my RN. When I found out I had to wait a year before going to the ER, I was really disappointed. It was the best thing for me, my other nsg experience did benefit me and made me a better ER nurse, I think.

It is great that you have your ACLS and are planning on taking the TNCC. I got my study book for TNCC, but didn't take it. I had to quit nursing for medical reasons, CP,runs of vtach, bigeminy, labile HTN. My BP got as high as 250/160. So, long story short, I am a stay at home mom. I do miss the ER a LOT!! I am still there quite a bit, just as a patient, instead of a nurse, in the same ER where I used to work.

The ENPC and NALS, or NRP certifications will benefit you a lot. All the other posters are dead on with their advice. It sounds like you are going to be a heck of an ER nurse!

I live in NE Louisiana, and one thing I had always wanted to see "Big Charity" in New Orleans, Louisiana, if you had heard of that hospital down south. It was a level 1 trauma center that, unfortunately did not survive hurricaine Katrina. I had always wanted to at least see it, if not get to work there.

So, take a little advice - If there is something like that you want to do, or just see, go for it! I wish I had, and now I'll never get to experience seeing Big Charity.

Good luck! Anne, RNC

ThrowEdNurse, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2008

Please know that ED nurses are constantly abused in a multitude of ways on a daily basis. You need 2 things to survive:1)thick skin 2)smart *ss mouth

mmutk, BSN, RN, EMT-I · Sep 19, 2008

NRP is good to have too. Not allot of ER nurses carry this cert, but it's handy when you have an imminent delivery because PALS doesn't work on the 5 min old.

NRP- Neonatal Resus Provider.