How do I know the ER is for me?

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Hi everyone. I just had an interview in the ED at the hospital I currently work at. The job is mine if I decide to pursue it (it was a bid). Now I'm not quite sure if I want it! Fact is I don't know what I want to do my career right now. I'm at a standstill I feel like. I've been a nurse for 6 1/2 years and I have tried LTC/Rehab, Family practice, and now my current position is in the hospital on a med/surg, ortho/neuro floor. It's all been great experience and I don't regret a thing, but I wish I could just find my niche! It's not that I've been completely miserable at all of these places (just the LTC) it's just I'm always seeking change or something better I suppose. I don't know what exactly I'm asking for here.... Maybe just some support or to hear from others that came across the same problem a few years into nursing. Thanks!

Specializes in LTC and School Health.
Really? Cool! Good luck! I was hoping someone would be in the same boat as me! I do my job shadowing day tomorrow and will make the decision then whether I want to take the job or not. The other thing is- not sure if I mentioned it or not- is the position is nights, so I'd get the shift differential also, which is an added bonus :) I will keep you posted as well :)

I'll be on nights as well, which will be super busy. My main weakness is IV starts and drawing blood. That gives me so much anxiety.

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Specializes in Emergency, ICU.

Take it. The ED is fantastic. Your nursing assessment and technical skills will grow tremendously and you'll be able to pick your jobs if after a while you decide it's not a perfect fit.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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Specializes in LTC, Family Practice, Meg/Surg.
I'll be on nights as well, which will be super busy. My main weakness is IV starts and drawing blood. That gives me so much anxiety.

Oh really? See, I miss drawing blood! I did it in family practice, but haven't since. I've never started an IV, but I am excited to start learning! You know what I'm nervous about? Someone coding on me! I still have to take ACLS & PCLS, and I haven't really had too many codes on our floor. Most codes we call are Code B's (strokes), but those are easy! I am worried about the patient in respiratory distress, or cardiac arrest....I guess because I haven't had one yet, which is normal, right? :sarcastic:

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Specializes in LTC, Family Practice, Meg/Surg.
Take it. The ED is fantastic. Your nursing assessment and technical skills will grow tremendously and you'll be able to pick your jobs if after a while you decide it's not a perfect fit.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

Sweet. Thanks!

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Specializes in Emergency.
Most codes we call are Code B's (strokes), but those are easy!

Not to be snarky but what happens when you call a code stroke on your current unit? Does the pt go somewhere else to be taken care of by somebody else? Yeah, that's easy. In the ER that stroke is your pt until they go to the OR which is rare or their unit bed is ready (see threads on unit holds in the ER) or the're transferred. And you still have other pts.

Most strokes we call in the ER happen before the pt gets to the room, gets undressed, lined, labbed or often even had vitals taken. And the clock is ticking from when that code is called. Door to ct in 25 minutes, ct read in 45 minutes of arrival, tpa if indicated in 60 minutes of arrival.

Don't mean to discourage you but be careful about what you think is "easy".

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Specializes in LTC, Family Practice, Meg/Surg.

Not to be snarky but what happens when you call a code stroke on your current unit? Does the pt go somewhere else to be taken care of by somebody else? Yeah, that's easy. In the ER that stroke is your pt until they go to the OR which is rare or their unit bed is ready (see threads on unit holds in the ER) or the're transferred. And you still have other pts.

Most strokes we call in the ER happen before the pt gets to the room, gets undressed, lined, labbed or often even had vitals taken. And the clock is ticking from when that code is called. Door to ct in 25 minutes, ct read in 45 minutes of arrival, tpa if indicated in 60 minutes of arrival.

Don't mean to discourage you but be careful about what you think is "easy".

Thank you for your concern and your opinion on what you consider to be easy or difficult. I was simply stating my opinion, as well. Also, I wouldn't be so quick to judge on what I do with a patient when we call the stroke code... Because we are a STROKE UNIT so no I don't give up the patient after. I take care of them the whole time, and do everything you mentioned while keeping my 5 other patients....so I would tone it down a bit and not take what I'm saying to another person so personally... Let me rephrase for you: I am more comfortable with stroke codes because I deal with them more frequently. I am less comfortable dealing with cardiac arrests. Is that a more appropriate statement??

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