After graduating last December and spending the last eight months hustling in acute rehab, the call I'd been waiting for finally came last night: I've got a job in a busy ED! I'll start in about six weeks, and I have at least three months of orientation ahead of me. I'd like to make the most of my free time between now and then getting ready. I would appreciate any suggestions, whether from new grad or seasoned veteran.
Among other things, can you recommend any books to read? Or a great CEN prep manual? I'd really love to find something with an interactive CD if possible, as I loved studying for NCLEX that way. I've got an armful of ACLS materials for some light reading!
Thanks in advance for your help. I'm still trying to pull myself off the ceiling.
I've worked with a few ex-medics, both good nurses and bad. One thought he knew everything but was dangerous, another was fantastic and ready to learn. Medics do not know much about chronic meds or disease processes. Also I think their charted tends to be lacking because they want quick and dirty.
Overall I agree that they have a huge advantage over nurses without any experience but EMS experience is NOT ED experience or Nursing experience.
Right. That's why I qualified my statement with "from the looks of this thread" since posters were bringing up such classes as basic dysrhythmias, etc. Agreed. Medics do not have as much exposure to chronic medical issues. That's why I, for example, am interested in nurse school (post B.S. and another career outside of the medical realm) - to learn more about that type of thing. Fortunately, no, EMS is not nursing experience.
I think people who think they know everything is just a personality trait.
Morning, all. Just a quick note to say happy Thanksgiving and again thanks for recommending Sheehy's. My copy arrived from Amazon last night. I'm planning to spend the afternoon drooling over it. I've been poring over this forum for the last few days and have learned a lot.
Thirty-nine days until I start in the ED. Bring it on!
ArkansasFan
64 Posts
Right. That's why I qualified my statement with "from the looks of this thread" since posters were bringing up such classes as basic dysrhythmias, etc. Agreed. Medics do not have as much exposure to chronic medical issues. That's why I, for example, am interested in nurse school (post B.S. and another career outside of the medical realm) - to learn more about that type of thing. Fortunately, no, EMS is not nursing experience.
I think people who think they know everything is just a personality trait.