I want to be an ER nurse! Maybe...

[Exhuasted]

I've only been working as a nurse for 5 months at the moment, so any change I might make would be far in the future... but I've been thinking a lot about ER lately. I work on an ortho/trauma floor, and I really love the trauma, but I want to see it when it's new, when it's just happened. How do I know if I've got what it takes to work in ER? I've been thinking maybe get a year or two of med surg experience then try ER, but what if I do and end up not being cut out for It? Then I'm stuck for a minimum of 6 months before I can transfer to another unit... what all do I need to be considering right now?

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Can you shadow in your ER? Is your hospital a trauma center?

If you can deal with constantly shifting patient priorities and lack of initial diagnosis, you might enjoy the ER. It takes a curious mind and a thick skin, and a large bladder and tiny stomach are also helpful, haha!

[MICN]

Our Emergency Department takes new grads all the time. I think a ED nurse needs to be flexible, adaptable, and be able to anticipate what may or may not happen. Shadow the ED department to see if you even like it. I was in the float pool for 4 years before transferring to the ED. Best decision I ever made. The ED is a close nit family. We all work together. Be able to play well with others!

[bclark297]

depends on your hospital.

• I worked at a level 1 trauma hospital where the ER nurses also worked in Trauma Admitting. If your hospital's ER nurses also admit the traumas that come in, most likely they've been in the ER for a little while already.
  
• Another Level 1 trauma hospital a couple miles away, the ER nurses strictly did ER. If a trauma came in they didn't even see it most likely. The nurses admitting these traumas were ICU nurses that have been in the ICU for a few years already.
  

I would say shadow and see what you think.