Inactive nurse with one yr med/surge wanting to do ER now???

MrsWampthang, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2008

Hello ER nurses. I have a question for all of you. I have one yr of MS and have been inactive for 4yrs now. I am currently getting ready to enter the work force again and would love to work in a ER. I honestly didn't like med/surg and always found Er to be exciting but have no idea what goes on there other than TV shows of "trauma life in the Er' but it focus more on t he docs than the nurses. Unfortunately since am already a nurse I can't just go and do an intership in an ER but am planning to shadow on soon.
Any advice as to wether I need more experience else where before considering ER? WOuld I be treated like a new grad? WIll I get at least 6mos of orientatation? ANy info would be appreciated
thanks

I would suggest shadowing a couple of times. Real life ER isn't anything the TV shows. And the Trauma life in ER doesn't do justice to what goes on for a full 12 hours. I doubt that you would get 6 months orientation. I think that 6 months is a little excessive even for a new grad, unless they just aren't getting it. I may be wrong though. I think you might want to reconsider med/surg unless you were a really strong nurse back then. Just curious, why did you only work a year and then take a four year break? Anyway, just my :twocents: .

Pam

GOMER42 · Dec 7, 2008

If you've never worked ER, why do you find it exciting?

RN28MD · Dec 7, 2008

thanks for replying guys. I stayed home after having my babie and decided to be a fulltime stay at home mom. I don't know if you guys have children but life had change so much for me. Not only I am so comfortable with kids but I also have mature a lot. Is hard to explain but i am at a different phase in my life now.

I find the ER to be very exciting from what other nurse friends have told me about. IS nothing like a Medical surgical floor. Don't get me wrong MS was very busy and I know ER is busy too but a different type. How would I ever know I can do it if I can't even get in there. I like the quick fix and move on to the next patient. In MS you take care of patients for days. That can be a good thing but at it also limits what you learn as to new diagnoses such as the ones you see in the ER.

Thanks again and I will try to find a place to shadow.

Happy holidays

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2008

I'd suggest a refresher class and make sure that your job gives you the orientation time that you need.

The ER is rarely as dramatic as you see on the Discovery Health shows - they probably film for a week or two to get an hour long show. But you will be busy, get to see all sorts of interesting things in a shift, and if you have to put up with a patient you don't mesh well with, either you leave at the end of shift, or they do. And to be honest, there is nothing quick about the fixing we do. Unfortunately, the patient doesn't get stabilized and rolled into a waiting bed.

Good luck with your new career direction. The best move I made was from ICU to the ER.

Blee

lifesaver1978 · Dec 7, 2008

Personally I think you may need some refreshing before you jump into the ER. When I was in Nursing School I knew exactly what kind of nurse I wanted to be- ER. I was MS for 1 1/2 years and then went to the ER. Man was I glad I had that experience before I went to the ER. No it's not like the tv show that much, but we do stay busy and full and Docs like spitting out multiple orders as they walk by and if you don't feel very comfortable then you may want to question everything. And when it's busy you have to be on top of your game. The hands on skills are important as well. - Nothing like the floor Nursing. I currently work in an ER where the Nurses not only Nurse, but we do all our lab draws, transport our patients, and take care of everyone. Sometimes it's overwhelming. They don't offer 6 months orientation though- probably 6 weeks. I wouldn't want to work anywhere else though.

mmutk, BSN, RN, EMT-I · Dec 7, 2008

Yeah I would deff do some shaddowing first, then maybe a tele unit or something first to ease you back in. Cause the ER will sure enough burn you out quick

RN28MD · Dec 7, 2008

thanks for the advices, you guys are great! I am currently in an RN refrsher course and half way done. I will be shadowing a Er but is just one day. I don't know what else to do? Someone told me to be a tech but I already have my Rn degree. So then someone else suggested to volunteer in a ER. What do you guys think? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2008

I think that you should jump back in after your course. Make sure you get a solid orientation and run with it. I think you are going to be fine - your skills and your prioritization will come back to you.

Good luck!

Blee

mmutk, BSN, RN, EMT-I · Dec 8, 2008

thanks for the advices, you guys are great! I am currently in an RN refrsher course and half way done. I will be shadowing a Er but is just one day. I don't know what else to do? Someone told me to be a tech but I already have my Rn degree. So then someone else suggested to volunteer in a ER. What do you guys think? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Yeah I wouldn't tech or greet or volunteer if you are already an RN. Just shadow as much as you can and then like he said, just get a good orientation. Don't let them ohh your a nurse already here is like 3 days orientation you, make sure you get a good long one.

And hey if you don't like it you could always transfer out.