It seems like emergency nursing is my ideal job right now……
This sucks I always criticize myself…I have decrease confidence…because sometimes I really don’t know what I’m doing. I get scared when people don’t know what the heck they are doing, but act like they know what they’re doing. Some people have told me…”just act confident, then you’ll be confident”……true I’d probably feel more confident…but that doesn’t change the fact that I didn’t know how to do something. I can’t do that to my patients…..I want to know everything. An emergency can send me to my books in less than a second, but throw something that’s not an emergency to me…I’m not gonna move…..(well, I will but at an unmotivated pace)…
Ughh,…I really do feel like I didn’t learn all the real stuff in school. I’ve always wanted to know a lot of things…to know what I am doing and be good at it. But what I always heard people say is that, “you’ll never know everything.” Yeah, that’s true…but I WANT to. Or at least be up there. I’m so interested in mass emergencies…I’m into studying all about survival and stuff and always imagine myself doing CPR or emergency care on people….I really do day dream about these things…I catch myself doing it sometimes, and it’s just drives me crazy now that I’m looking for a job….I just realized that maybe I should just start in the ED …it feels good for me IF I can feel confident and know it all. Or at least know what to do in an emergency. But the problem is I don’t really know it….that’s the reason why I’m not so confident.
I really have low self-esteem. I hate med-surg nursing. Not because it’s bad…but it’s just not the thing for me….I imagine working in an isolated place where people are counting on me and my team to give them great emergency care. Yep, I imagine myself sewing skin and doing other surgery and weird things……But I can’t work with staff who are biting eachother every chance they get. I’ve heard the posts about how ED staff watch out for one another, and a lot of teamwork…and I love that idea…..until I got to reading about how they will treat you if you’re not confident or know don’t what you’re doing….that’s sad….but I don’t blame them….If I was an ER nurse and someone didn’t know what they were doing, I’d probably not want them there also…they’ll put the patients at risk…but people have got to get THERE somehow….and there’s gotta be a more easier way than going through hell, making youself miserable and giving up on nursing. I love knowing about everything…that’s what makes it exciting but I can’t stand when a teachers/mentors steps on me. I need to know that they are supportive and even though I’m dumb…that they will be a great mentor and teach me ALL they know.
The thing that scares me the most is when I don’t know what I’m doing. I wish I had a great mentor who could teach me all that stuff. I’m sick of preceptors and teachers that I’ve had who new nothing about teaching!.....They could have at least been enthusiastic or patient…there were only a few of those, but it only takes a few to make you lose hope….I wished I was some of those lucky students who got those great mentors. I felt like I was intimidated most of my nursing education…..that sucks…it just made me less confident and gave me low self-esteem in my work. Also, it’s my fault too…..I’m always so hard on myself.
There’s a hospital I know that are taking new grads for ER. But if it’s a place where I’ll get torn apart…then I’m not gonna do it. I can’t do that to myself. I’d be suicide on my career. That is the place where I would need the most help in the world, because people are dying in there. But then I don’t want to be doing something else. I’m not exactly type A personality. I’m not totally type B either.
I’m just going crazy right now. I didn’t exactly enjoy the ER on my clinical rotations…and most of that was because I didn’t feel like I had any of skill to do hands on. I really just felt like I was in the way. But I can’t get over it…can’t get over the scene of the person dying, the person who needs medical help now, can’t get over it….there’s so much adrenaline there…just thinking about it makes me excited…….! Darn! I’m a mess…..shoot I don’t want people to hire me just cuz they need an ER nurse….I want them to do it because they believe they can train me to be a great nurse….I would be glad to study forever if someone would be glad to give me great training and respect….darn…thinking too much again….
Worst things why I'm worried if I take a job in ER: not organized, and not as "fast" a thinker as I'd like to be, yet....low confidence....and I don't like selling myself as something I'm not.....
ER?
Tell me about it?...were there people who you thought was hopeless, but made it through ER?
After reading your post the first thing I thought is -are you always so scattered? I am not sure how old you are, but you have an awful lot of opinions that you have expressed during your short posting. My suggestion to you would be to pursue ER nursing only if you can listen openly, accept criticism and learn from it, keep your past knowledge how things should be done to yourself, and keep a stiff upper lip! ER nurses should and do back each other up. No one likes a know it all, no one wants to hear about your past likes or dislikes(especially during orientation), or how you would handle a situation(especially if it's only something you have heard about and not experienced). I was a new grad in the ER, and have seen many pass through. The successful ones observe and learn many different styles of nursing from the many people precepting. There is no one way to do anything, and every nurse has a reason why they perform the same task many different ways on their very different patients. It is up to you to glean the best of their skills and add them to your skill sets.
I would also suggest that your enthusiasm could work to your advantage, but I would carefully consider what I would say at a job interview. As someone who has hired many people-if your interview style was to say all you wrote-I would run the otherway as a manager. I would confine it to you wanting to convert your current skills to emergent care and why you would be a good fit. Good luck whatever you decide.
Also, to nursing students reading post-if ER is what you think you want. Become a ER medical technician during school time-see what it is all about-you cant possibly know until you are there or have provided emt services. Good luck to all.
I hate to tell ya, but these same things will screw with your time management in the ER too.
And frankly, if you're going to make yourself scarce when it's time to take care of the endless stream of med-surg patients who come through the ER, and only show up for the good stuff, you will be labeled a "princess" in 5 minutes by your coworkers (regardless whether you are male or female). This does not make for good karma.
You have some thinking to do before you accept a position anywhere.
Sorry, you got the wrong idea....I'm definitely not a
"princess." I find that I'm those nurses who slave over
their patients and I do it because I love them and care for them.
And it does make me feel good to do things for them.
Med/surg just isn't for me.
After reading your post the first thing I
thought is -are you always so scattered? I am not sure how old you are,
but you have an awful lot of opinions that you have expressed during
your short posting. My suggestion to you would be to pursue ER nursing only if you can listen openly, accept criticism and learn from it, keep your past knowledge how things should be done to yourself, and keep a stiff upper lip! ER nurses should and do back each other up. No one likes a know it all, no one wants to hear about your past likes or dislikes(especially during orientation), or how you would handle a situation(especially if it's only something you have heard about and not experienced). I was a new grad in the ER, and have seen many pass through. The successful ones observe and learn many different styles of nursing from the many people precepting. There is no one way to do anything, and every nurse has a reason why they perform the same task many different ways on their very different patients. It is up to you to glean the best of their skills and add them to your skill sets.
I would also suggest that your enthusiasm could work to your advantage, but I would carefully consider what I would say at a job interview. As someone who has hired many people-if your interview style was to say all you wrote-I would run the otherway as a manager. I would confine it to you wanting to convert your current skills to emergent care and why you would be a good fit. Good luck whatever you decide.
Also, to nursing students reading post-if ER is what you think you want. Become a ER medical technician during school time-see what it is all about-you cant possibly know until you are there or have provided emt services. Good luck to all.
Maisy
Your post seemed rude to me. Ummm....why would
I tell all this to my interviewers? I'm just
letting everything out so those who know about ER or have advice
can give it.
[are you always so scattered? I am not sure how old you are,
but you have an awful lot of opinions that you have expressed during
your short posting.]
Ummm..thanks for making me feel like bird-brain....that was exactly what I've come here for!
I'm not a child if that's what you think....
I said above I'm done with school and have taken the boards....
[keep your past knowledge how things should be done to yourself]
--wow, I guess ER nurses do not have their own outspoken opinions...
I don't know what more to say...I've already said it.
You asked for input, Neferet, and you've received some. You labeled your thread "Interested in ER but not quite ER material." Making a statement and waiting for someone to refute it does indeed demonstrate a lack of self-esteem, I agree with you there. It's also passive-aggressive.
I re-read your posting, I stand by my post. To be a nurse anywhere you must have a backbone to deal with doctors, fellow nurses and difficult patients. You must also have the knowledge to back you and your fellow nurses up. I saw a post suggesting counseling, perhaps you liked that response better....reading your post brings several nurses I've worked with to mind. They did not make it in the ER after school and some were not even considered due to the type of interview they gave. Several have already been employed by a couple of different hospitals.
In addition, you did ask our opinions. Mine was given.
Also, to nursing students reading post-if ER is what you think you want. Become a ER medical technician during school time-see what it is all about-you cant possibly know until you are there or have provided emt services.
I am still a student, but I would definitely agree with this suggestion for those considering ER.
I was sure that ER would be my ultimate destination once I graduated, but I have taken a position in a hospital and after working there over the summer, have some doubts that it's "perfect" for me.
I do love the turnover, the interesting patients, the differentness of some days. I love seeing the (majority) staff work together well and without complaint.
BUT -- it's very sobering work sometimes (we're not even Level 1); the RNs are somewhat discouraging about new grads there, while the management is very ENcouraging (so, while Administration wants me there, am I going to get a good, thorough and enthusiastic training as a new grad? ). I find myself sometimes disenchanted by the negativity among the nurses who demean many of the patients for their complaints, sometimes to find out they're wrong. I'm not being ignorant; I know there's a lot of whiners and drug-seekers and people who should be seeing their PCP for a lot of complaints. But when a guy comes in complaining of chest and shoulder pain he's had for several days, and who appears to be in good shape and is fairly young, I hate to see them complaining about him like he's dumb schmuck for being there only to find out he's actually having a heart attack!!
Anyway, that's all a bit off-topic....but I definitely think seeing it from the inside would be advisable to someone considering ER work. It's not all like "Trauma, Life in the ER", lol. I haven't ruled it out entirely, but I'm not yet sure that it's the be-all and end-all for me just yet. But I've got a couple more semesters to figure that out!!
Good for you...try on as many hat as possible while still in school. I know it's hard when you are drilled that pain is 5th vital sign, and you see nurses talking about frequent flyers in the ER. I have struggled with that myself...but pain is what the patient says it is-if a patient is taking 2mg of dilaudid or 4mg of morphine without change in vitals-either they are an addict or with pain mgmt. Pain mgmt patients will usually have a doc who will write for pain control. An ER doc will never write enough pain control for these individuals. Addicts will be back, even asking when certain docs are working. Recently, we went to PO dilaudid and many of these people have gone away.
Orientation should be at least 16 weeks, mine was 20 weeks. If not, I am not sure I would take a job in ER as new grad. Either way, nothing is like a tv program, and while some days are exciting, other days you are begging the charge nurse not to give you a specific patient (frequent flyer pain in the neck). Good luck to you in your studies and in your career.
It sounds to me like you are looking for the nearest med-surg escape route. Do you really like ER, or do you really hate med-surg? If you really want to escape from med surg, then you have more options available.
Skills, confidence and nursing judgement are earned. They specifically are earned through hands on experience.
Keep in mind that the first year of nursing is tough emotionally.
You sound totally "wishy-washy"...ICU is to 'boring' you have to be too "focused'..
In the ER,you'd better be bloody "focused' if you have a crashing patient. Don't run off and read about it,follow orders from experienced nurses and see how they do it...Ask questions CONSTANTLY..
Agree with previous thread re seeing a therapist You "slave"over your patients???...I see time management being a big problem for you.
In a busy ER you do what needs to be done and move on to the next pt. Sounds like you want the excitement and recognition without the actual knowledge.. Which comes with experience..
I found your posting to have alot of thoughts to process and digest.
I think it is natural to have self-doubts when you are a new nurse, or even when thinking of changing to a different specialty. I also feel your post contains alot of misconceptions about Emergency nursing, as others have mentioned. You take care of a hundred patients or more in between 'saving someone's life'. There are very few or maybe no jobs in medicine where all you do is 'save lives'. Most you have to get satisfaction from yourself knowing that you helped a patient or family have a more positive experience with their illness or hospitalization or even their own death or death of a loved one, and not need to be on the front page of the news daily because you saved the baby dangling from the ledge.... If you need that type of reward you will never be satisfied. And while many of us like the challenge and satisfaction after a 'good trauma' or crisis patient, you need to have a large bank of experience/knowledge before you get to be a productive member of that team!
I think you should make steps towards a goal or job you would find more satisfactory, and also look into why you are not getting satisfaction from helping patients in other ways and life's smaller satisfactions.
As per your posts' title, you do seem interested in ED but don't sound like ED material at present, which you acknowledge. You sound like you want to go from point A to point Z without learning all the letters in between. I hope you can find something that gives you pride and satisfaction.
:monkeydance::monkeydance::monkeydance: Hello to all ER nurses. I've been a RN for a little over 2 years. Was an LPN for 8 years. While I was an LPN my experience consisted of moslty pediatric home care, school nursing, very little LTC. I have always had a desire to do trauma nursing even before I was a nurse.
But, I'm not sure if this isn't just from the save the world aspect that you see on TV. I know that it must take years to be right up front and be involved totally in a large code or very serious situation. It just looks very cool from a distance. Well the last 1.8 months I have worked in the OR. I feel that I have really grown as a person and nurse. I feel more confident and competent. Since we are always precepting new nurses, I feel that I do this well also. I have been told on many occasions. The OR has taught me that I do have leadership and teaching abilities that I didn't know or didn't care about before. I know that I don't want to be on a unit. So it was OR or ER. As it happend the ER wasn't hiring anyone without experience. I figured that I would like the OR (blood guts etc). Which I do like the OR, but I don't love it. I think that the OR has a lot of similarites to the ER. The big difference is that we just take care of one patient at a time. This is good, you can give really good care. I have been reading posts on the ER forum for a long time. It is very interesting if you guys have noticied that the ER forum most always has the most people viewing.
So long story short, should I just "go for it". (The ER). Doing a share day is helpful, but I don't think it gives you a full taste of what it is like on a day to day basis. I guess it is a start.... I don't want to start a job (orientation etc.), and then be like... oh god what did I do... I want to be the best nurse possible and have a real passion for what I'm doing. I don't have that now.... So should I make the move or just hang out in the OR ????? Thank you in advance for any advice that you have to offer............
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Good Luck to you.
). I find myself sometimes disenchanted by the negativity among the nurses who demean many of the patients for their complaints, sometimes to find out they're wrong. I'm not being ignorant; I know there's a lot of whiners and drug-seekers and people who should be seeing their PCP for a lot of complaints. But when a guy comes in complaining of chest and shoulder pain he's had for several days, and who appears to be in good shape and is fairly young, I hate to see them complaining about him like he's dumb schmuck for being there only to find out he's actually having a heart attack!!
MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN
1,082 Posts
After reading your post the first thing I thought is -are you always so scattered? I am not sure how old you are, but you have an awful lot of opinions that you have expressed during your short posting. My suggestion to you would be to pursue ER nursing only if you can listen openly, accept criticism and learn from it, keep your past knowledge how things should be done to yourself, and keep a stiff upper lip! ER nurses should and do back each other up. No one likes a know it all, no one wants to hear about your past likes or dislikes(especially during orientation), or how you would handle a situation(especially if it's only something you have heard about and not experienced). I was a new grad in the ER, and have seen many pass through. The successful ones observe and learn many different styles of nursing from the many people precepting. There is no one way to do anything, and every nurse has a reason why they perform the same task many different ways on their very different patients. It is up to you to glean the best of their skills and add them to your skill sets.
I would also suggest that your enthusiasm could work to your advantage, but I would carefully consider what I would say at a job interview. As someone who has hired many people-if your interview style was to say all you wrote-I would run the otherway as a manager. I would confine it to you wanting to convert your current skills to emergent care and why you would be a good fit. Good luck whatever you decide.
Also, to nursing students reading post-if ER is what you think you want. Become a ER medical technician during school time-see what it is all about-you cant possibly know until you are there or have provided emt services. Good luck to all.
Maisy;)