Job shadow in ED

Specialties Emergency

Published

Specializes in tele, icu, homecare, long-term acute.

Well, it's official....I'm now gonna join the ranks of ER nurses as I was officially offered a position yesterday ! Earlier this week they let me shadow in the ED for 4 hours and I absolutely loved it! I just thought I would share some of the things I saw in those short 4 hours I was there:

Trauma comes in: 22 y/o male MVA car vs. telephone pole. I guess he had spilled his drink and was leaning over to clean it up and swerved off the road (:trout:). Anyways, he came in with only minor abrasions and c/o pain in abdomen and left hip area. As the trauma team rolled him on his side to check his back and spine, he screams out "quit touching my f***ing hip!!" over and over again. Nice to feel sooo appreciated in the ED :lol2:. In short, all xrays were negative....he was fine....just needs to relearn the first rule of driving: don't take your eyes off the road! :p

Ambulance brings a patient in: 55 y/o male with liver CA receiving chemo. Just received a treatment 2 days earlier. Chief complaint from family....he's sleeping too much! :uhoh3: Well, whaddya expect with someone getting chemo! :trout:

Ambulance brings in another patient: 58 y/o male who OD'd on valium and ativan because "he wanted to get high". He basically was given a room to sleep it off.

There's actually more, but I thought those were the most amusing of all the cases. I bet this is stuff you guys see everyday and I can't wait to start ER! The ER I'm gonna be working for seems really well organized and the nurses get along well and work well with the doctors too. The patient to nurse ratio is 3:1 except in the area with the really minor stuff (stuffy noses, etc.) and I'm gonna get at least an 8 week orientation (I'm not a new nurse and have previous ICU experience so I think I'll do fine).

Anyways, I learned a lot from reading the ER forums here and just wanted to give a general "thank you" for all the input and support nurses give on this forum. What can I say, we nurses rock :w00t:

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Specializes in Trauma ICU,ER,ACLS/BLS instructor.

Congradulations and goodluck,,,,have fun!

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Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

Congrats on "getting there"! :balloons:

Learn a LOT. Ask questions. Be deliberate and consistent. Try to grow some thick skin - you may need it! Only 3 things are NOW emergencies - everything else you get a little time - remember that! Practice stress management. Take care of yourself and those you love. Report back in 6 months - you will be astonished! Support other nurses in your department AND the house!

Good Luck!

Practice SAFE!

;)

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Specializes in tele, icu, homecare, long-term acute.

Thanks guys, I'm gonna invest in some new nursing reading material to help me learn. I can't wait to start my orientation and get out on the floor! It just seems so exciting to never know what you are gonna get as patients.

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Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

Best suggestion for purchase:

ENA's Emergency Nurse Core Curriculum - about $70

I think this is the best book (for the $) and may be the only book you need. It is the reference that I will turn to first.

:)

FYI - This book also has a NEW 2007 update, so this is the best for the buck!!

You can order from the ENA website - maybe amazon? - but join ENA for all the great things that it gives you AND get the member price. ;)

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Specializes in ER Nurse, Level I Trauma, Home Health, VA PACT RN.

Congrats, I too have recently joined the ER ranks. I've been a nurse for 11 years, mainly in Peds and home care but I feel like I'm starting school all over again, LOTS to learn and very humbling. I have no critical care experience so that's been my main challenge so far- especially with monitors. I take ACLS the end of this month and some critical care classes. I'm working in a level I trauma unit and have briefly seen some juicy traumas which really boosted my adrenaline. I was told by my preceptor to tackle trauma later after I've had more experience with the other stuff. She said it never hurts to peek in if there's room and if I stay out of the way. She said later I'll get to jump in which sounds exciting. Thanks for the input about the text book NREMT-P/RN. I've been wondering what good resource to invest in to help with my transition.

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Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

:welcome:

WELCOME!

Suggestions:

* For classes - starting out: (Also, if you repeat these in about a year after you start to practice, you will be amazed at how much MORE you will get out of them! They are great the first time, but even better the next!)

ACLS (http://www.aha.org)

PALS (http://www.aha.org)

NRP (http://www.aap.org)

TNCC (http://www.ena.org)

ENPC (http://www.ena.org)

PHTLS (Pre Hospital Trauma LIfe Support) This is a great class for the ED nurse!!!

(http://www.naemt.org)

Also:

* I think that after you get your feet grounded in the ED, I think that if it is possible - go spend some time as an observer with your 911 provider. Most will allow you to "ride along" with basic safety orientation and a release of liability. This experience will add a lot to your understanding of EMS and patient presentation through the prehospital system.

Again, WELCOME everyone - We NEED GREAT NURSES!

:D :D :D :D

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Specializes in ER Nurse, Level I Trauma, Home Health, VA PACT RN.

Our hospital offers a two day "ride-along" with the Care Flight crew in the spring and I would love an opportunity to do that and learn more about the prehospital system in that aspect. Thanks for the support and feedback. :wink2:

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Specializes in Peds, ER/Trauma.

Congratulations- A 3:1 ratio is REALLY good- and will be a good place to start as an ER nurse, so you shouldn't get too overwhelmed.

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:balloons::balloons::balloons::balloons:Congrats on your new ER jobs.....

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