Me? A fresh new RN in the ER?

[payotapeachz]

So I feel like everything happens for a reason--

I had originally applied for the Med Surg floor at my facility and was interviewed with the nurse manager and a nurse who has been on the floor for more than 20 years. It went very well and I was supposed to hear back from the director later that week (she was off the floor on this particular day).

I waited and waited and still after two weeks I had no call. I was upset but what could I do. Fortunately two employees that I knew who worked in the ER recommended me to the the director of the ER and she gave me a call to come by. Everything went well --but I SERIOUSLY did not think I was cut out for this!

Just recently graduating in December, passing my boards in February, and immediately getting this opportunity was just a blessing and fate.

Right now I am completelying a 7 week critical care course as well as doing some rotations around the hospital to get an idea of everything. Its wonderful but I'm not going to lie I'm quite nervous.

Anyone have any good advice?

[biotelbob]

So I feel like everything happens for a reason--

I had originally applied for the Med Surg floor at my facility and was interviewed with the nurse manager and a nurse who has been on the floor for more than 20 years. It went very well and I was supposed to hear back from the director later that week (she was off the floor on this particular day).

I waited and waited and still after two weeks I had no call. I was upset but what could I do. Fortunately two employees that I knew who worked in the ER recommended me to the the director of the ER and she gave me a call to come by. Everything went well --but I SERIOUSLY did not think I was cut out for this!

Just recently graduating in December, passing my boards in February, and immediately getting this opportunity was just a blessing and fate.

Right now I am completelying a 7 week critical care course as well as doing some rotations around the hospital to get an idea of everything. Its wonderful but I'm not going to lie I'm quite nervous.

Anyone have any good advice?

Welcome to emergency medicine and nursing. ER nursing is a combination of all specialties rolled into one. You get a taste of each one of them in the ER. I've been in EM for 35 yrs and as a nurse for 28 yrs.

some things I can tell you is:

a certain amount of fear/nervousness is healthy, too much can cripple you.

Document,document,document!!!!!

Never be afraid to ask questions. You never stop learning until you die.

The more shifts you work, the more comfortable you will get and eventually won't be afraid to take on challenging pts.

Street smarts will take you farther then the book smarts, but they are both good to have.

It will help the you have gone through a critical care residency. I might also suggest albeit it late, you or someone else might consider working a small ER and get your feet wet before working in a large busy ER. I work in a Level 1/ teaching hospital and we see from 300 -400 pts a day in ER. That's a lot of added stress especially for a new grad. Or someone with no experience vs a smaller volume ER. Hope all this helps. Feel free to ask or comment. I enjoy precepting new grads and students because I was there once myself. Best of luck with your new career.

[Ernurse2012]

I can relate to you! I'm fairly a new nurse I worked Tele for 8 months and moved over to the ER. I have been there for a month now and seriously I'm starting to feel I'm not cut out for it. I feel lost I'm praying it gets better or else I'm going to ask to be moved back to a floor.