My final Practicum is in the ED...suggestions?

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I am in the final semester of an ADN program. I have done very well and have marched through it with a relatively healthy amount of confidence. I recieved my clinical assignment for this semester and it is exactly what I requested...the ED of a very busy downtown hospital. I guess I should have been more careful with what I wished for because for some reason my confidence is GONE!! I have only inserted a couple of IV's and have never been in the ER before now. Any suggestions?

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.

If you'd asked about 6mos ago I would've told you to sign up for an EMT-B class over the summer.

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Nothing to suggest from experience...soooo jealous though.

When I observed in the ER a few times last semester, I just looked at the board, found nurses who needed help, and did anything and everything I was capable/allowed to do. The rest just followed, and I ended up seeing/doing a lot of fun, cool things.

The ER I was at is a local nightmare (maybe the staff gets paid this week, maybe they dont...) but I would totally work there if they were hiring when I graduate this year.

I'm sure asking this over on the ED page will get you some truly helpful answers. Keep us posted, I'm interested in knowing how it goes for you.

GL!

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Awesome! I got to rotate to the ED during my Med Surg 2 rotation about 3 or 4 times and I loved it. My suggestion is to just try to do anything they'll allow you to do. They may ask if you have a cool nurse, but they not, just ask anyway. Sometimes they just forget or they think you won't want to. If it's not an emergency just jump in and ask, "do you mind if I do the IV, Foley, whatever". Usually they'll say yes, but even if they say no, they won't be mad. If there is a code or an MI or any type of emergency, stay out of the way but stay available for them to yell at you to grab stuff or something. Be proactive, if a room needs cleaning and you're not doing anything, clean it. I mean like getting the bed ready for the next pt, not mopping lol. Yes that is probably the techs job but it'd be good to be friendly and helpful to them also. Plus if everybody is busy sometimes the nurses will do that, at least they did where I was.

Have fun!!

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Specializes in Psych, Emergency Medicine.

Congrats!! As an ER tech/senior RN student, I'd say the best thing you can do is just get out there. It's like any other clinical experience: the more you put in the more you get out. Don't be afraid to ask questions; one of the things I love about emergency medicine is the fact that SO many people are more than thrilled to teach you about what's going on and answer questions. All of the nurses I have the opportunity to spend time with are always eager to give me opportunities to get in on different procedures - and the Docs are too! Above all, enjoy it :)

ps: cleaning beds will make you a god. just sayin.

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