New ER Nurse

[MikeyBSN]

Hi, I'm starting a job in the ER as a new graduate. I have some EMT experience and I've done a few rotation days through the ER. Do you guys have any advice?

[Pinto]

I have been an ER nurse for 8 1/2 years. As was said before, be nice to the ancillary staff. Don't take any crap from med students, and never let them see you gag :) I was a paramedic for 6 years before nursing so the ER was a natural step for me. I too was also hired as a new grad. My days tho are number. Submitted resignation 3 days ago. Accepted Critical Care job in Level I trauma center with eventual goal of CRNA. Congrats on your accomplishments. Sorry if too long winded my 1st post and the ED is empty.

It's O'Dark thirty and I want to sleep

:cheers:

[kitcat3968]

As a preceptor of the "new kids," here is what I have found to be the difference between a nurse who makes it and one who doesn't. Learn to see the BIG PICTURE. This is learning the subtle, the pt. is going to crash signs: agitated, restless, decreased mentation, etc. Don't just look at the monitor, look at the patient. Second, learn extensive time management and organizational skills. If your facility requires primary nursing without much assistance, you have to know which is more important, hanging Levaquin on a 40 year old pneumonia who will be d/c'd or eyeballing the new squad rolling in. Third, document when you do it or your documentation will never be accurate and, heaven forbid, never stand up in court. Knew a nurse who used to jot her documentation down on papertowels throughout the shift and then had to figure out who belonged to which at the end. Needless to say, she's no longer in ER. Fourth, learn not to panic. You know the basics or you never would have gotten your RN license. Once you have gone through and run a code, on the ER side, not the EMPT side, your comfort level will grow and eventually you'll be able to hit the zone and automatic pilot. Fifth, don't let the politics and the tension suck you in. This is the ultimate killer of ER staff, young and old.

Hopes this helps.

Cathy, RN, BSN, Cleveland

10+ year ER

[mom23RN]

Best advice is don't complain and just do your job. The doc's will like you cuz all of us old nurses are jadded and love to complain about everything.

:chuckle:rotfl::chair:

*snort* So True!!!!!

[JBudd, MSN]

Helping out is a good thing! However, some folks don't sign off on stuff they are already doing, so check with the primary about whether she wants something done if you can. If she's obviously tied up and could not possibly have done it then go ahead.

Ask lots of questions! And frankly, I find myself asking the new grads about some of the newer drugs that you've been exposed to that I don't know as much about:chuckle

Go watch and get in on as much of the big stuff as you can, when you can. Watching a few really helps before you have to be the primary. Some of my newer colleagues have reminded me they want to be in on stuff, so I try to get them in on it, and try to explain what is going on if something unusual comes up. Sometimes I forget who needs experience until they remind me.

Good luck!

[MMARN, BSN, RN]

Helping out is a good thing! However, some folks don't sign off on stuff they are already doing, so check with the primary about whether she wants something done if you can. If she's obviously tied up and could not possibly have done it then go ahead.

Ask lots of questions! And frankly, I find myself asking the new grads about some of the newer drugs that you've been exposed to that I don't know as much about:chuckle

Go watch and get in on as much of the big stuff as you can, when you can. Watching a few really helps before you have to be the primary. Some of my newer colleagues have reminded me they want to be in on stuff, so I try to get them in on it, and try to explain what is going on if something unusual comes up. Sometimes I forget who needs experience until they remind me.

Good luck!

See? You are the type of nurse we all need. One who works with new grads and helps us out.