New grad in critical care

[kaitlinw208]

I am going to be finished with nursing school in 6 weeks. My primary interest after graduation is to work in the ER. I would like to find out some input from experienced nurses as to the positives and negatives of a new grad starting out in the ER?

Is it more beneficial to start of the floor to gain experience with the inpatient setting before moving to the ER? or is it just as beneficial to start in the specialty area that you are most interested in?

[JKL33]

Following my own observations and involvement with ED precepting along with the various things I've read here, there's only one answer: It totally depends on the department's familiarity with new grads, their commitment to them, and the type of orientation they are offering. There is no reason an enthusiastic new grad can't train to the ED, but the orientation had better be significant, IMO. Very significant. In both length of time and depth of content. In addition...long on patience and understanding.

[Kareegasee]

I think starting in the ED would be great! There is such a wealth and variety of knowledge that you would learn that just isn't part of the daily routine on a med-surg floor. You would gain confidence and expertise in assessing and caring for new STEMIs/NSTEMIs, strokes, new traumas (my fav), overdoses, etc. You would get to perform regular EKGs, Foley catheters, IVs/blood draws, codes/resuscitations. Working on the floor would teach you excellent time management skills as well as give you a good foundation in routine skills, and you would get to spend more time with your patients, which is a big thing to consider if that appeals to you.