New grad in ED

Jerico, BSN, RN · Sep 14, 2007

I'd had a GREAT preceptor in my ED last semester clinical experience for six weeks. She taught me so much, was patient, and gave me super written referrals.

I started as an ED nurse out of nursing school.

I didn't know my CRAPPY preceptor the new ED department I'd been hired into needed to have a knot jerked in her tail. She delighted in REPEATEDLY shouting at me: "Why are you so freaking slow...." and then muttering to everyone what an idiot I was and that my BSN was a JOKE. She'd assigned me SEVEN patients repeatedly. after the first two weeks and would be "busy" when I'd need help just FINDING things.

I'd never been a nurse, I thought at the time: "So this is what they mean by nursing eats their young....". (I was 50 at the time...ha)

The last time I saw her I was walking away from her as she was yelling:

"You come back here...you can't just leave..."

I turned around lifted my arms in the air and said:

"If you think you are so damn good at this YOU do it...I've had enough of your mouth..and garbage."

Apparently she didn't know the theory behind different learning styles of new nurses. I learn better with compassion and kindness.

That was two years ago and it hasn't hurt my career.

She was a jerk.

LESSON: ASK for a new preceptor EARLY on if you don't "click". Do not be afraid to ASK. I didn't know I could ask:o!

longjourneydream · Sep 14, 2007

hi,
my name is alison and i graduated in may 2007. i moved to california this summer so i got my license in new mexico where i graduated and then transferred it to california. i have been lucky enough as a new grad to get a job in the ed at a brand new hospital opening here in november. i am really nervous because i am still a newbie, but also really excited about the fast-pace and everything i will learn! has anyone else started out in the ed as a new grad? apparently they only take a few in there, and i feel so privledged. anyone have any advice or encouragment?
thanks, alison

hello alison,

i too graduated in may 2007, and i passed my boards the 2nd week of june.

i worked as a tech for over a year and a half in the ed, while still in my 1st year of nursing school.

i learned lots during that time...

i was not a welcomed player in the beginning due to emt techs and rns that felt i needed to know everything on the fly,so i worked my tail off, but gained the knowlege.

i now work as rn, and it has been a good experience, because all the tech work has enhanced my new nursing skills.

i am not afraid to sound ignorant if i do not know something.

i always ask for clarification if something is not clear.

i always tell dr's when reading back orders if i do not understand what they are ordering.

yes at times it is humbling, but i'm doing what i always wanted to do nursing

i do remember my instructor advising me not to do the er, because she said the patients; they would just keep coming in, and there is a high chance to get codes, and my critical thinking skills are not up to par for that yet.

she said "do cardiac care first then graduate to the er".

well i almost did that, but my gut told me to stay in the er.

i am off orientation now and have had 12 weeks of training, als certified, monitor id certified, computor trained, etc...

the staff there always watches over me making sure i do not drown for too long.

i always tell them how i feel, and i always try to return the favors when someone does me a favor,

it pays to have friends...

i cannot see myself working anywhere else.

you see; everything is in the er, all the textbook diseases, case-studies, everything you read and learned is here in your face each and everyday. it is a place that you do not stay stagnant.

although i hear many old er nurses say once you are an er nurse and stay there, that is all you ever are...

but for now i think i'll stay at least a couple years...

cw;)

traumaRNmelissa · Sep 15, 2007

I am also a new grad in the ED. I graduated in December 2006. I absolutly love the ED and could not imagine myself anywhere else. There is plenty of BS patient complaints, but the first time you are in on a full arrest and get them back...there is no feeling like it.

My only advice would be to BREATHE. act like a sponge, soak everything in and DONT be afraid to ask questions!

:welcome:to the world of ER nursing!

nurseangel47 · Sep 16, 2007

Wow! Aren't you the lucky newbie on the block in emergent nursing care delivery?! I mean that sincerely, tho' when reading it, it sounds a bit sarcastic, don't mean it that way at all. I think you are extremely fortunate, as I gather you do realize from reading your entire post. I would say, keep eyes wide open, refresh little used entry level skills, take every chance you possibly can at doing things you either haven't ever done, or need to enhance thru repetitive doing handson, and hone up on emergency nursing skills you already know you're going to be using soon. Good luck. God bless you in this awesome opportunity to show the world your mightiness! I think that you are one lucky nurse. Shiny brand new and soon going off to boot camp for new nurses in an emergency department setting. My hat is off to you, truly. You must have a certain something that is undefinable but it must show in interviewing, or thru grades, or both, of a higher than normal standard of care delivery, or enthusiasm, or both.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2007

Good luck to you. There will day "those days" that new grads have. Hang in there and best wishes.

RNcDreams · Sep 17, 2007

Hi!

I am a new graduate at the moment in the ED....and I'm enjoying it! I'm constantly challenged and humbled... but I'm a sponge. I ask questions constantly and triple check everything. It's getting better shift by shift...

It is absolutely fine to do ED first if you know you like it! No use suffering somewhere you aren't happy... as LONG as you have a preceptor you click with, and you are motivated to learn every single day, and you are able to ID your own weaknesses.

Best of luck!

ERGirl83 · Sep 21, 2007

I'm still in school, but my best friend just graduated in May, and is working in the ED at one of the busier Level II trauma hospitals in her area. She absolutely LOVES the work, but she also studies every night, as much, if not more, than when she was in school. She does say the the other RN's on the floor don't like her very much, but I think it's mostly out of jealousy and angst that she's half their age, just out of school, and outdoing them on a lot things (she really is a freaking nursing genius)...Anyway, I plan on following the same track, the ED is the only place I want to be (eventually as an Acute Care NP or PA), and I'm willing to work my butt off to do it from the get-go...Good Luck, and study study study!