New grad in ER?

NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN · Sep 13, 2012

It depends on the hospital. Gearing up as a first year nurse is hard! Doing it in the emergency room is VERY hard. Some hospitals have training in place for it and others don't. Just find out about the ones you are applying to. The worst they can say to your resume is "no" right?

harrird · Sep 14, 2012

It's difficult for sure. I'm about 6 months ahead of you. I had 8 shifts of orientation. The pace can be brutal, the nights never-ending. If you can get in, you'll know very soon if it's for you or not. There is a lot to learn in addition to your normal policies and procedures: ACLS, PALS, Triage, Moderate Sedation to start. Best of luck!

brainkandy87 · Sep 15, 2012

If all you are is an adrenaline junkie (or as they are known in the ER: trauma junkies), don't even bother trying to be an ER nurse. The best ER nurses I know all share common traits and their best traits aren't their addiction to trauma. Yes, they all love the crazy traumas and jumping in head first. However, what sets these ER nurses apart from the rest of the trauma junkies is that they love to use their brain. They love to learn and apply what they've learned. They love to be presented with a riddle of a patient and use reasoning, whether it's deductive or inductive, to solve that riddle.

It's nice to have a trauma junkie who isn't afraid to jump in head first, but it's better to have someone who thinks about how deep the water is before jumping in head first.

If you can be more than just a trauma junkie, absolutely go for it. It's an incredible experience every day.

LalaJJB · Sep 15, 2012

adrenaline junkie doesn't = good ER nurse. Being confident and smart..AND knowing when to ask for help makes a good ER nurse...especially as a new grad. Also, know how to effectively accept criticism regardless if it's deserved or not will make you a good ER nurse. There's nothing more annoying than a new grad who gets offended when an experienced nurse gives them advice or provides criticism. As long as you go into your career with knowledge, a take-charge attitude, willingness to learn anything and aren't arrogant, you will succeed.

sapphire18 · Sep 16, 2012

Many flight nursing jobs require critical care experience- not just ER. It does sound like you have a good personality for ER though. You'd probably get bored on a floor.

VICEDRN, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2012

This er nurse is no adrenaline junkie. I like the trauma bays because they stay busy but they are often stable boring patients. I love the variety. I started as a new grad and I think people should start in the er as a new grad. Floor nurses just learn bad habits before they hit the er IMHO.Also, this question gets asked like q month. You should have looked for previous posts with similar titles before repeating the same question.

Crux1024 · Sep 16, 2012

I dont necessarily agree that floor nursing means bad habits. Just a different style of nursing. I transitioned wonderfully to the ER after my 2 years on the floor; good preceptors work wonders. I wouldnt go back upstairs for any amount of $$. Any nurse, new or old, that cant/wont keep the pace or the drive, usually doesnt last very long.

VICEDRN, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2012

I dont necessarily agree that floor nursing means bad habits. Just a different style of nursing. I transitioned wonderfully to the ER after my 2 years on the floor; good preceptors work wonders. I wouldnt go back upstairs for any amount of $$. Any nurse, new or old, that cant/wont keep the pace or the drive, usually doesnt last very long.

Sorry. Should have chosen better words. I think floor nurses often develop an innate sense that their patient is stable. When they come to the ER, they do not realize that people are not necessarily stable just because they aren't in a critical care area/bay. They also tend to overlook signs of impending doom and minimize patient complaints and symptoms. They often complain of having, ironically, increased autonomy to begin work on their own patients without the MD present or they would prefer more guidance than ER doc is willing to provide.

9 out of 10 times it doesn't work out. 1 out of 10, we get an awesome new addition. That's what I have seen anyway.

JessiekRN · Sep 18, 2012

As a former floor nurse who transitioned (with five of my floor nurse co workers) to the ER- I sort of wish there was a "dislike" button for the above post. With all due respect- I've heard ER nurses complain about floor nurses, new grads, ICU nurses.. Maybe one day we can stop making generalizations and realize every individual brings different strengths and weaknesses with them. We all have to start somewhere, after all. I'm not trying to be politically correct here- but the "They, they, they" tone in the above post makes me wonder how supportive the poster is about new staff in the ER, regardless of their background. Everyone's welcome to their opinion of course. I just found the above to be pretty overgeneralized.