New Grad in the ER

[Kalnizz]

Hello everyone! A little info! I recently received my first RN position at a local small town emergency room in January. This "hospital" is categorized as a critical access facility. Since it is critical access we typically have one RN and one CNA on duty for our shifts 06-1800, 1800-0600, an on call radiologist and a lab tech. We start all IVs on patients and draw most labs, in addition to giving all other care. 5 bed facility with 2 trauma bays. With summer comes a fairly large increase in patient numbers. It seems like most days (or night) all beds are filled with varying degrees of critical patients. I received about 10 shifts of orientation before I was released to the wolves lol. As this is my first RN position it gets pretty stressful at times and I feel like I don't quite measure up to a lot of the ol' timer nurses there. I love what I do, and wouldn't want to change it for

the world. Im 24 years old if that matters at all lol.

My question is what can I do to better equip myself for day to day emergency room activity? I have my ACLS, and PALS Certification and am enrolled in a TNCC course that starts next month. I've been reading my TNCC book, and have purchased two Emergency room nursing books which I've read cover to cover. What else can I do to prepare myself and feel better equipped? I've recently been looking into a certified emergency nurse class but it's pretty expensive. I'm more than willing to pay the fee if you believe it's worth it. Any advice you can give me would be much appreciated.

[valzRN, ASN, RN]

New grad in an ER? Wow... brave. Even with my experience, I would not want to be alone in an ER as a new grad with a CNA. You must live in a really small town! I agree with Stargazer about being organized. You have to be on your toes all the time, ready for anything... all I can say is you are a brave soul... Good luck with that!

Hello everyone! A little info! I recently received my first RN position at a local small town emergency room in January. This "hospital" is categorized as a critical access facility. Since it is critical access we typically have one RN and one CNA on duty for our shifts 06-1800, 1800-0600, an on call radiologist and a lab tech. We start all IVs on patients and draw most labs, in addition to giving all other care. 5 bed facility with 2 trauma bays. With summer comes a fairly large increase in patient numbers. It seems like most days (or night) all beds are filled with varying degrees of critical patients.

Sounds almost verbatim like the joint where I started.

Talk to the docs for advice. Read a ton about your cases when you're off... Sheehy's Handbook and Proehl's book on procedures are recommended.

New grad flying solo in a 1-nurse ED... good news is, if you don't flame out, you're going to be spectacularly prepared for moving up the ED-level food chain.

[exit96]

I have been in my present ED for 1&1/2 yrs...ALWAYS, always, always pay attention to the other, more experienced RN's, always more to learn, everyday it seems. What I try to do is study the cases that you do not see the most. As soon as you become lax, the case you haven't seen will roll through the door. And any Physician or RN that likes to teach...latch on and get every bit of info they are willing to share!