New Grad ------> ER Nurse

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Hello Everyone. I am a new grad and just accepted a position in the E.R. I want to know if anyone can recommend any books or pocket guides that would be very helpful... Thanx

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I was wondering the same thing...new grad starting in the ER not sure what to brush up on. Meds I should have memorized, procedures, etc. Any advise would be greatly appreciated!

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Specializes in Emergency.

The best material I would say is to learn the policies and procedures for your hospital. That in the long run is what you can fall back on. I also carry a palm pilot with a drug book..it has been a lifesaver!

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

Thanks! A friend suggested the palm pilot with a drug book. Did you buy the book then download it to your computer then to your palm?

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Specializes in Emergency.

I got mine through nursing central. I also have downloaded the lab diagnostic book and med dictionary.

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nursing central has a great program and it updates everytime you log on to the internet. (at least for the year you pay :)

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RE: New grad-ER

Try going to Borders or Barnes & Noble, they often sell mini guides that may help.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I've heard good feedback on "Triage Nursing Secrets" by Polly Zimmerman and Robert Herr. It's definitely not a pocket guide, but more of something to keep at your bedside or in your bathroom and go through in your spare time, bit by bit. Right now, I'm going through "Emergency Nursing Made Incredibly Easy", and finding it a little useful. I wouldn't give it rave reviews, but it was all they had at my local Barnes and Noble. As mentioned above, your particular facility's P&P is probably your best bet as a starting point. I'm sure your facility has published standards of care for different diagnoses that present in the ED. I can pull them up on any computer, in the hallway or in the patient's room, if I need to refer to it.

I also have a Palm with "IV Medications" by Gahart and Nursing Central that includes "Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses", which I used a lot more when I was on the floor than I have been in the ED, simply because I don't give as many different meds in the ED as I did on the floor (I use the IV Med book a lot more than I use Davis, but I had to buy IV Meds separately; it's not bundled with Nursing Central). But, as a new grad, you might use them a lot in the ED, like if you're not sure if Zofran can be given undiluted, or what the rate of administration is for Lasix. I've been using the drug guides more for reference on dosage, since it seems like they give bigger doses of stuff in the ED than I was used to giving on the floor.

For drawing labs, our lab has a computerized reference that is easily accessible that tells what kind of tubes to use and how much blood you need for every test. So, if you need to draw a Troponin or a Lipase, you can just look up which tube to use and how much blood they need. In a pinch, I can just call the lab and ask, if I can't find it in the database. If your lab doesn't have such a resource, then a lab manual on a Palm, or just a book if you don't have a Palm, would be helpful.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.
Did you buy the book then download it to your computer then to your palm?

YES!!!! It is MUCH faster to do it that way. Plus if you have a Palm smart phone, like the Palm Centro, then it probably costs you to download on a per KB basis, and it will cost you tons just to download it straight to the phone. If you download it to your computer first, then install to your Palm, it only costs as much as the purchase of the material itself.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Not a pocket book, but basically my ED bible:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0323055850/

And I like this pocket book:

http://www.amazon.com/Emergency-Critical-Care-Pocket-Guide/dp/189049528X

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Also - the Emergency Nurses Association has tons of info:

http://www.ena.org

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Specializes in CCU/CVU/ICU.

The books i hear are most helpful include:

1) " ER Nursing For Dummies"

2) " Never Be a know-it-all As a New Grad...For Dummies"

3) " Pay Close Attention to the Experienced ER Nurses...For Dummies"

4) " ER nursing is NOT like TV...for Dummies"

But...this is just a sample...there're many more in the series...

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