New Grad Starts in ED !!!!!! HELP !!!

pockunit, ADN, RN · Nov 2, 2016

Volunteer to be the recorder in codes and sketchy situations. You will learn what the standard procedures are, what drugs are used, see people doing compressions and intubations, and get a good idea of how codes are run.

pockunit, ADN, RN · Nov 2, 2016

Our pharmacists draw up meds for RSI and other stat situations. It's part of our process. I won't just take a random syringe from another nurse if I didn't see them draw it up, but refusing to take a drawn syringe in a code is going to go badly.

LouDogg, BSN, RN · Jan 6, 2017

Thanks, everyone... these are awesome suggestions and I have been taking them into great consideration. I have over 3 months now and things are going great. Truth is that I have goals for ICU and CRNA eventually, but now I find that I do not want to be in any other department. I LOVE THE ER !!!

I get so much experience, and I get to take the ICU hold patients ALL THE TIME. (Probably 1/3 of my shifts are spent caring for 2 ICU patients because we rarely have beds readily available for them on the ICU unit)

My manager actually asked me yesterday if I still want to cross-train for ICU, and "yes, of course," popped out of my mouth... however, I was seriously questioning my answer on the inside. I love the ER part of the ICU patients--ECG interpretations, rapid stroke assessments, rush to cath-labs, rush to CT, stabilizing, starting drips, central lines, A-lines, rapid sequence intubations, ventilators, bare-huggers, titrating meds, interpreting stat labs and investigating for sources of illness, etc.) BUT... I am not so into the long-term ICU patients (i.e. constant cleaning/hygiene/turning, excessive charting, massive code browns on the hour)...

We will see how it goes, but if I do eventually leave the ER, it would be reluctantly....

Anyway... thank you all for the advice... I truly appreciate the words of wisdom.

NurseHeart&Soul, MSN · Jan 9, 2017

Thanks, everyone... these are awesome suggestions and I have been taking them into great consideration. I have over 3 months now and things are going great.
So glad to hear it is going well! I started in the ED as a new grad. Such a steep learning curve but such an awesome experience. I also had part time gigs in ICU and PACU over time. Working in other areas of the hospital help you become a better ED nurse and give you a better understanding of the overall inner workings of the hospital. Focus on the ED for now, but stay open minded about ICU etc.
Please read my article 5 Things I Wish I knew as a New Graduate Nurse. I will be doing a series likely on a monthly basis. Best of luck with your journey. It's an AMAZING one!

KandidNurse · Jan 9, 2017

I also started in the ED in a level one trauma center, good thing is that we had to be in the ED at least a year before moving to the more critical part so it gave me some time to just get accustomed to the flow of the ED in general which was bonkers but so fulfilling as I love the pace and complexity of it.

My advice is firstly get good sleep, take notes, make maps, write down the numbers you'll use most frequently....ask questions and make sure you are jotting it down so that you're not asking the same thing over and over, AT THE SAME TIME, confirm answers using your units protocols/policies (take time out to study how to access this and read up) and ask the charge nurse nurse manager when necessary

Also, don't OD on energy drinks or caffeine, figure out the most natural way to cope throughout the day and make sure to use your break for quiet time to decompress if possible