new nurse in emergency nursing

CeeCee48 · Jul 4, 2008

Dear mikejsmithrn,

I am also a new nurse that just graduated nursing school. I have not taken the NCLEX yet but have been hired by a huge hospital and taken into their critical care internship program. When I would shadow the ER and ICU's some nurses would say that i didn't belong there until I did MEDSURG for a couple years. Others were very supportive. But I know me better than anyone else and I don't quit! I feel this will be like the first day of Nursing School. I survived that! I now have to decide ER or ICU? They are letting me decide after I do the 16 week internship. They seem to have alot of confidence in me so why shouldn't I? I think you will be fine! I keep telling myself I have alot of new updated skill that I am bringing and I pray for help in all that I am lacking in experience!

Good Luck!

kmoonshine, RN · Jul 4, 2008

Buy the book "An Introduction to Clinical Emergency Medicine: Guide for Practitioners in the Emergency Department" by Mahadevan & Garmel. http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Clinical-Emergency-Medicine-Practitioners/dp/0521542596/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215149459&sr=1-3

It is an excellent book, and worked well fo me when I first started in the ED.

luckylucyrn · Jul 4, 2008

I started in the ED as a new nurse 2 1/2 years ago. My experience with orientation was very good. I had worked there for 1 1/2 years prior to graduation, so I had an idea of how things worked and had some good skills. I started with 3 other new grads as well. Our ED hires a lot of new grads (usually people who have been interns there before), so there's usually a positive response from the other nurses. 2 1/2 years later I feel confident in my skills and can handle pretty much any assignment I get. I think if you keep a good attitude and listen to your preceptors, you will do well.

mpccrn, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2008

med-surg experience would have been helpful but having said that, there is something special about a new gung-ho grad. you can MOLD her to your standards and she can become an intricate part of the team. your success lies with your level of "want" and with your set up for success laid out by your preceptor. good luck! :1luvu:

MassED, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2008

I am a new green as green can be R.N. with no prior health care experience. I'm bright eyed and bushy tailed. So, I just got hired at a hospital around where I live and started the job on Monday. I totally didn't think I could get hired as an emergency nurse, but I DID! I am on a lengthy orientation and feeling excited, nervous, scared, happy (you know, the jump for joy kind), curious, knowledge hungry and on top of it all...I feel like I know nothing. Nursing school gives you the basics, but the stuff you need to know about any nursing, let alone emergency nursing, is incredibly enormous! It's both humbling and invigorating...all at the same time. I am looking forward to being part of the team.
So far, I like the people, the environment, the culture and all that.
What I am hoping to spark here is a discussion on other's experience as a new nurse starting out in the emergency department. What happened? Anything good? Anything you want to tell me about what I should do, not do, keep in mind, etc?
What about you seasoned nurses? Do you think nurses should have med-surg experience prior to being hired as an emergency nurse? Or do you think it's good to be hired green? Why?
I think I asked enough questions to get the ball rolling.

Great for you! Sounds like you have a great environment to learn within and peers that will support you, good luck and have fun! I didn't start out as a new grad in an ER, but I give you huge applause :yeah: for having the courage to do it. It's quite a moment when you hit the ER in orientation and realize it's a whole new world and there's so MUCH to learn. Every day is a learning experience. Again, good luck! :yeah:

MassED, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2008

Buy the book "An Introduction to Clinical Emergency Medicine: Guide for Practitioners in the Emergency Department" by Mahadevan & Garmel. http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Clinical-Emergency-Medicine-Practitioners/dp/0521542596/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215149459&sr=1-3
It is an excellent book, and worked well fo me when I first started in the ED.

also, a great reference if you stay in the ER is: the Emergency and Critical Care pocket guide (this link is for the Portuguese version) but it provides you with the ISBN if you want to search for it elsewhere. This guide is WONDERFUL:

http://www.amazon.com/Emergency-Critical-Care-Pocket-Guide/dp/189049528X/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215198760&sr=8-1

Luvagarden · Jul 6, 2008

Dont Need Medsurg. It Is The Er. You Will Learn Icu, Med-surg, Ortho, Ob, Gyn, Neuro, Pediatrics, And Psych In The Er.

littleRNthatcould · Jul 6, 2008

Welcome to the wonderful and crazy world of Emergency Nursing. You sound like just the type of new grad that I would welcome with open arms to my department. That being said, some people DO benefit from several years of Med-surg experience and some of the best nurses I know have started just like you, new grads in the ER with an eagerness to learn.

I'd say within the first few weeks to month you'll know if you've made the right choice. ER nursing can be overwhelming, exciting, nauseating and thrilling. Hang in there, seek out mentors, watch every thing, forgive yourself if you make mistakes (new nurses are often harder on themselves than anyone else).

I had almost 10 years of ICU experience before transferring to ER. Even then my daily mantra was, "The only thing I know for certain is that I do not know":bugeyes: Even for an "experienced" nurse, everyday there is something to learn.

I'm sure from everything you've written here you will flourish in your new role. I wish you the best of luck and enjoy the ride!! :yeah:

Firefighter26 · Jul 7, 2008

First of all congrats and best of luck.

I started as a new nurse in the ER exactly 11 months ago today. It's a Wild Ride and some nights (or mornings) you'll go home wishing you never left your old job and other times you'll go home feeling that the next nursing textbook should have your picture on the front cover.

All I can offer is the following advice: Keep your eyes open, stay on target, accept that this profession is about progress rather than perfection. Take the good with the bad and understand that you're never as bad as your worst shift and you're never as good as your best shift. Most important...NEVER NEVER EVER EVER BE RELUCTANT TO ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU'RE IN A JAM. It's not a sign of weakness and if you have a good team around you they'll be happy to be able to teach you a trick or two.

RN_in_SC · Jul 8, 2008

Hi Mike:

I start work on July 21st. I am doing a residency, but my permanent place will be in the ED. We should "compare notes" once we start in the ED.

nursewcompassion · Jul 23, 2008

I too am a fresh RN in an ER. I really enjoy the ER but lately I have felt overwhelmed and disappointed. Half of our day shift has quit and our hospital is for sale. To top it off, my preceptor also quit, her last day will be this week. So i'm in lingo because there isn't enough experienced staff according to our director, that is stable enough to pair me up with. Apparently administration has this NO divert policy. On one day, there were 8 patients to 1 nurse, this is one of the reasons why some of our staff is leaving, they feel it is unsafe to practice under these conditions, and now all that is left is RN's with 1 to 3 years experience. I feel very scared, and I dread going to work, sometimes there are only 3 nurses on shift when there should 5 to 6. I love patient care but I need some encouragement or something, I hate feeling dread. I will appreciate any advice.