New Nurse at a Level I Trauma Center

[hella_RN]

Hello AN!

I have recently accepted a position at a very busy Level I Trauma Center. I was so happy to have landed this job. I have a couple of years experience in ER nursing, this is where I started as a new grad, but it was not a trauma center but we still saw a lot of traumas and very sick patients. I left because I wanted to be closer to family. I received a tour of the ER where I will be working and I guess I'm just anxious and nervous because I keep asking myself, "what if I'm not ready for a Level I trauma center." A part of me also misses my old work place and my coworkers there because we had amazing team work and now I can't help but "compare" everything that I see at my new work place to my old work place. I guess I'm just venting and wanting to see if anyone can give me some word of advice so that I'm not so anxious and overwhelmed because I feel like this new ER that I'll be working at is so busy since everything seems to be so different.

Thanks in advance!

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I went from a 15-bed ED to a very busy Level 2 (that was moving toward become a Level 1), and I felt the same way -- omg, what if I'm not ready? But I realized at those higher level trauma centers, there are more hands and more resources. My patient assignment at the Level 2 was actually less than at my other small ED. I loved it. I know it's difficult to not compare, but give it a shot. :)

I went from a level-none to a level-one... it was quite a leap and it took me awhile to get the hang of it but it all worked out.

Have confidence in yourself.

FWIW, the team where I work is superb so give your new peeps a chance; you may find them every bit as awesome as your last ones.

What Lunah says correlates with my experience. At the level-none, we still got some real sick, real hurt people on occasion... but we hadn't the resources to deal with them effectively and I was on my own as the only nurse. Now that I'm in the show (to use a sports metaphor), we see the worst of the worst but we escalate as needed... a surgeon on either side of the chest with a third standing at the feet directing... and ED resident managing the airway with an ED attending at the bedside and another ED resident circulating... three nurses, an RT, and a pharmacist... with reinforcements as needed...

In some ways, trauma 1 is a whole lot easier than trauma none ever was... more fun, too :-)

[hella_RN]

Thank you for the replies! I worked today and I must say it was a much better day. I saw teamwork although it could be better. But I figured maybe I can be the "catalyst" to improve the teamwork :)