Newbie ER nurse up to her eyeballs

[HippieChick_RN]

Hi everyone!

I graduated last May, and took a position at a pediatric ER as my first job. I went to nursing school to become an ER nurse (I was an EMT first), and I wanted to start at a Level I trauma center. Unfortunately, the adult ED wasn't hiring, so they put me in peds, which was completely new to me. My orientation was long (6 months and required me to spend at least three months on the ICUs, adult and pediatric).

Anyway, I love my job, hate my place of employment. The nurses are very old school, and its sink or swim. I've been chewed up and spit out numerous times. As a new grad I've had four patients, all high acuity, (i.e. one trauma patient rolling out of the trauma room, an RSV baby desating to 80%, etc) with minimal help if any. I'm constantly in fear of missing something or losing my license. One of the other new grads took report from a "seasoned" RN, who told her a patient was stable. She walked in literally five minutes later to a completely unstable patient...the kid got intubated and sent to the PICU. She was so overwhelmed (and had minimal help) that the heat is falling back on her. It makes me sick to my stomach.:barf01:

Plus, the nurses are all gossip queens and I know I get talked about. I tried to talk to my manager about one nurse in particular who was giving me a hard time, and she was like "I'll talk to her, but I won't mention your name." I walked into work the next night and the nurse was like "Why are you going to the manager about me?" :smiley_ab

It's so not pleasant, to say the least. I've bonded with the new grads who are also struggling. And not all the nurses are horrible, there have been a few sweet, knowledgable, supportive ones, but they are outnumbered.

My question is: I started in June, got off orientation mid December. I want out, and I want out now. I have ACLS, PALS, basic trauma knowledge from being an EMT. I really want to start working with adults. Would it look bad if I started applying elsewhere now, or should I suck it up until June (my one year)? If I did apply to another hospital now, would they treat me like a new grad and ignore my 8 months of experience in the ED? Will an adult ED want a nurse who has only had experience with pediatrics? (Though we do get good traumas, since we are in the inner city)

I normally have a very thick skin, and I know I was born to be an ER nurse, but I'm seriously having anxiety over possibly losing my license over something stupid, and not having the piece of mind that I'm going to be supported when the crap hits the fan really doesn't help. (I should also mention that every new grad that ED has ever hired has left one year after their start date...saying much?)

Advice and suggestions welcome!!! Thank You!!!

[peds4now, RN]

Hippiechick, I hope you get some responses from some experienced RNs on how to handle this situation.

I'm still a student, but I've met 2 newish RNs who have changed jobs within their first year-by choice. One moved across country, and the other just didn't like her working environment. Both were hired at good hospitals, but not as new grads. So, they just got the new hire orienting.

Do you feel ready to work in an adult ED sans further orienting? I guess you could choose whether you apply to other hospitals as a new grad applicant or not.

Personally, I think you should stay the year. You've got 4 months to go, which isn't much in the larger scheme of things. But that would mean working some things out at work-which may be hard to do.

[TazziRN, RN]

Run, do not walk, to another ER and apply. Your license is in jeopardy where you are at now. You would have to go through another orientation since you're used to peds, but your peds experience will be invaluable.

[JoshuaAdamsRN]

I agree with Tazzi. If the area where you're at has level I trauma, there have to be multiple other ERs in the area. Find one that's hiring and check things out there.

On a side note, I thought coming out of nursing school that I would abandon my colleagues in the hospital where I worked and went to school, and go to the level I peds facility. I chickened out, and stayed in our more general ER. Stories like yours make me glad I did...

[HippieChick_RN]

Thank you so much for your input so far! It means a lot to me.

And even if I had, say, 2 years in the pedi ED, I would still need orientation to adult emergency (we don't deal with MI's on a regular basis, among other things), so I don't think that would be an issue. I just feel so unsafe!

Thanks again guys! :lol2:

[Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN]

Tazzi has it RIGHT.

GO NOW.

There are way too many options out there - to STAY in the situation that you describe. Give your notice, thank them for the incredible opportunity and then leave. I think having another job lined up is optional - if you can afford it, take a break.

There are "things" that I will risk "things" for - THE SITUATION that you are in is not one of them. I will not risk my license/life/my patients to stay in a toxic workplace!

Good LUCK.

[BULLYDAWGRN, RN]

give your 2 wks notice or change depts.....

[blueheaven]

Type fast and get that resume out there!!!

[NicoleRN07, RN]

I agree. Get out now!! You worked too hard for your license, and you should protect them.

[Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN]

Ditto the previous advice. Bail now!

Good luck!

[S.T.A.C.E.Y, LPN]

So long as you let them treat you like crap, they're going to treat you like crap. I'm with all of the above: Get out. Take a break, get your stuff together, figure out what you want, and apply elsewhere! It's not exactly like nursing jobs are hard to come by.

If you do leave, after you've secured a job, I'd consider informing management/HR about the reasons why you left. Maybe if they hear enough about the dangerous situations they were throwing their new grads into they'll actually do something about it! But, if you do tell them, let them know about the great nurses too--by name.

Best of luck to you!

[RN BSN 2009]

wish you best luck in whatever you choose!