ONLY 6 week orientation for New Grad?

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Hi.

I will be starting to work in the ER next month! I graduated in May with a BSN and have worked as a nurse tech for two years. The NM said that we new grads get only six weeks of orientation! Is this enough? I am really motivated to learn, but am wondering what others got for their orientation. We are a BUSY county facility in Los Angeles. We get about 150+ patients a day and have a trauma center. Any advice would be great! :) I really want to know what I should focus on. I am going to take ACLS next month and also crisis prevention. Any other suggestions of classes or books that will prepare me for ER. Thanks..:)

Specializes in Tele,CCU,ER.

What should I do? :(

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Specializes in Tele,CCU,ER.

dolce,

I know! I agree with you! I really don't know what to do! They have 6 new grads and the rest, about 15, are experienced (during day shift). This is a county facility so they are like that...It really sucks. Its stupid because they want us to be ENA members but yet they don't follow their standards. I am in a big dilemma! :(

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Specializes in Emergency.

if you do choose ed, please get this book (you can order it of amazon.com, as well as other online book stores):

"an introduction to clinical emergency medicine: guide for practitioners in the emergency department" by swaminatha v. mahadevan and gus m. garmel.

i highly recommend this book. i studied out of it as a new grad in the ed and it is great! it will help you out, i promise.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Also, here's another option:

Pick out the best hospital ED in the area and apply for a nursing job on another unit (one that you can tolerate and one that will fit in with your schedule). Take as many classes as you can during this time that pertain to ED nursing (ACLS, PALS, NRP; make sure to join the ENA too). Wait until an ED job opening comes up and then apply for an interdepartmental transfer.

It might not be ideal and you might have to wait several months (or maybe a year or longer). But, when that opening does come up you can apply for it and state "I've always wanted to do ED nursing, I've prepared by having ACLS, PALS (etc), and I even joined the ENA." It would look good and it would give you a good chance.

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