Possible Med/Surg RN to ER?

[Peerless]

Hello everyone.

First and foremost I want to say how wonderful of a community this place is. Lot's of great advice, information, and solid vents. I come here every day to read (rarely comment) much of your experienced postings.

I've been an RN for over a year, and hav worked on a Med/Surg (primarily Surgical) unit for over a year. I relocated to a smaller hospital after ADN school, and have really enjoyed it.

I have great co-workers, solid 7a-7p hours, and am respected and well liked by patients and co-workers.

Here's my problem: I hate the city where I live. I relocated down here from the city because I didn't want to make the commute (like two of my peers made).

After a solid year of acute care experience, I have applied to two hospitals back in the city and have gotten interviews for both.

One is a cardiology unit, and the other is for an ER position. I just had a telephone interview about 10mins ago for the ER position and thought it went pretty well. I'm always a glass half empty type of guy, so I know there could always be improvement with anything. My face to face interview for the ER position is on the 11/21.

I think the ER would be an awesome place to work, but I am quite nervous about it. I have lots of stress on my unit, but I think the ER would be WAY more stressful and acute. I'm still 23 and feel as if I can find another 'niche', thus is why I applied for the ER position.

On top of that, I would also be coming back home to the city.

I question if I can keep up with the hectic/stressful chaos of an ER.... but I don't know if that's just my 'glass half empty' self talking.

I love my job and co-workers, but I'm tired of where I live. There is nothing to do...

This ER position would be back home, with better pay (higher cost of living too); but will it be worth it? I'm excited but hesitant...

Am I selfish for wanting to leave a good job/co-workers that I am comfortable with after so far one year?

Any input/advice is welcomed.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

See what kind of orientation/support they offer for an elsewhere-experienced nurse transitioning to the ED. You must have done well with the phone interview for them to want to see you in person. :) You might as well go for it and see what happens -- make your decision when there is an offer on the table! And make sure you go to the interview with a bunch of questions ... things like staffing, ratios, education/board certification opportunities, overtime availability, how they do their scheduling (like self-scheduling, etc.), orientation structure, etc. A good sign would be a place with a very structured orientation plan, not just "oh, we'll throw you with a few experienced nurses and see how it goes." Nuh-uh. There should be a dedicated preceptor with feedback/milestones, etc., in my opinion. Good luck!!!

[DC Collins, ASN]

Ask to shadow a shift, before the interview would be best, but even after is better than not at all. You want to watch the level of teamwork between the nurses, and the other staff too for that matter. Teamwork at a high level is critical for success in the ED. If it isn't there, don't do it.

The ED is no more stressful than any other unit, but the stresses are different. Learning to be comfortable, for example, with being the primary nurse for a pt coming in by ambulance with a STEMI or an active hemorrhagic stroke is stressful - and takes time! But . if the teamwork is there, it isn't a problem.

To counter this type of (transition to ED) stress, one of the best parts of the ED is that the doctor is Right There. You never have to worry about dealing with an orifice who doesn't want to be bothered.

The other nice part is that you usually only have to deal with the same pt for a few hours at most. This is balanced by the, "You better treat me like I am a hotel guest," patients.

Like I said, the stresses are just different. If the ED is what you want, *and* it is an ED with good teamwork, give it a go. I know I love it!

DC :)

[daisyRN1, BSN, RN]

Peerless I am in the same boat as you. I've been working on a mostly surgical floor for a year now, I love my coworkers and the unit I am on but there is this part of me that wants to explore what it's like to be an ER nurse. But I am also nervous about the transition into the ER environment. I know it would be such a challenge but I really want to have the knowledge and skills of an ER nurse! They are an inspiration to me.