Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
allnurses

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Discussion

Practical Nurses in an emergency... help!

So I'm 2 weeks out from the end of school. Last day is January 11th, and graduation is January 25th. (YES!!!!)

How prepared should I feel for an emergency? I'm a good student and feel like I understand the concepts really well. I've also worked as a medical assistant for 10+ years and have been part of a code twice (only because I was first to respond with the provider both times) however because I was a medical assistant my role was exclusively to take vitals, hook up the EKG etc... all things I felt totally comfortable with.

I'm just curious when people start to feel "comfortable" in an emergency. We haven't had any training in school in regards to specific emergencies. Our last 2 days of clinical we are learning how to insert IVs but even then I wont be officially licensed until i sit for a separate exam. I'm just getting nervous that one day I'll be in an emergency situation and I don't know what to do with myself. I'm terrified that someone will say "oh good! you're a nurse!" and i'll be fairly clueless. I'm in MA and we (LPNs) aren't allowed to push meds- so i wouldn't be the med nurse or anything like that I don't believe. I know all the basics obviously, but nothing really beyond that. I know in a hospital/office situation there would be providers there and protocol to follow. I guess I'm more worried that i'll be out somewhere in public and someone drops and- holy crap. Obviously your ABCs, etc. But I just don't know how to feel more comfortable. Does it just come with time? Should I just go on and take an ACLS class so i feel more comfortable? Is this something I should be more comfortable with by now?

thanks!

  • Quote

    • Featured Replies

    • Admin

    Generally, it takes at least one if not 2-3 years for one to become competent as a nurse (look up Benner's theory). Personally, I'd rather have a new grad who is nervous than a new grad who thinks they're ready for anything. The nervous new grad knows they have a lot to learn. Absolutely nothing wrong with being nervous as a new grad, as long as you can "fake it until you make it" with patients. It's rare you'll be handling an emergency by yourself- there's other staff, EMS, 911 operators who have guides to help walk people through things. Out in the general public, you can't really respond as a nurse- you aren't going to have the resources or the training to act as a first responder. You can only act as a bystander would- call 911, compressions if needed, basic first aid (applying pressure to a bleeding wound, etc).

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Add a Comment
    Go to topic listing

    Currently Reading 0

    • No registered users viewing this page.

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.