precepting in the ER!

9livesRN, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2009

I Did not precepted at the ER, but got to go there for clinicals, and it was AWESOME, all this different patients, and different things going on.. i loved the team work at this hospital I was at.

We got a little bit of everything every day, Chest pain, hemorrhage, abcess, accidents, people that fell, weird rashes, you name it!!!

I would LOVE to have the chance you are having, I might still be able to convince my Director of allowing for that.!

I really hope you enjoy it!

intuition · Dec 2, 2009

I did my preceptorship in the E.R. I loved it! If you have never stepped foot into an E.R. it can be very overwhelming at first. If you like adrenaline and not knowing what is going to happen next, you will love it.

As for advice-

Take in everything the doctors and nurses are talking about. Even if you are just standing there, you have the ability to learn so much from just listening.

-Show an interest in what is going on. If you stand there like a bump on the log, the staff will pretty much write you off as just another student who will be there for a short time. Ask questions and don't make the nurse have to repeat his/herself twice.

-If you have nothing to do, help clean rooms or change the trash. It sounds so simple, but it goes a very long way.

-Enjoy it! Some people find the E.R. sense of humor very morbid or pessimistic, but that is the way the staff has learned to cope with the bad things they have to see on a daily basis.

-There may be things that you will see that are heartbreaking. There is death, abuse cases, suicide attempts, and so forth. If you need to step away for a moment afterwards, it is understandable. Just let someone know you will be back in a minute. Even staff members have to step away once in awhile.

I hope this helps.

ziggles · Dec 3, 2009

I did my precepting in the er at Huntsville Hospital and at first I found it very overwhelming, I guess because it was a totally new experience. However, I had a great preceptor that helped me overcome my timidness which I quickly learned that I had to be more assertive in my approach. I have to admit sometimes I felt like I would burst into tears but after the second week my confidence began to grow. I learned to do EKG, hook up patients to the monitor and my preceptor constantly drilled me on various facts and always explained every procedure and made me explain things back to him. I realized that as long as you have a positive and teachable spirit, you stand to gain a lot. I am working as a tech in the er at Georgetown and absolutely love it! they were so impressed with my willingness to learn and take initiative that they want to hire me as soon as I pass my hesi exam. So remember to always do your best and never stop asking questions!! let me know how everything works out for you.

KendiKay · Dec 3, 2009

I did my precepting in the er at Huntsville Hospital and at first I found it very overwhelming, I guess because it was a totally new experience. However, I had a great preceptor that helped me overcome my timidness which I quickly learned that I had to be more assertive in my approach. I have to admit sometimes I felt like I would burst into tears but after the second week my confidence began to grow. I learned to do EKG, hook up patients to the monitor and my preceptor constantly drilled me on various facts and always explained every procedure and made me explain things back to him. I realized that as long as you have a positive and teachable spirit, you stand to gain a lot. I am working as a tech in the er at Georgetown and absolutely love it! they were so impressed with my willingness to learn and take initiative that they want to hire me as soon as I pass my hesi exam. So remember to always do your best and never stop asking questions!! let me know how everything works out for you.

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your advice!