ED_RN52

Hello All! I hope everyone is doing well. Im currently just finished my 3rd week of orientation to my ED. I will be working nights, however during my 12 week orientation I'm doing 6 weeks days, 6 weeks nights. So far I absolutely LOVE IT. This is my happy place. Each and every day I learn so much, that sometimes it can be a little overwhelming but I'm at that point where I'm truly just trying to be a sponge and soaking it all in. Our ED is very very busy with high acuity level of patients. I'm still trying to get the ropes of things and learning the protocols and order sets for conditions. My question to all of you is tips for time management skills within the ED. I'm learning as much as I can and understanding the ABC's of things with prioritization, acute vs chronic etc. Its just when Im in the room I feel like I'm going too slow? I'm not sure if its because I did all my clinicals at a completely different hospital system than the Cleveland Clinic, and I'm not 100% used to navigating epic charting system yet? Or if I'm just being too hard on myself. I have the determination and drive, I know it takes a while to get there... I just want to succeed. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you!!! :)

Thank you so much for your reply! My family member was saying telling me that they were saying the program was about $34k for the second degree accelerated 15 month program. If you don't mind me asking what program did you attend? Would you recommend it? She's looking for an accelerated program!

Hello All! Browsing through all the posts on this forum, I noticed there wasn't a lot of chatter about Ursuline College's Nursing program. I was just curious what's the general consensus about their program/reputation? I'm looking to provide advice/information/direction for a family member interested in applying to their program! Thank you!!

Thank you so much for your kind advice! Today wasn't as overwhelming as I thought! I learned a lot!! I can't wait to keep going back, because I truly love the department already. You mentioned that you had orientees, as a preceptor what are some things you have noticed your orients have struggled with? Do you have any suggestions on additional outside textbooks/resources? Any tips/ helpful advice I welcome!! I'm not afraid to ask questions, when you don't ask questions even if you're not sure... that's when you put he patient most at risk. That's when your mindset shifts from the patient being the center of your focus, to yourself being your focus and having too big of an ego to admit you don't know.

Hi everyone! So I landed my dream job as a trauma/ED nurse at one of Cleveland Clinic's Level 2 trauma centers. I start this Monday Oct 23. I can't help but say I'm super excited, however I I'm not going to lie I am nervous. During my second degree accelerated BSN program, I had the opportunity for each clinical rotation to follow a nurse one on one preceptor style working the 12 hour shifts, nights, days, holidays for each clinical. I completed 270 hours on a step down unit, 90 hours on a SICU and did my senior practicum 180 hours in a neighboring ED (non trauma, still high volume). Although I have "experience" in the ED as a student, I can't help but say I'm afraid I will be overwhelmed with the high acuity trauma. I tend to learn baptism by fire, I think quick on my feet and thrive/excel I high stress environments/ chaotic situations. I tend to stay calm under pressure. My question to everyone is... for your first day of work in the ED is it natural to have the nervous butterflies? How did you cope with being an orient? How do you prevent feeling overwhelmed? Thanks!!! I appreciate everyone's help! Kaity

Hello Everyone! First off, I want to just say I throughly love the OR Nursing specialities board! It's given great insight for new grad nurses. A little background on myself, ever since I can remember my dream was to become an OR nurse. I think this is in large part due to the fact a young age my twin sister was in and out of multiple surgeries and I wanted to make a difference in patient's lives how those nurses did for my twin sister. I was originally a nursing student in my first bachelors degree in my schools first BSN graduating class. I felt at the end of my second medical surgical rotation I was not seeing what I wanted to see in order to handle the big hospitals up in Cleveland. Therefore I changed my degree to graduate and worked as a medical device sales rep in the Operating room for 2 years to gain clinical experience and save up for money to go back into an accelerated second degree nursing program. I graduate Aug 31 with my BSN degree. As nurses, we are to always put patients first and to advocate for them. I truly believe a patient is at their most vulnerable point in the OR. To put it frankly, they're strapped down to a bed, naked, anxious, and fearful of the outcome of the procedure. This is where I feel I can do the most advocating for my patients. To be their voice when they cannot, to maintain a safe environment while they're under, and to champion for my patient's autonomy when situations are in question. I have two interviews coming up with two major hospitals up in Cleveland for their Preoperative Nurse residency Programs. I would like to in the future receive my CNOR, become a CRNFA, and possibly thinking about CNS-CP. My questions to all the OR nurses out there reading this is: if you could provide a new OR RN hopeful with advice on something you didn't know before starting your job as an OR nurse, that you know now? Would keeping a journal for doctor preferences be helpful? If you used any additional study tools other than AORN's Periop 101 to help prepare you during the lengthy orientation process? Ways to become the best OR RN you can be? Lastly, your OR specialty I apologize for the length of this post! I couldn't help myself!

Hello Everyone, I just recently completed my accelerated BSN practicum at a high-volume ED. Needless to say I fell in love with this nursing specialty and can only see myself as an ED Nurse! I've done clinical rotations on a Step Down Unit (270hr) & ICU (90) hours. Within the next 5 years my goals are to obtain: ACLS, PALS TNCC, ENPC, CEN Question #1: For all the veteran ED nurses out there, what advice can you give to a New Grad who's interested in pursuing a career in an ED? Question #2: Additional certifications or courses that would be beneficial for this career? Question #3: Tips to help increase awareness/recognition of when a patient is about to bottom out/decline in status?