baylor06

I'm in Pittsburgh, my facility is hiring but it's definitely not warm lol.

Haha, didn't even realize there were abbreviations in the OP until I read the last post, guess I've been a nurse too long! ;-)

This an an awesome story. Glad you shared!

I started out just as you did, and after some med surg mixed in with some telemetry, I am now the happiest ED nurse ever! Good luck and congrats!

Nobody expects a new grad to walk onto the unit dully trained and functional- relax! I agree with the above post about finding oppurtunities to learn new skills. Many nurses would love to help and teach you- just ask! You will learn so much... Just enjoy it, and welcome to the field. :-)

Congrats!!! Best advice is just to ask a lot of questions! Most of your patients will probably be healthy individuals, but always be prepared for the unexpected! There are usually tale tell signs that something is changing- gradually increasing blood pressure, change in fetal heart strips, etc. Just pay attention to the little things and you will rarely be entirely caught off guard. Good luck and I wish you all the success in the world!

4 years, all types of units (agency), currently ft ER nurse. Plan on working as an RN until I retire in some form or another.

This is a great essay! I'm just a staff nurse, but I love how the essay is personal and it shows your desire for further education, which also exemplifies the fact that you are an ambitious person(which is a great quality to have in nursing!!) Good luck!! Keep us updated.

My hospital has a "shadow" program available to employees looking to change fields as well as the general public where you can spend a few hours with a nurse, etc. Contact HR at some of your local hospitals to see if they have a similar program. Good luck!

Exactly lol...

I've found that just simple communicating with patients can help with this quite a bit! Sometimes just a simple reason, ie I don't know what time your x-Ray will be done because the ED is really packed today with emergent cases, etc. Just let them know that you remember they are there and everyone is working very hard to help them. I think that a lot of dissatisfaction comes from being left out of the loop- just communicate! At the same time, no excuses! An acknowledgement from staff is often enough to help calm patient's anxiety and impatience.

A trick that I use is when I introduce myself or am introduced to someone, I immediately repeat their name back, for example: nice to meet you, (insert their name here). It works most of the time.

CRNA programs require a minimum of one year, sometimes two, of critical care experience. ICU, sometimes ER, will open that door for you. Good luck!

It never gets any easier... You just have to remember that for every patient that dies that are hundreds you help. Every nurse that's been at the bedside for any amount of time has been there. Maybe someone you can talk to that you trust and respect, maybe a charge nurse that has been around the block a time or two? My thoughts are with you...

Don't forget to attach a resume as well! Good luck!