c.kelly20

I came to the ER from med/surg. I had only been an RN for 6 months prior as well. I have ICU experience as a tech, but my boss really took a chance on me, I think. I've been in the ER now for almost a year -- the learning curve is a big one, but if you're willing to give yourself the chance, you should. Good luck!

I worked medsurg for 6 months before going to the ER. I've now been an ER nurse for 7 months. Working on a floor helped me start my career and get some basic things down, but I knew the ER was what I ultimately wanted.... So, as terrifying and intimidating as it was, I took the plunge. The GOOD thing is that floor experience makes you ten times more sympathetic to the floor nurses when you're sending the patient upstairs. If ER is what you want, do it! You never know when the chance may come again. Good luck :-)

I think I can help! Or at least offer you some comfort. I left a medsurg job after my first 6 months as a nurse there, because WOOF. I hated medsurg. But, I started working in a fairly busy ER as well. Honestly... There's no real way to prepare yourself of what to expect because every single patient/day is different. BUT, you will begin to have your own 'flow' of doing things. For example, 99% of the patients that come into my ER with abdominal pain have the same initial workup (IV, labs, fluids, urine sample). So, when I see that patient show up on my board, I immediately do that stuff so that it's already done by the time the MD orders it. Like I said, you'll get into the groove of these things as you go. I've only been there for a little over 4 months now, and am coming up on the end of my first year as a nurse. We have a lot to learn. The ER is a lot of pressure on anyone, especially a new nurse, but we CAN learn a lot there. Take advantage of the opportunities that the ER brings with it. My employer wanted to send me to a basic arrhythmia course a few months into being there -- I insisted that I'd rather attend it sooner than later, because I wasn't extremely comfortable reading rhythms as my previous job didn't require it. They bumped it up for me. They've also re-certified me in ACLS, and are certifying me in PALS. I bought an EKG book that I've taken to work with me and looked over during slow times, along with an emergency nurse pocket book. It sounds dorky, but it gives you something to reference if need be. This is the best way to learn, along with asking the nurses around you. This environment is fast-paced and every decision we make is critical. We pull/mix our own meds before pharmacy verifies it, take verbal orders, and are extremely autonomous. Don't be afraid to question orders. Don't be afraid to ask questions. If I'm discharging a patient with a prescription for something I've never heard of, I look it up... Because how can I educate them if I don't even know it? My best advice: Don't be so critical of yourself. Give yourself plenty of time to adjust and grow and learn. Good luck!!

Thank you all so, so much for your responses. It is so reassuring to know that it isn't just me that's felt this way, and I'm glad it's sparked good, beneficial conversation. I appreciate all the advice! I'm hoping it isn't 5 years either, but I can see where it would be awhile, especially with me in the ER. I've debated getting my BSN to give myself a little more room to grow in my career, and to give myself a few more opportunities I may not have had otherwise with my diploma, but some days it's hard to push through to get to that point. It's hard to make that commitment financially when I'm not sure if nursing is for me or not. A lot of this is probably the stress of being newer nurse, and you all are probably right, but nonetheless, I am afraid.

I meant impressive as in.... fulfulling, or curing. I don't feel that I've made a difference. Thanks for the posts.

I need to know if I'm alone in this. I'm coming to an end on my first year as an RN. I worked the first half of it on a medsurg unit where I was absolutely miserable. I felt that my care wasn't efficient or safe. I left there and went to another facility in their ER. For me, I thought "This is exactly where I want to be." I feel like I bit off more than I could chew coming into the ER as a newer nurse, and I'm nowhere near as happy as I thought I would be. The unit is great and everyone works together for the most part. None of that is the issue. I think it's ME. I feel dumb every day, or like I don't know things. I have doctors look at me like I'm an idiot or annoying them when I ask certain questions. Our shifts suck -- aside from the normal 7A-7P and 7P-7A, we also have 9A-9P, 11A-11P, 3P-3A. You HAVE to work every other weekend, and if you want off a certain weekend, you HAVE to use PTO time (if they even let you be off). I understand that off shifts are a part of the job, but I truly and honestly wish I had evenings or weekends to spend with my husband. The constant flip-flopping from daylight to night to mid-day has messed with my sleep patterns. I continue to feel anxious and stomach sick before work. I have yet to feel that I "love" my job, or even "love" nursing for that matter. I don't feel fulfilled or like I'm doing any kind of impressive work. I'm just not happy. If someone were to ask me why I became a nurse, I'd have no good answer for them. I didn't grow up dreaming to be a nurse. I didn't have a longing desire to help people. I honestly don't know. Please don't think I'm a terrible person. I just feel like I am stuck between a rock and a hard place, because part of me wants to leave nursing all together, but I don't believe I can because that'd require going back to school. Part of me thinks leaving bedside nursing might be OK, but I only have 1 year experience. I don't know what to do. I feel like it's me... and me not loving nursing. Help?!

All wonderful advice. Thank you so much! I've begun to write things down as well and have found that to be extremely helpful, especially when it's busy. Thanks!

Hi everyone. I graduated last June and worked MedSurg for 6 months, and just began working in the ER for about 2 months now. My orientation hasn't been stagnant -- I've been pulled in and out of the ER for different classes (arrhythmia course, ER course), so I feel "new" almost every time I go in. The learning curve is huge, and after next week, I'm off orientation and on my own. I have no idea how I'm progressing, but I was wondering if anyone had any words of advice or tips on how to succeed in my position? Thanks :-)

Hello! I'm not a new grad, but I'm pretty close. I graduated in June 2013 and worked on a medsurg floor for 6 months before beginning my new job in the ED. Aside from the orientation classes, I've only been working there for about a week. My orientation period is about 5 weeks long, which feels pretty quick to me. As I said, I don't have a lot of nursing experience either, so coming from a floor to ED is a huge learning curve for me as well. Thankfully, my preceptor is one of the best in the ED and very knowledgeable. I feel like I know nothing all over again, and everything is completely different than that of a floor. I sympathize with how you're feeling and I am wishing you the best of luck. I think an ED is truly where one will learn to be a nurse, because we have to be very good at a lot of different tasks. If your employer offers classes for ACLS, PALS, basic arrhythmia, etc., I recommend taking them (if you're not already required). All of those are important in the ED and will educate you that much more. I am terrible at putting in IV's as this was something that wasn't pushed in nursing school or on the medsurg unit I worked on, so I'm nervous every time the opportunity arises... But you have to be willing to push yourself out of your comfort zone and just try it anyway. Always ask questions, even if you think it might be stupid-- it's the only way you'll learn. If you don't feel ready to be off orientation when it comes, tell your boss you'd like an extra week. GOOD LUCK!!!

$22.70/hour in PA, hospital medsurg floor. Transferred after 6 months to an outside hospital in the ED, $23.58/hr.

I just started working in an ED and I am a relatively new nurse. We use Cerner. I'm coming from an outside hospital that used a different system, so Cerner is brand new to me... but it definitely seems very ER and user unfriendly! And I seem to be hearing the same from my fellow nurses.

I graduated in June 2013 and spent 6 months on medsurg. It sucked, but it at least gave me a little bit of experience and I just started a new job in the ER. I also looked into getting certs to help myself and to make myself more knowledgeable, but after seeing the amount of information I have to know just after orientation, I'm intimidated and planning to wait a few months. The ED setting is completely different than that of a normal floor, and the learning curve when you are a brand new nurse is rather steep. I'd attempt to get some experience first (anywhere) before attempting to get certified. Just my opinion though :-) Good luck!

Hello burghblonde! I just graduated from West Penn Hospital School of Nursing in June. It is a diploma program, obviously within the Allegheny Health Network. It is a 22 month program broken up into 8 ten week terms (with brief Christmas and "summer" breaks). It is a very challenging program, with the lowest passing grade being 78%. You start having clinical experience from the very beginning, which for me, was very helpful. The class sizes are small and the teachers know you by name. I'm very thankful for the solid education they gave me, though I worked very hard to get it. I was doing things in clinical during my first few weeks that other schools hadn't learned yet. The program is accelerated but respectable and our NCLEX pass rate is above the rest. I plan to go back for my BSN but West Penn was a great starting point for me. I hope this helps!

I'm in almost an identical situation! I graduated in June and began on a medsurg floor in August. I just left there this week, and am beginning orientation next week in an ER much closer to my home. Working in an ER has always been extremely exciting and interesting to me, so I'm really looking forward to it... But, at the same time, I'm intimidated now and really nervous that I won't be smart enough! I wish you luck and hope it goes well!

Thanks everyone!!! I'm really nervous but excited