hella_RN

It's also a sad day when the BSN that I worked so hard for is not valued because the patients that I care for have no confidence in me when they first meet me. But yes, I agree I should not let any comments from patients/staff affect me. Thank you.

Thank you. I will definitely try that. I think I slouch a lot too I've noticed so maybe I can try standing straight, might make me look a little taller :)

I actually don't use social media (fb, Instagram etc.) I rarely even use all nurses. And no I'm not fishing for compliments, just wanted to vent after a very busy and tough shift and the doctor screamed and humiliated me in front of the nurses station.

I went from a prestigious level 1 trauma center to a small ED, I had to relocate to a whole new city. My new job is not a trauma center so I deal with a lot of abdominal pains, headaches, chest pains, everything medical, lots of psych issues as well. I'm starting to miss trauma a whole lot, I feel like here at my new job, I see the same thing over and over again. Anyone else have a similar experience? How'd you deal with it? I'm thinking of looking for a per diem job at a trauma center.

I guess I should be happy but I can't help but feel like looking younger than your age can be a disadvantage sometime. I've been a nurse for quite some time now and most people still ask me when I'm graduating. Patients and family members look at me and think I'm 18, when I'm not. I agree I'm young (late 20s) but I feel like people treat me different and I don't get the respect that I deserve. I also am down to earth and laid back, I like to make jokes and have fun while I'm at work, but I take my job seriously. I feel like because I'm so positive, people don't take me seriously. From patients, nurses, and most of all, doctors. I work in the ED and I find myself wearing my glasses often, which I hate, just to make myself look more mature. Should I change my personality? Just be quiet and focused? I feel like that would make my work day drag. Your input is appreciated. Thanks!

At OP, I will have to look at my hospital's policy for this and hopefully can have an answer for you

I have never given IM Ketamine but I have given it IV. Adverse effects include hypotension and respiratory depression so I personally would ask the provider if he/she would like it to be IV so that we have IV access just in case the patient become hypotensive and has resp distress. Just my 2 cents!

Fast Facts for the ER nurse by Jennifer Buettner. I got it from Amazon and it was fairly inexpensive. The book is designed for new grads. Very easy to read, short and to the point. I found this book very helpful when I started in the ED. I recommend you get this book, it talks a lot about what to "anticipate" with each chief complaint which is very important in ED nursing. Hope this helps!

I thought my life was complete when I started a new job at a new ED which I thought was my dream hospital to work. Everyone is so nice but there is no teamwork! At my previous job, we had amazing teamwork. Every time we get new patients, we always help each other out whether it be doing an EKG, putting the patient on the monitor, checking a blood sugar, starting an IV, sending labs, giving meds etc. It was the definition of team work. I feel like at this new job, the culture is totally different. Everyone minds their own business and they have the "that's not my patient mentality." Where I worked before, we would always say, "that's not my patient but what can I help you with?" What attracted me to the ED was the teamwork. I love helping my fellow coworkers and I do offer help when I have the time but nobody is returning the favor! I feel like I'm drowning most of the time, and nobody cares that I am running around while they are all talking about how their personal lives are doing. They are great nurses but I I just feel like I do not belong here. I feel burnt out already and I don't know what to do. Just ranting I guess.

I consider myself a compassionate nurse, I really do enjoy taking care or patients. I'm just having a hard time managing my time with the routine things on top on dealing with things that need to be done stat. And the charting system we have is a pain. I just hope that we are only boarding patients because of the season, I sure hope it's not the norm at this new place, but I feel like it is.

I started in the ED as a new grad and I absolutely loved it. Everyone I worked with was so nice and helpful and they trained me the "ER way." I was the same as you, I was actually anxious of starting in the ED right away because I wanted to do Med-Surg first to get some experience. Starting in the ED was a great move for me! I personally think it's easier to start in the ED than to start Med-Surg then switch. Also people won't expect you to know everything, I still ask a whole lot of questions to this day! Good luck with whatever decision you make!

How do you feel about it? I just started at a new ED. I feel like I am not practicing ED nursing anymore since the patient is admitted. I feel like a Med Surg/Tele/ICU nurse. It can be a bit overwhelming since I am not used to drawing "routine labs" and giving "routine meds." It also can be very busy because I still continue to get "real ED" patients on top of my admitted patients. I'm having a difficult time adjusting to this pace. I'm so used to stabilizing the patient and either discharging them or admitting them STAT. The reason why I love ED nursing is because I don't have to do anything routine, now I feel like I am not in my comfort zone because this is not what I am used to. Please help

Widespread bloodstream infection, sepsis, is an emergency. I have seen patients crash because they've become so hypotensive. They usually get a central line placed so that we can infuse dopamine or levophed to help their BP.

Thank you for the replies! I worked today and I must say it was a much better day. I saw teamwork although it could be better. But I figured maybe I can be the "catalyst" to improve the teamwork :)

Hello AN! I have recently accepted a position at a very busy Level I Trauma Center. I was so happy to have landed this job. I have a couple of years experience in ER nursing, this is where I started as a new grad, but it was not a trauma center but we still saw a lot of traumas and very sick patients. I left because I wanted to be closer to family. I received a tour of the ER where I will be working and I guess I'm just anxious and nervous because I keep asking myself, "what if I'm not ready for a Level I trauma center." A part of me also misses my old work place and my coworkers there because we had amazing team work and now I can't help but "compare" everything that I see at my new work place to my old work place. I guess I'm just venting and wanting to see if anyone can give me some word of advice so that I'm not so anxious and overwhelmed because I feel like this new ER that I'll be working at is so busy since everything seems to be so different. Thanks in advance!