er_guy2003

I'm with the other ones above. Not sure what you mean by a 3 min assessment. We do focused, sometimes across the room assessments. I also agree with Bill, you'll develop that "extra sense" that may make you look at another system, but that comes with time. I teach my preceptees 1 thing that may help. You will develop this with time: Just by looking and talking to someone for 10 seconds you'll decide 1 of three things. the pt is OK, the pt is not OK, or the gray area, We're Ok now, but we may not be in a few minutes. It's the latter that seperates the outstanding ER nurse, from just a good one.

Well, I'll put my 2 cents in also. I currently work in a 42,000 visit per yr ED with only 17 beds. We have a great staff including doc's, rn's, tech's, unit clerks, etc. We turn over a tremendous amt of pts daily with only 17 beds, which is reflected in our press ganey scores. So, why am I telling you all this. I think first it starts with organization, and great charge nurses, and a great nurse manager, which I have at our facility. It is a very difficult transition from school, to a specility unit, in particular, the ER. As I sure you know, the ER can be very fast paced, crazy at times actually. Learn your protocols first, learn who you can rely on to ask questions too. You'll need to learn to prioritize, and to delegate. I recently re-vamped our entire orientation, and we now sit down once a week with our new employee, the preceptor, and either myself or the mgr. There is a tremendous amt. of feed-back from all parties. (Here's what you're doing good, and heres what we need to work on). And like the other replies, learn the across the room assessment, assess and do you hands on stuff at the same time, ask for help when needed, and chart. I also agree with this: Most orientees never think they are ready to be "cut loose", and would be more than happy to be on orientation forever. But trust me, if you have a good preceptor, they will know when you are ready. And again, give yourself a bare minimum of a year to even begin to feel comfy, but never, ever, ever, too comfy. We all learn everyday. Good luck

Eat!....lol

Was wondering if any of you could help with providing info. on where or how to obtain experience or certification in learning to place PICC's and/or Mid-lines. Found a few companies across the country that I could attend a week-end course for $$$$$$$2,500.00 (holy crap)!!!!!!! My current IV team at the hospital hasn't exactly been helpful. I also found a "home study" company (not exactly sure how you learn PICC's thru self study). Any info providied would be helpful, Thank you.

er julie makes excellent coments. To answer your ? noelle, my gut feeling on orientation extensions is no. Here's why: 99% of those who want an extension, don't need one. Your preceptor (not the wacky *****) will know when to cut you loose. And no matter what happens, in your mind, you won't be ready, but you'll survive. And again, YOU DON'T LEARN A WHOLE LOT ON YOUR ORIENTATION, you learn it by doing it by yourself. You'll be fine

Sounds like the group responding to you is right on track. Seeing I am an ER preceptor let me add a few items. New Non-experienced ER folks can be over-whelmed when they come right off their orientation. Build trust with fellow co-workers, show the docs you know what you are doing or at least willing to learn from mistakes. Don't allow your charge nurse to to give you heavy assignments, or critically ill patients. Know who to ask for help. Also realize it will take you 6-12 months to feel comfortable. During that time you will become emotional, you will question your decision of joining the ER, and any number of other distraught situations may come up. However; just from reading what you wrote, My money is on you doing just fine. One other lil tid-bit, ER nursing is very addictive, if you luv it; you'll retire from it. Good luck.

Wow, I must be the luckiest male nurse in the northeast. To the guy that wrote the book: I think you need to think about changing departments, or maybe you just had a few bad days lately. Way too much negativity. I love working in my ED. We have a total of 53 FTE's, and 17 of us are male, and all of us usually have a blast. We all know each others families and kids, we do things as groups (like bowling, skiing, white-water rafting, etc.) Ya, maybe there are times when "us guys" have to lift, deal with the out of control psych patient, or whatever; but we use these things to make us all closer. Now, I'm certainly not saying we do not have our share of personal problems, we just try to focus on the positives. You need to look at the leadership of your department, because leadership is a direct reflection of the department. Now to the guy thinking about going to nursing school: It can be a great career, it can be a very frustrating career, some even look at it as just a job. You MUST luv working and helping people while at the same time receiving little to no thanks. Money wise, it's OK. WE ARE ALL SEVERLEY UNDERPAID!!!!!!!. It's very physical, I worked for 15 years as a Paramedic, and being a nurse is "way more" physical. I also think the idea of shadowing someone is a great idea, you must be careful tho with the HIPPA laws. I hope this helped