chylerlove

I love "hemodynamic monitoring made incredibly visual". i moved to the ICU after 5 years of nursing (ER and med/surg) and it continues to be a great reference. Good Luck!

I felt alot like you when I was in school: I loved to learn and was already looking for the next degree! I graduated with my BSN and got the only job I could at the time (med/surg) and wouldn't trade the experience for anything! I think the best way to figure out which one of the paths you are considering is best is to get out there and get some experience! maybe be a patient care tech while in school, then work PRN or part time while getting pre-reqs for a master's degree? I am SO glad I did not go straight into a graduate program because once I started working and saw the positions I was initially interested in I was like "NOPE!" lol The experience will also likely put you into contact with professionals in the fields you are interested in, and you can pick their brains and hear it straight from the horse's mouth! :) good luck!

PLEASE think really hard about this... nurses leave jobs all the time, heck, PEOPLE in general leave jobs. Employers expect this. I am only writing because I have let a lot of amazing positions pass me up and missed opportunities to grow all for the sake of being "loyal". I can assure you that the employer has had this happen before and you won't be the last. Please reflect about what you really want and make a choice that serves you! Best of luck :)

Someone just posted an article about this on AN :) https://allnurses.com/critical-care-nursing/adult-critical-care-1039850.html

Good point, you are right. I assumed from the comment that the OP was asking about them in relation to each so thank you for the clarification :)

Hi! the way i think about SIRS vs. Sepsis is that they are a continuum instead of a "vs." situation. Check out this infographic: http://reference.medscape.com/features/slideshow/severe-sepsis?src=wnl_ref_clinfo&uac=25003ET#4 Let me know if that helps or if you have additional questions :)

Not really nursing related but the word "moist" has always grossed me out and I hate it

Ugh "pulmonary toilet" is one of the documentation options on our EHR care plans. Agreed that is sounds gross and could easily be rephrased.

Hi There! I am coming up on 5 years experience and currently have 1 year in the ED. I worked on a fast paced Neuro med/surg floor prior. A few things that you might want to think about What bothers you about non-emergent pts (bear with me here because i hear you :) ) ? i know some of them are rude and demanding but there are others who really are easy, friendly, grateful "treat and street" types. I think for your sanity figuring out what bothers you is important. If you are bothered with the fact that they should have a PCP, one thing i try to remind myself EVERYDAY is that i cannot control that part or our healthcare system... i try to focus on treating them just like I do all my patients. If it bothers you that they ask for things like food, water, coffee, etc. I try to think about how to them it really is a small request (even though on some days it really irritates me) and how i would want to be treated. Also, rest assured that no matter where you work these requests from patients, families etc. will always exist. Seriously unless you are in the OR where the pt is out and family is not allowed you can't escape the customer service part (and that's not to say surgical services doesn't come with it's own long list of nursing frustrations, because that surgeon may be waaaayyy worse than any grouchy patient or dramatic family member!) Anyways, I just wanted to write because you seem a bit dissapointed and that makes me sad. one important thing I have discovered about being a nurse is you have to "check yourself" regularly. Not to be too touchy feely but self evaluation is crucial. I hope the questions above help you, they did when i was struggling with the same issues. best of luck!

I wish i got up early enough to even consider putting on beautifying parabens prior to my shift....

No, they have to go to PACU and stay there until a bed is ready. Patient's from surgery get "first dibs" on beds bc those are not licensed beds and legally cannot be used for inpatient or obs beds. That means the ED gets backed up with admissions bc we have to place surgeries first. however, they never come back to the ED to wait post-op

I bought mine there and it saved me at least $75. If you are worried check the return policy, product review, seller ratings, etc. :)

Thank you very much for this! I recently read another article and there is so much that we could miss during our assessment. Awareness and education is key! I'm seeing more and more publicity on the topic, do you guys know if any state BONs are requiring CEs for human trafficking (the way that Texas requires 2 hours of Forensic CEs for ER nurses)? Just curious! Thank you again for this information!

Even when i took a break from the floor for about a year (educator job) i still had this dream once a week. HOURS go by then i realize i had a patient i did not know about.... Sometimes I'll dream and its so realistic, like, an entire 12 hour shift and wake up exhausted

I've attended the Med-Ed review course and they have CDs as well. A more cost efficient method might be to download the study outline from the BCEN and watch Mark Bozwell's youtube videos that act as an exam review and are broken down by system. Good Luck! :)

I work PRN in the ER and full time in education and I know what you mean! I feel like I get so much more respect and the people I am teaching actually take me serious when they realize I still currently work in the ER. I love both jobs and am struggling with the decision to leave education and go full time ED. However, your health and happiness MUST come first. just like some of the other posters I would like to re-iterate: you will ALWAYS be an ER nurse. you have a wealth of knowledge, experience (and probably some great stories ) that will be beneficial in any teaching or patient care you do in the future. On another note, it sounds like maybe more of the issue is your co-workers and the physical/emotional stress... have you every considered going PRN at another ED? Even the critical care access centers still see some cool stuff and get to utilize their skills. Regardless, i wish you luck! Only you can decide what to do and it sounds like you already know... you just need to trust your judgement :)

Oh my gosh tell me about it! I don't mind stepping over people in a room as long as they are sensible and recognize "oh, this person is trying to care for my loved one so let me get out of the way for a moment" or at least aren't rude when i politely let them know i need to be standing where they are sleeping. What REALLY gets me are the folks who do not care that a.) they are not the only person there and b.) everyone else is sick, doesn't feel good, grieving, etc. and thus are disruptive to other patients and families there was a time when our sitting area was literally full every night with 10 sleeping children of all ages (not children of a patient, but nieces and nephews i believe) and all the adults piled up in the room. no one else could use the waiting room. Sorry for the vent, but we worry about making one person happy and then their family members are so disruptive that other patients end up dissatisfied... how is that customer service? lol

I really liked TNCC and found it very helpful & interesting. I have heard ENPC is also great and plan on attending the next available class. As for CEN, i am taking that one next month. There is no requirement on years of experience the way that other exams are. However, I say if you have the opportunity to attend an exam review class (i.e. like the CEN) go for it. They are usually great refreshers for when it has been a minute since nursing school and you know have some experience to apply to the content :) good luck in whatever you decide! never stop growing and learning!

I just got back from the American Heart Association Guidelines update in Florida. One of the new updates for PALS & ACLS is that they no longer support the routine use of atropine for intubation. It may just depend on the physician, facility, pt condition, etc. though but good for you for looking into something that wasn't practice you were familiar with! I'm trying to get better about doing that! Anyways, check on the AHA website as I think the new guidelines are posted and you may find a better answer to your question. Good luck and let us know what you find out! :)

First I want to say congrats on getting into school and pursuing a career in nursing! I have 5 years of nursing experience: first 3 were on a neuro med/surg unit, the last 2 have been in Education and I've worked PRN in the ED (every Saturday so approx 50-60 hours a month). I LOVE the ED and wanted to go there straight out of school, however, I would not give up my med/surg experience for anything! The time management, skills and communication I learned there have proven crucial elements in my success as an ED nurse (or my strive for success i guess i should say! ) and as an educator. Anyways, just food for thought! I know lots of people who went straight to ED and wouldn't have it any other way. Good Luck!

thank you [COLOR=#003366]alexklipfel[/COLOR] ! I like the order of that. appreciate the advice!

Hi Friends, I am updating my resume and am puzzled. I work 3 jobs: lead clinical nurse educator (full time) & PRN house supervisor at one hospital, then PRN in the ED at another one. How should i format them? what skills should i highlight (isn't experience with some skills assumed for certain positions on a resume? ie. since i listed that i work ED one can assume that i know how to do a 12 lead so do i still list it?) Any help is greatly appreciated, thank you so much!!!

Littmann Cardiology iii... black on black and SIC looking! lol but hear me out as to why i really wanted it: so ive always been a fan of the goodies but cheapies like MDF. However, as a med/surg/neuro nurse transitioning to the ED there was one thing I had not considered: pedi! The cardio iii has an adult and pedi diaphragm instead of a classic diaphragm and bell like an adult stethoscope. It was relatively affordable, but you will want to get it somewhere like amazon. Now is the perfect time to start looking because sites will start offering discount codes, free shipping, etc. for the holidays. I have no suggestions for it now walking off besides those mentioned above. one thing that has kept me from setting mine down is a hip clip, because i am less likely to take it off and put it at the station, a bedside table, etc. when it is attached to my hip. Hope that helps!

That's not silly! I get at least one KS person per shift and they are always in excruciating pain, it usually takes multiple doses of IV morphine or dilaudid for them to relax. It never hurts to come get checked out, pain is the body's way of letting you know something isn't right. Not to mention the N/V that usually accompanies KS is usually unbearable from what I've seen. Anyways, just wanted you to know that it is a very common thing and nothing to be embarrassed about. Glad you got taken care of ?