Artsy_RN

Yes go for it! I started as a new grad in the ER and did fine. And we're a very busy ER with high acuity critical patients. Most important thing is to ask questions if you don't know/ familiar with something and always prioritize based on unstable/st...

Completely disagree. I was a new grad in a very busy high acuity ED with over 130,000 visits a year and am doing fine after 2 years. Most nurses that often transfer to the ED from the floor often struggle because they are too task oriented and not us...

I always try to arrive to the hospital 30 minutes before my shift so I can sit in my car and simply relax for a few minutes and clear my head. I always seem to have a hectic shift whenever I arrive to the hospital 5 minutes prior, when parking is als...

No, a new nurse shouldn't be required to work in Med/Surg. I went straight into the ED through a residency program and am doing just fine. I would even say that some of the floor nurses often have a difficult time transitioning to the flow and pace o...

No, we usually receive report from BLS or ALS along with transfer documentation.

As a former EMT and current ER Nurse, I respect no other specialty more than LTC nurses. I can't think of a more demanding nursing position than a LTC nurse. Perhaps I am in the minority here, but having transported Pt's from LTC facilities as an EMT...

Having EMT experience is great on your resume, so you already have that under your belt. With that being said, I would consider trying to get a tech job in the ER or on the floor so that you are already working in the hospital when you graduate nursi...

It's just a matter of repetition and time to improve your speed. As long as you are practicing safe, that's all that matters. If one of your pt's is critically ill and needs most of your focus, then your stable pt's can wait. Whenever I get a new pt,...

I'm curious to know what the history/labs/vitals were for the pt upon admission. So nothing was evident to the ER, admitting, or bed management that the pt was going into septic shock prior to being admitted? Was a lactic acid even drawn in the ER? N...

I work in a very busy ER and love it because of the diversity we see and the pace of the environment. Best described as a controlled chaos with various acuity and conditions... Never a dull moment and everything is stat. The only time it isn't enjoya...

Most acute to least acute is always the priority to follow. Ask questions if unfamiliar with a procedure or medication. If you get a female pt under age 50 always ask for urine first before working them up for a upreg (this will save you alot of time...

You're only 22, so if you find that nursing isn't for you, then you can absolutely change careers to something less stressful. I was a graphic designer for 10 years before becoming a RN at age 30. You can do whatever you want in life as long as you h...

Aprox 110,000 a year

When I find myself looking for veins on people haha

I've learned that all the documentation involved with an EMTALA transfer is never quick and easy

First off, congrats on graduating this May! Pursue the area of nursing that you are drawn to, but take any offers that come your way as the nursing job market for new grads is competitive. Put in a year or two and then transfer to the specialty you a...

I simply let my pt's and their family members know that I am doing everything within my power to make them comfortable within my scope of practice with the orders received. I always advocate for my pt with the ED doc if the plan of care is not reliev...

I was a Graphic Designer for 10+ years before switching to healthcare and I don't regret it thus far. I changed careers because I grew uninspired sitting through marketing meetings and working on a computer all day... I needed to be challenged both m...

I'd get ACLS and PALS certified if you want to get into the ED as they are a must and will make you standout from other new grads. If you have to work in another area before the ED you can always renew them every 2 years.

Same in my ED. We sometimes will go 6:1 when the ED is slammed and the waiting room is full, which happened twice this week. Fun times...

Does your hometown have a Volunteer First Aid Squad? If so, that is great for a resume when applying to nursing school. As a volunteer EMT you could gain numerous experiences that can be used as examples regarding pt care when applying to RN programs...

Agreed with tsm007 and take the LTC job. It may not be in your preferred setting at this point, but you will gain valuable experience and allow you to support yourself while continuing to search for your preferred nursing position. I would also recom...

Other than wearing deodorant, I spray on a tiny bit of Axe body spray after I hop out of the shower. I work in the ED with an average of encountering 10-20 pt's per shift and have never had a complaint from a pt or family, only compliments. With that...

A paper cut

Definitely, and I've had to on more than one occasion upgrade the Pt's acuity and move them over to Acute care or have charge float another RN over. I never hesitate to ask questions/help and luckily our ED has a really great team.