abidingpanda

I have three three years experience as an ER nurse and I'm really getting the itch to try ICU. One year experience at a trauma 1 and 2 years at a trauma none. I'm just wondering if there's a book that I could read to help prepare me? Any other ER nurses out there switched to critical care have any advice or success?

Promedica, which owns The Toledo Hospital, Bay Park, and Flower, does have an ICU/ER residency. I know they split their critical care new RNs from their non-crit care RNs e.g., those getting a position on med surge or progressive. You have to pass boards first, prior to starting their residency. Mercy Health also has an ER residency. An ER or ICU new RN typically gets 6 months of on the floor training w/ a seasoned ER preceptor no matter where you go. At some point you'll transition to nights and finish the 6 month recedency w/ a nights ER RN. Be a sponge. Ask a million questions. Make friends w/ your paramedics, and pick their brains. I just went through what your going through back in 2015, w/ no medic or ER experience. I got very lucky, and went straight to the ER. Since Mercy wants to hire you, as you're a new grad of their school, try and get in w/ them in the ER right after graduation in May. Promedica's residency doesn't start till August, so if you don't get ER w/ Mercy, take a shot at Promedica. Good luck, and stay positive!

I am a new nurse and I work in the emergency department. One of the things we do at my facility with a post arrest after we RSI the pt, establish IV access, and start drips is insertion of an NG tube. I cannot seem to figure out how to get the tube in to the stomach on an unconscious pt!!! I have no issues when the pt is alert, sitting up, and sipping water, but the tube coils in their mouth every time if they're unconscious. I've tried bringing the chin to the chest, and leaving the pt's head flat on the cot, and 9/10 times it coils in places besides the stomach. I have also tried using more lube, smaller tubes, and different nares. Any tips?