Psych to ER?

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 28, 2017

ED would be a completely different ballgame! Just don't be surprised or beat yourself up if you feel slow or like a green new grad all over again. You might also be at a disadvantage because although you will be new to the ED, you have been an RN for a good bit of time and won't get a very long orientation.

Sheehy's Emergency Nursing: Principles and Practice is a great book. A lot of people new to the ED seem to struggle with IV starts, so if you can practice those somehow, that might be good. There is a "Fast Facts for the ER Nurse" that will give you a concise view of the major presentations we see in the ED setting and how they are commonly treated.

Good luck!!! :)

amzyRN · May 29, 2017

It will be like you're a new grad all over again! Just make sure you get a job that is willing to give you enough training, like at least 12 weeks with the options of extending orientation.

NotoriousK8 · May 30, 2017

So I agree with both of these people. I felt like a new grad. I began my career on an ortho floor with med surg overflow. I worked there for a year then transferred to an adult (18-65) inpatient psych unit for two years. I wanted to be back in medical and I knew I didn't want to be back on the floor. Long story short, I've been in the ER for almost a year. I'm incredibly happy with my decision. I still have days that I feel like I have absolutely no idea what I am doing but I keep trucking. The team work is amazing. I've never experienced something like that before. As far as skills, my ER did a skills check off upon hire. It was scary because I felt like I didn't remember how to do anything, but the skills come back to you. Good luck!