Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
allnurses

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Discussion

Question about experience

Hi all. I'm currently a new grad ER nurse that has been working for almost 11 months now. I'm not really looking to start a new job for at least another 6 months or more, but occasionally look at job postings to see what's out there and what kind of experience employers are looking for for various positions, for future reference. The question I have is this, is working in the ER considered stepdown experience, or critical care, or a mix? A lot of our patients aren't critical, but we will also have days when we have a ton of high acuity, sick, sick, sick patients. So I'm just not sure if a position is asking for a year of adult critical care, pediatric critical care or two years of adult stepdown care, where the experience I have falls.

Thanks for any input!

  • Quote

    • Featured Replies

    I'm a new nurse as well with about 11 months in L&D. From my understanding ER falls under critical care. I could be wrong, but experience wise, I thought that it did.

  • Quote

    ER isn't critical care because you don't titrate drips, etc. Yes...the patients are critical...but if you were going to go after a CRNA for example, ER experience doesn't qualify.

  • Quote
    • Author
    ER isn't critical care because you don't titrate drips, etc. Yes...the patients are critical...but if you were going to go after a CRNA for example, ER experience doesn't qualify.

    Yea, I guess I kind of get that. Although, I do titrate drips on a regular basis, for example when we're waiting on the admitting doc to see them and get them admitted or waiting on transport to another facility.

  • Quote
    ER isn't critical care because you don't titrate drips, etc.

    Actually, we do titrate drips in the ER. Pressors, cardizem, insulin, propofol, ativan, fentanyl, etc.

  • Quote

    Yes...I know...I work ER...it still isn't considered critical care. How do I know? CRNA and NP school won't accept the ER for critical care experience.

  • Quote
    • Guides

    Schools may not accept it but positions such as Interventional Radiology, Cath Lab and PACU do see it as critical care.

  • Quote

    A lot of the confusion is due to the wide variation among "Emergency Department" settings. (American Trauma Society: Trauma Resources » Trauma Categorization Explained). There is a very big difference between a "knife & gun club" Level I and a Level V in a community or rural area. If you are referring to this experience on a resume, I would advise you to include the trauma rating of that particular facility.

  • Quote

    You don't titrate drips in your ER?! I have days where all I do is titrate drips!

  • Quote

    My advice is that if you need critical care to apply and you have ER, you probably qualify unless it's specifically for ICU (and even then, ER still looks good to most places). ER is pretty versatile so you'd have a good shot at another job. If you want a job, apply regardless of what it says. You may not get a call back, but you might! No harm in trying!

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Add a Comment
    Go to topic listing

    Currently Reading 0

    • No registered users viewing this page.

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.