question about new job?

[amzyRN]

I recently accepted a transfer to a job closer to my home. It is for the same parent company in the ED but shorter commute and 8-hour shifts. I was finding that my current 12-hour position coupled with the long commute to be too much of a drain on my physical health. I'm a little concerned however that at my new job they lack a phlebotomist and EKG tech. I've always had a phlebotomist so I didn't have to worry that much about doing the blood work and all I have to do when a patient needs an EKG is call the EKG tech. Both of these things are nice. With that said there are increases in workload like transporting patients to radiology and up to their rooms and less ED techs on the unit.

The new job has more ED techs and they will do some EKGs. I have done EKGs before at my first ED job and am not worried about it, but am a little concerned that the lab draws will be challenging to my work flow. I don't mind drawing labs in the beginning and have always handed a syringe of blood to the phlebotomist when I start my IV, but having to remember the timed troponin and lactate draws are going to be annoying. I'm hoping I didn't shoot myself in the foot by taking the new job and am not walking into a situation where I'm expected to do everything with no help. As is, though I do have the convenience of a phlebotomist and EKG tech, I'm doing a lot more work shlepping my patients to radiology and up to their rooms which is exhausting and frankly annoying.

What are your thoughts if any? Thanks kindly for any feedback.

[caliotter3]

Well, looks like this is the price for a better commute and shift time situation. I am certain you will adapt as time passes. Down the road you will thank yourself for making the change.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Learning to do more with less will only make your skill set more diverse while making you a stronger ER nurse. Embrace it! :)

I worked as an ER tech for a few years and one ER RN who was a mentor taught me that the entirety of patient care was his responsibility; when he had someone to help him, that was a good day.

[JKL33]

I'm guessing this place is smaller than your current one? Pay specific attention to how the other RNs handle the process of getting a new patient. One thing that can be a little anxiety-producing in a situation like this is that all of the "tasks" that need to be done right away (gown/monitor/IV/labs/EKG/ etc) fall to the RN depending on how they actually handle it, who also needs to do a good assessment, implement emergent/urgent interventions and usually a ton of charting! Don't be surprised if there's no one else assigned to tedious charting like the medication reconciliation either. Big places obviously have this assigned to someone, but smaller places might not. I'll be interested to hear what the situation is after you start!

Anyway, just take note of how the other RNs are prioritizing the tasks that fall to them all at once. Decide whether you're comfortable with that and tweak the steps you need to. You'll get your own routine.

Hopefully they have some kind of system for remembering repeat/timed labs and EKGs - but hey, if not, you can wait a few weeks or so and suggest one. There are easy ways to make it happen.

Come back here and give us updates about this!

[canadawali]

Yes, learning to do more with less will definitely make you more knowledgeable and stronger overall. Its when you are faced with certain obstacles that you must overcome them.

[BedsideNurse]

Well, I have to say, even if doing more with less makes you a better nurse, it still can suck. I've worked in ICU's where nurses do everything but plunge the toilet; the peripheral lab draws, ABG's, EKG's, tech work (as well as the unit secretary). I'm not lazy but it just gets so labor intensive and I think--while technically doable--it's overburdensome, especially if someone is really sick. Myself, I think it's a lot better nursing life to have help.