Shadowing nurse in Burn Unit

Altra, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2004

Suzy, I don't have any advice, but I'm very excited for you! I tried to arrange a shadowing experience in the ER but I wasn't successful - too many HIPAA concerns. Make the most of it!

And BTW, wow - the burn unit. Is this an area you're considering working in? I very much admire burn unit nurses - I just don't think I could take it. So I'm very impressed! Let us know how it goes. :)

newfloridaRN · Jun 28, 2004

I'm an ER RN and had a student who was about to enter a nursing program shadow me for about 4-5 hours. I was thrilled, I love teaching people. She didn't know much about how an ER runs, so I gave her a tour, and then told her to follow me, introduced her when I went into a room, and she had some great converstaions with the patients. She also was able to see how the ER ran. I thought it was a great idea for a student-- wish I had done this if I knew I could! :)

suzy253, RN · Jun 28, 2004

Suzy, I don't have any advice, but I'm very excited for you! I tried to arrange a shadowing experience in the ER but I wasn't successful - too many HIPAA concerns. Make the most of it!
And BTW, wow - the burn unit. Is this an area you're considering working in? I very much admire burn unit nurses - I just don't think I could take it. So I'm very impressed! Let us know how it goes. :)

Hiya. Yes, the burn unit is my #1 interest. That's why I'm so very excited about seeing what it's all about and if I can handle it. I've thought a lot about other areas but this always ends up on top. So we'll see. I have to give the director a call--probably next week after my Micro final! I became most interested in the burn unit after the Station Nightclub Fire here in RI.

I'll let you know how everything goes. You keep in touch too! :)

(pre) Nurse Tigger · Oct 18, 2004

Okay, I'm a first semester RN student and I had no idea that they would allow students to shadow! How did you come about this and who did you contact in order to do it? I mean, they don't post "job openings" on this. How do you pick which floor to work and know if HIPPA will allow it? I'm very interested!! Thanks!

clgmezzo · Oct 20, 2004

We LOVE students in our burn center, paramedic, nursing, medical, ANY, but i especially love the nursing students, you will get to see SO much, and ill tell you now-you will get SO much information, because of the education aspect of the specialty burn nurses tend to spout information nearly every minute of the day i think, lol. it should be a great experience for you, good luck! and a bit of advice, Eat Breakfast Before You Go it will help a lot.

PennyLane, RN · Oct 20, 2004

Wonderful!

I've set up "share days" for some hospitals around here. Basically shadowing to see if you like the unit. Enjoy your experience and ask questions!

peanut5am · Jan 15, 2005

While going through my clinicals for Paramedic we got to spend a day in the burn unit. Although I didn't really experience any burns because the patient we were with was a 5 year old boy with inhalation injury. But I learned so much listening to the doctors and nurses there. I am waiting to start nursing school and the burn unit is one of my interests, but I must say they keep it HOT! in there for the patients so be prepared to sweat.

learnigmark · Feb 6, 2005

Hi I'm Mark and considering becoming a nurse. What exactly does a nurse do in a burn unit? Do they just talk and try to comfort the patient?

redwinggirlie · Feb 13, 2005

No Mark. We treat the patient's medical concerns. We treat the patient's burns, we monitor each and every aspect of bodily functions. We control pain. There's so much more, but it's not what you said.... talk? Nope, not that easy....

KrisRNwannabe · Feb 13, 2005

Suzy,

Congrats!!! You have a wonderful opportunity to see inside where you want to be. Our instructor is really pushing for us to go and shawdow in units that we are interested in. I have alot of respect for burn nurses. the treatment tends to involve so much pain, I think it takes a special person for the job. Good Luck, and please make sure to tell us all about it!!

Kris

Denverchick1983 · Feb 17, 2005

Hi I'm Mark and considering becoming a nurse. What exactly does a nurse do in a burn unit? Do they just talk and try to comfort the patient?

You should check out a book called "Burn Unit" I can get the author if you are interested- I was absolutely amazed by how much responsibility burn unit nurses have- there are so many factors involved with burns such as dehydration, infection, body temp... TONS OF INFO. It is a really good book to read and shares a lot of stories about patients.