So...there's a hospital I really want to work at but...

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

It means I will have to work in ER....ahhh... I've always wanted to cross train there, and I have floated there a few times and really liked it. I'm just a bit concerned because it's completely different from my base MICU/SICU/CCU whatever.

The concept of having 4 patients who can talk/walk scares me a bit, but I am excited at the same time.

Has anyone ever made the transition? How did it go?

Shoot, just for the interview, any tips?

My skills for the most part are good except for IV's, although I've noticed myself improving a bit at my current job.

I appreciate any feedback!

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Specializes in Cardiovascular, ER.

I can't really offer a good comparison, as I went from step-down to ER. I am used to 4 pt's. All I can address is the IV skill. I wasn't the greatest, or most confident - most of my pt's had central lines that were placed in CVICU. That is probably my favorite skill now, in the ER - maybe d/t overcoming a previous inadequacy with it.

To me, the interview was kind of like any other interview - standard questions. Good luck in your interview.... hope you get the job!

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, L&D, Psych, Surgery.

I can tell you from watching others, that the hardest part will be the prioritization and time management of going from ICU to ED. Then you will also have to overcome the fact that no matter how much you want to, you won't always have the time to make everything neat and pretty, because the next crisis is coming through the door. On the other hand, there are going to be quite a few things, (vents, in my case) that you are much more comfortable with than those of us who have never been in the ICU will be, and we will look to you for that help, as you will look to us for help with what you need. In the ED I work in, we really are a family, we have "float" nurses whose job it is to do the traumas, and assist the nurses with bed assignments when they need it.

Another big thing is to not be afraid to ask for help. If you ask, we will gladly give it. I work at a teaching facility, we love to teach everyone, no matter how much experience they may have in other departments.

Hope this helps

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

Thank you for the responses! I will keep my fingers crossed. I believe in a teamwork mentality and noticed that most ER's tend to have that as well.

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