Something different is calling me ..... questions???

[JourneyCC]

Any insights???

I'm a L&D RN and really have been thinking about ER and PICU this last year. The hospital I"m at will let me in either unit thankfully. I have a few questions, I would appreciate any words of wisdom on.......

1. Would doing ICU before ER be the wise route to take? (somehow I think getting the big picture ground in first would be better, than attempting ER right off the bat, from L&D)

2. When I was a new grad, I floated to the ER for about 40 shifts. I loved it, but am leary about burnout. I'm just wondering if burnout is a common thing for ER personnel? (the hospital I work at is a major trauma center).

Most grateful for any responses

Journey

[JBudd, MSN]

I did not do ICU or CCU before moving to ER. I floated to ICU a few times, but they are very different worlds. We are a level III trauma, which only means we don't have surgeons in house 24/7. See plenty of "female" complaints, escort docs on pelvic exams very frequently, so there will be a few things you're well up on!

Level 1 trauma centers stay busy all the time, according to my friends who work extra shifts at one in a nearby city. Will they give a good long orientation? I had worked over 15 years on floors, various specialties, etc., and it really does take time to get up to speed again, because you start out as a beginner. Most of my preceptors said it takes 6 months to a year to feel at home in an ER; I know the new grads that came in needed to learn organizational skills which you will already have! Some took to ER life like ducks to water, and others are still in over their heads I've been in ER for about 10 years now, seen a lot of folks come and go, and others have been there longer than I have. Burnout is really individual, I do very little overtime, but some of my coworkers sign up for 2 and 3 extra shifts a week.

Will they let you float down to shadow someone for a few shifts?

Welcome to the world of ER!