Student nurse position in the ER

[HyperRNRachel]

How lucky am I? I have always wanted to be an ER nurse, so the fact that I have been hired as a nursing student in the ER is beyond my wildest dream. I have always been very self motivated, fast thinker and mover, and very determined, so I think this will be the perfect opportunity to help me develop all my skills and also learn every possible aspect of the ER. At the same time, I will have a position at a facility that I really like once I graduate in Dec. What I am wondering is, what advice would you offer a student about to jump feet first into the ER. I already have thick skin, I ask questions because I know my knowledge can fill the head of a pin when compared to veteran nurses, and I never (almost never) panic (but I will start humming to myself if I feel the pressure is on) so what else should I keep in mind?? Any tricks I should know? Organizational ideas? Stress tips?

I want the good :) the bad :angryfire and the ugly !

Thanks

Rachel

[ER2Ed]

Good for you!! I am a new grad-just-past-the-nclex-and-now-an-rn and have been orienting in an ED. Be careful. You need to be quick, but you need to watch what you're doing - for your safety and your patients'. And never be afraid to admit you are not sure what to do - always ask. The pace can get to you when three ambulances pull up at the same time and they are all codes. You can do it, but be kind to yourself and pay close attention to your own limitations so you can overcome them. Oh, and be a big Sponge - you will learn from the techs, the unit clerk, the docs, the cleaning crew, the paramedics as well as all the nurses. I love it. The teamwork in the ED is unlike any other place - and it is a beautiful thing to behold. I wish you the best of luck.

[msc23]

How lucky am I? I have always wanted to be an ER nurse, so the fact that I have been hired as a nursing student in the ER is beyond my wildest dream. I have always been very self motivated, fast thinker and mover, and very determined, so I think this will be the perfect opportunity to help me develop all my skills and also learn every possible aspect of the ER. At the same time, I will have a position at a facility that I really like once I graduate in Dec. What I am wondering is, what advice would you offer a student about to jump feet first into the ER. I already have thick skin, I ask questions because I know my knowledge can fill the head of a pin when compared to veteran nurses, and I never (almost never) panic (but I will start humming to myself if I feel the pressure is on) so what else should I keep in mind?? Any tricks I should know? Organizational ideas? Stress tips?

I want the good :) the bad :angryfire and the ugly !

Thanks

Rachel

Hey Rachel ER will give you great experience as a Student Nurse. I am a student nurse and I will be graduating in MAY I have worked in the ER and it was a great experience. It was a great place to work and I learned so much. My advice to you is to just act like a little sponge and soak up as much as possible. Try to perform the little tasks that will herlp you to sharpen those skills like IV starts and dropping NG tubes. Those are things that use to scare me to death until I got the Student nurse position in the ER. I have since moved on into the field that I want to be in (L&D) and I love that too. Again I am acting like a sponge and soaking up everything around me. If you find a veteran nurse that is willing to take you under his or her wing take full advantage of that. There were alot of them in the ER that I worked in and they allowed me to do things that others would not have allowed.

Good luck and keep the thick skin! Christina, L&D Student Nurse from Detroit, MI

[begalli]

Yay! hyperstudent!

Good for you...your excitment is contagious!

[Altra, BSN, RN]

:w00t: Good for you!

I've been working as a tech in the ED since September and I LOVE it!! I spent the first week walking around with my jaw probably hanging on the floor, but I love it, and I'm actively pursuing working in the ED after I graduate (13 weeks and counting ... :) )