telemetry before ER?

[medteleER]

been a med/surg nurse for about 5 years. i wanted to get into my critical care (ER) department. my nurse educator told me it would be necessary to get some telemetry experience before i transition. i'm not sure if that is just hospital specific because i know new graduates jump right in there. n i work at a level 3 facility. i want to be as prepared as possible, so i wouldn't mind... but i am hating the floor, right now.

[JKL33]

For clarification, is the person who told you this also the ED educator?

There are a lot of different situations out there, but this isn't making a lot of sense to me. New grads hire into ED after only brief opportunities to observe during school, as you noted.

Do you have even basic knowledge, like ACLS?

If you haven't already, I would talk to the ED people about this and get some suggestions from them - and/or start applying elsewhere.

[medteleER]

For clarification, is the person who told you this also the ED educator?

There are a lot of different situations out there, but this isn't making a lot of sense to me. New grads hire into ED after only brief opportunities to observe during school, as you noted.

Do you have even basic knowledge, like ACLS?

If you haven't already, I would talk to the ED people about this and get some suggestions from them - and/or start applying elsewhere.

she is the educator for the ENTIRE hospital. there are a number of them, but they are not department specific.

my ACLS is expired. i need to renew. and i can take a basic dysrhythmia course whenever. somebody in the ER told me she started out as a new grad there.

i'm not sure what "telemetry unit skills" i would need in the emergency room that i cannot learn on the fly... that is why i'm asking here. if it is necessary to work on a telemetry unit before hand.

worse case scenario, i will do a year on the tele unit and then transfer.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Renew your ACLS and go straight to the ER if you have the opportunity. You'll be exposed to various rhythms in no time!

[Guest219794]

That is either hospital specific, or just made up.

There are plenty of equally important skills- PALS, ENPC, TNCC, understanding critical drips and titration......

I would suggest talking to the boss of the ER. If he/she doesn't want a nurse with five years med surg, there will be ERs that do.

And, start working on rhythm strips now. Here.

Take PALS.

Start every IV you can.

Assuming you are good at med surg, you will bring invaluable skills to the ER. I often look to my peers with floor experience. Clogged G-tube? Wet to dry dressing? All kinds of stuff I am not especially good at.

Good luck.

Come to the dark side.......

[JKL33]

Yep - talk with the ED manager/director.