I am thinking about taking the plunge into ER nursing. I have a chance to get in at the hospital group where I currently work. (The ER is non-trauma, by the way.)
I've been a Med/Onc nurse (in Nevada) for 2 1/2 years. I switched to infusion (in California) about 3 months ago and am bored out of my mind. (I still work per diem in med/onc, so my bedside skills are current.)
Here is my dilemma. I am extremely intimidated by ER. I know it's hectic and sometimes controlled chaos at best, I am concerned that I don't know enough. I'm scared of hurting, or worse, killing someone. I like the floor, but it's next to impossible to even get an interview. I like to idea of ER, but again, I am really nervous about going to ER.
I have to say I have always been interested in Ed. I'm just not sure if it's something I would want to do eventually. I'm still pretty brand new, only been working 5 months as a nurse so I'm not see a move anytime soon but I still like to think about it. My dilemma is that while I am interested in the Ed, I am worried about the population that I will see there.
Personally I do not like seeing sick kids which is why I've vowed to never work peds(at least that's what I say now) and I do not enjoy seeing drunk/detox patients on a regular basis. I feel like there will be a lot of drunk patients in Ed and sometimes some pediatrics there as well.
I currently work on a cardiac floor but I still get the occasional detox overflow. So I don't see them often and I like it that way. Anyone ever have that same sort of preferences and still worked in the Ed?
I don't work in the ED but I am just browsing around out of curiosity. For the peds part - just find a hospital with a Peds ED. It's pretty easy to avoid kids if the ED and Peds ED are separate units.
Are you able to float to the ER at the hospital you work at? That's how I introduced myself to the ER. I started out on a progressive care unit as a new grad. They actually floated me down there when I only had 2 months of experience and I vowed to never go to the ER again after that lol. I think it was because I was too new and they were asking me to go do things that I was not familiar with at the time. After I got some experience, I was actually floated to the ER (not by choice) and after that I started to float there more frequently (by choice) until I was actually working down there more than on my own unit. None of the other nurses wanted to float down there so I would always volunteer and that ER always needed help. That helped get my feet into the water and then once I was able to make the switch the the department, I did in a heartbeat.
You can do it! ER is a totally different environment but just been willing to learn and remember your A.B.C.'s. If you're not already, is definitely recommend getting ACLS and PALS certified.
I was just about to post a similar post. I've been working on med-surg for a little over three years now but I have recently accepted an ED position. I start in 2 weeks. I'm excited about it and nervous at the same time. One of the things I keep thinking is "What if I can't get an IV on someone?" I'm pretty good with IVs but not the best in the world.
.thumb.gif.557c5203bd6f06724ecab47703960500.gif){kind=small}
calivianya, BSN, RN
2,418 Posts
I don't work in the ED but I am just browsing around out of curiosity. For the peds part - just find a hospital with a Peds ED. It's pretty easy to avoid kids if the ED and Peds ED are separate units.