transitioning to the ER

With your experience, you are going to do just fine. I found the ER/Trauma Checkmate to be helpful...but honestly, the stuff I really need is not in a pocket reference. I had CCU and ICU experience, but limited background dealing with Gyn emergencies, sutures, I&D's,etc. I really needed a sheet that says "for an I&D for Dr.X, gather these supplies."

On Sept. 7th, I will be moving to the ER. I have been a nurse for 8 1/2 yrs. 5 yrs. on med/surg, and 3 1/2 yrs ICU/SDU. I have no doubt I can do the work, however I would like to have a decent knowledge base for emergency care. I would like to find a pocket reference guide that I could keep with me for awhile. Do any of you know of such a book or guide I could purchase? Thanks..........nursepenny

If you own a PDA, check out Skyscape. They have alot of nursing-specific ER programs.

If you want a pocket guide check out InforMed here. They sell waterproof, alcohol-fast guides. Perfect for assessment on the go.

If that's not detailed enough, a larger (non-pocket sized) guide I'd recommend is Emergency Nursing Secrets by Jane Koziol-Mclain and Mosby's Emergency Nursing Reference. Both of those are available at Amazon.com. Just search for 'emergency nursing guides'

Hope that helps, and I hope disorganization doesn't bother you. That seems to be the biggest stumbling block nurses from an ICU background have with the ER. Too chaotic... ;-)

-Craig J.

RN, BSN... and others

I'll take bets that you'll have no problems with the transition, particularly with the really sick patients... perhaps you could do some reading on the good old minor injuries, since your background means that's pretty much the only bit you haven't touched

There are plenty of guides etc out there, but if your new dept has a clinical facilitator or similar, why not ask them what they'd recommend in light of your previous experience.

Best of luck in your new job!

Thanks all for the replies...I will check out the sites and books recommended. As far as chaos, LOL, I am Queen of Choas. People tell me I am a SH*T magnet. Really I am not,....... I don't think. hehehe. It does seem to follow me where ever I go though.

I am really excited about the change, but I am also a little nervous. I work at a small community hospital, so we see evrything that comes into the ER. My biggest concern is children and babies. I have never started an IV on a child before. Have given injections though. I am sure I can do it, but would like a few beneath my belt to feel comfortable doing this.

Any tips wopuld be appreciated.

I'm not sure what its like in the US, but as a general rule, we don't stat IV's on kids except in resus... by the time they are cannulated, they can rush to the ward You'll find there are probably great IV paed admin books around and the chances of having a very sick child without the support of the paeds nurse is rare, at least here. The most common IV's we administer to kids is a bolus of Ceftriaxone, then they are up on the ward asap!

I remember when I first started in the ED, I was so petrified with kids, my first Resus one, I ran to the shift leader and said in a scared voice "it breathes too fast to count", she smiled and said, "Yup, that's a neonate for you, just observe them, if you don't know the normal values, don't worry, just remember, the younger they are, the faster they breathe"! I laugh about that now, but I remember being completely freaked and trying to figure if a pulse of 180 and resps of about 50 on a 4 weeker was normal.

With kids, as you will very quickly learn, its not so much the little one you have to worry about, but the parents... learn to reassure them, then you're on track!

Check if your department has paed's trained nurses and ask to be allocated with them on orientation, that will help tons!