What if I chose wrong?!

OBigdog26, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 22, 2015

Pay close attention during your orientation and write notes. Also, ask your preceptor(s) questions if you're not familiar with performing certain nursing interventions.

As far as code blues go, you are not alone. Plenty of nurses will jump in and give you a hand.

Good luck and welcome to the ED!

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses. Pardon for any misspelled words, I blame it on auto-correct.

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2015

Please learn to say "I have never done this before."

Ask to watch and assist with procedures that are new to you.

Look up policies and procedures as time permits. You are there to learn.

Attend every educational offering through ENA.

Don't take everything personally and don't expect to be coddled by anyone.

Chew gum to stop yourself from crying.

Don't participate in gossip.

Respect your preceptor.

AnthonyD · Jul 22, 2015

Please learn to say "I have never done this before."
Ask to watch and assist with procedures that are new to you.
Look up policies and procedures as time permits. You are there to learn.
Attend every educational offering through ENA.
Don't take everything personally and don't expect to be coddled by anyone.
Chew gum to stop yourself from crying.
Don't participate in gossip.
Respect your preceptor.

I love this list!!

Especially: "Chew gum to stop yourself from crying." (It almost always works too)

Bobjohnny · Jul 22, 2015

I love this list!!
Especially: "Chew gum to stop yourself from crying." (It almost always works too)

Theres no crying in baseball(the ER)!

Really though, just pay attention. You're still going to be learning massive amounts of stuff. If you don't know how to do something, then ask. A preceptor worth their salt will teach you.

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 22, 2015

Welcome to humanity. We humans make lots of important decisions -- and never rarely know right away if we made the right choice. That is a big part of life, making those decisions, trying things out, evaluating our choices, changing course as necessary. You'll be happier in life if you learn to enjoy the journey instead of becoming anxious about whether or not you made the perfect choice.

Good luck. ICUMaggie gave you some great tips. Take them to heart.

Racer15, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2015

I've been an ER nurse three years. There are still times where I'm thinking "where's an adult?! I don't know what I'm doing!" I ask for help in those situations and it has never been an issue. You will never be wrong for asking for help when you feel uncomfortable, you WILL be wrong for going ahead when you have no clue. I started as a new grad in the ER and it was a rocky start, but it's a challenging area for experienced nurses. Just give it a try, ask questions, take the advice of the other nurses, and know you will mess up, everyone does. It may not be the place for you, but you'll never know until you try. I was seriously convinced I was going to be fired during my orientation. Three years down the line and I figure I'll hang around awhile.

gemmi999 · Jul 25, 2015

Thank you to everyone who responded! I had my first two shifts in the ER and while it's definitely overwhelming, I feel more comfortable then I thought I would! Everyone (not just my preceptor) pitches in to help me when I have a question. They each show me their own "tricks" for doing things but then leave me to figure out the way that works best for me! There is such team work and communication going on that I really, really like it! I appreciate all of your comments and helpful insights! Best of all, the nervous feeling is gone!

DowntheRiver · Aug 3, 2015

Please learn to say "I have never done this before."
Ask to watch and assist with procedures that are new to you.
Look up policies and procedures as time permits. You are there to learn.
Attend every educational offering through ENA.
Don't take everything personally and don't expect to be coddled by anyone.
Chew gum to stop yourself from crying.
Don't participate in gossip.
Respect your preceptor.

This is good advice for ANY new nurse on ANY floor! Simple and to the point. This is basically what it comes down to.

rearviewmirror, BSN, RN · Aug 4, 2015

trust me you won't be comfortable until by 6 months, took me at least 3 months for me to get just feel barely okay and a year to feel competent (and I came from floor). also trust me, ER IS the best place to go, along with ICU; to me ER and ICU make the most bad-a nurses, and you will learn a lot, and you will be a bad-a nurse. you work close with docs, you have tremendous opportunity to learn, people look up to ER nurses. There are some negatives like seeing negative sides of humanity and ridiculousness of people frequently, but that's a trade off. you chose the right place!

gemmi999 · Aug 4, 2015

Quick Update: I've been in the ER for two weeks now, and I love it! I'm still overwhelmed (a lot of the time) but I'm doing well according to my preceptor. I've been able to participate in codes, see things I never thought I'd see, and help a lot of people so far! Plus, the manager of the ER is changing and the new manager wants all New Grads to have a longer orientation, so I get even more preceptor time! That way I've seen more before I'm on my own. :)

I will say--ER nurses love to gossip. They gossip about each other, other nurses, and bad mouth the nurses in different units. I really hope I I can avoid this! I do *not* like gossip or being mean.

foragreatergood · Aug 5, 2015

#1 will earn you a lot of respect and improve your chance of success!