What skill videos should a new ER nurse be watching

Specialties Emergency

Published

Hi! :)

I am a new ER nurse and i have never worked in a hospital and am getting super nervous. I had the most fun during clinical in the ER so i am thankful at this opportunity! so with all that in mind i was wondering which technical skill do you guys practice everyday/ the most?

(I have looked into threads with similar questions but most of the answers where like relating to setting priorities and time management however i am looking for something i can check off on a skill list)

p.s I will be in a level 1 trauma center:)

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Specializes in ER, Med-Surg/Telemetry.

Congrats on the job! As a new grad you will go through an extensive orientation period where an experienced nurse will guide you and teach you the skills you need to know. They will have a skills checklist to go off of. During this time ask lots of questions and be ready to learn! Nursing is about life long learning so even after your orientation ends you will still learn a lot, especially in the ER! Good luck!

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awh

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Specializes in ER, Med-Surg/Telemetry.

Here's one pretty good thread https://allnurses.com/emergency-nursing/new-grad-er-1001648.html

But just scroll down the ER forum and there really is a lot of threads worth reading.

My fav link is index it has a ton of great info

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Skills...lots of IVs, foleys, OGT/NGT, IVF, PEGs, bladder irrigation, suctioning, and positioning patients.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I am a new grad too and worked in the ER for a month now. So far, I have seen a lot of: foley catheters, starting IVs, bladder scans, splinting, CPR, suctioning, NG tubes, suturing and wound dressings. The thing about the ER is that every day is different so some of the other new grads in my program may have seen completely difficult skills. It just depends on what walks through the door.

If I could go back and review before starting work, I would use my health assessment book to look over focused assessments and electrolyte imbalances. It is amazing how wacky some patients' electrolytes can be when they first show up at the hospital!

Finally, looks over your medications. Common drugs I deal with on a daily basis are morphine, dilaudid, ativan, toradol, metoprolol, nitroglyerine, acetaminophen, furosemide, ibuprofen, zofran, epinephrine, adenosine, atropine, rocephin, lidocaine, magnesium sulfate, benadryl, diazepam, phenergine, zosyn, reglan, plavix, flagyl and protonix. Consider why and when they are used, contraindications, side effects and parameters.

I had a 12 today and that's what I can think of off the top of my head.

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I would watch videos on EJ insertion, IV using guided ultrasound, IO placement, correct EKG and right side EKG placement, proper needle thoracentesis protocol for tension pneumos, Chest tube and suction set up (for placement and maintaining), and of the role of a RN during lumbar puncture procedures.

All helpful and of which you will be required to do or assist in doing in. Although in a trauma I don't be surprised if most of the time it's nurses who document and residents who mostly get to do the fun stuff.

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