Where to go from the ER

YellowFinchFan · Jan 17, 2008

I will be going on 10 years in the ER in March. I have done the trauma center thing and have been in a nice suburban ER for the past 5 years.
Here's my question: Is there another specialty that ER nurses fit into well? Have you left the ER not because you hated it/burned out, but because you wanted to try something else?
I love the ER but feel like I don't want to do the same thing forever.
I did the CEN/trauma cert thing a long time ago, so that's done. Got the BSN. Thinking about a Masters, but not sure what to focus on.
All I know is management is not for me.
I feel like once you stay put in the ER, you get used to a certain type of flow and thinking that's not present at most places.
Is anyone out there dealing with this too?
Thank you.

One nurse I know worked ER for a few yrs and now works in the ICU.....

Another nurse I know worked trauma/ER for about as many years as you have and now took mgr type job on a busy stepdown unit.

I think I'd like to try the ER myself....and am also pondering where to go in nursing.

ERRNTraveler, RN · Jan 17, 2008

I am considering switching to the cath lab when I'm done traveling in a couple years.

putmetosleep · Jan 18, 2008

If you enjoyed ER, I'm guessing you'd also enjoy cath lab, ICU--maybe an acute care nurse practitioner if you're planning on advancing your education. I've never worked in ER, but it seems like you'd have to enjoy an ever-changing work environment to do well there, which all of the above would provide. Good luck in your decision!

Trauma Columnist · Jan 18, 2008

Hi - I was so right where you are! I live in central IL and worked at the level one trauma center for 10 years also before I became an APN and believe it or not, I work in nephrology! I was chosen for this position because of my ED skill set. I do call in the hospital so keep my acute care skills pretty up to date.

For me, I loved the ER but realized that as I approached 50 there were no older nurses! Not something I readily wanted to admit. So...back to school and when I got finished there were more options.

Good luck....I think with 10 years ER, you can do anything!

mianders, RN · Jan 18, 2008

I left the ER after 12 years and am doing infusion therapy. We do chemo, blood, IVIG , Iron, basically anything that goes in a vein. It is a completely different world and I love it. The patient population is recurring and you really build a relationship with them. There are so many different types of nursing and the options are unlimited. Best of luck! :up:

RunnerRN, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2008

I PRNd a little in an urgent care last year. I'm in my 20s, but wanted something a little lower stress to bring in some extra money. It was definitely lower stress - almost too much - but the flow was very similar to the ER (get 'em in, get 'em out) and I still had the opportunity to use my skills. Had a few codes, MI protocols, etc. In the end I had to choose between ER and UC, and I decided to stick with the ER for now. I am getting my FNP so that when I do burn out I can do something else.

I know for myself, I could never to ICU or even cath lab, but you may be able to pull that off. Good luck! I've always thought that the ER doesn't lend itself to a second career like some other departments do!

IndyGypsyNurse, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2008

Hi,

I just left ER after working it for 2.5 years (right out of school) I am just starting a job in L&D. Most of my ER coworkers cringe at that and say "why do you want to do that"? Well the flow is similar, short stays, and there are several different areas to work within my unit, Labor, postpartum, antepartum, we scrub/circulate in the OR for C-sections, New born nursery, and Triage. We are all one big LDRP unit and we do it all. I am still in hospital orientation....but my brain hurts when I attempt to see into the future at all the information I need to learn and maintain, just like the ER. They also say things like "i could'nt put up with all those whiney women"........ARE YOU KIDDIN ME???? ER patients (especially the ones that are mostly well) are the whiniest (am i spelling that right?) people in the hospital, demanding, and annoyed at the long wait, IT IS AN ER DUH!!? And when a laboring woman is crying and in pain, I KNOW SHE IS REALLY IN PAIN, and not faking it, inflating it, or drug seeking. She has a reason to "whine" and I can remember from previous experience that labor HURTS WORSE THAN ANYTHING! So I am more than willing to be caring and sympathetic to their needs. I also get to witness the birth of new life everyday and witness tears and happiness and smiling faces of first time grandmas, mommies, and daddies. I get to see those big tough guys cry when they hold that tiny person for the first time. I get to see one of natures miracles. I really do hope that I love it as much as I have always thought I will. I like ER well enough, but not the trauma stuff. We are level 2 and don't get enough of the trauma or even just crashing pt.s d/t medical reasons to become comfortable with procedures, meds, etc. I am fine with the cardiac/resp/bp "obs" types, and the "exam" types (abd pn, vag. bleed, uti, sob, etc.). Anyway I am rambling. Just thought I might throw my 1.5 cents out there. I stayed PRN in the ER btw (just in case)

Good Luck!!

maryarn · Jan 18, 2008

:cheers:I think you are very smart to move away from ER nursing for a while. I made the mistake of going into OR nursing right out of school, and 32 years later I ended up disabled. OR nursing is all I know, but because of my disability I'm no longer able to work in surgery. I am far away from retirement, so I now have to find an area of nursing out of the OR, and I have no idea what that might be!

Have you thought of trying critical care nursing? That might be a good stepping stone for you. Or how about becoming a flight nurse? There are also nurses who work strictly in transplant nursing.

I wish you the best of luckon your next career move!

bigsyis · Jan 18, 2008

Short stay surgery, or Occupational Health?

SOCALRACERX911_RN · Jan 19, 2008

MARYANN,

How weird, I wanted to do OR but ended up in the ER. If its available in your area, you may want to consider telephone triage. I am doing telephone triage (work from home) and ER per diem to keep up the skills. Its a nice balance and in case I do get hurt or become disabled I'll have a job till Im ready to retire. Of course like any job, it has its ups and downs but mostly up for me (get to spend alot of time with my kids).

Mike

scattycarrot, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2008

I am an ER nurse but have worked for a few years in ICU, and while I enjoyed it and learnt alot, it wasn't for me long term. Now, it is just me personally and we are all different, but looking after the same patient for days sometimes weeks on end would drive me mad. And, mostly it wasn't the patient (though sometimes it was!), it was the family and endless 24/7 influx of visitors. At least in the ED, it would only ever be one shift with the most annoying family on the planet! Not only that but I just enjoy walking into the ER knowing that I have no idea what the day would bring. Now, I know in ICU this can also be the case but not to the same extent.

I am not saying don't do ICU, I am just giving you a different perspective. It really depends on your personalility type and what your priorties are. Perhaps you should sit down and write a list of things that really matter to you as a nurse, for example...for me it would be an ever changing enviroment and a fair amount of autonomy, and then, look at the list and figure out which area of nursing would suit your needs and wants.

Somebody else mentioned NP. If you are interested in a masters that might be a good route for you to go and you would be utilising the great experience you have accumulated over the years. Then, you could choose an acute setting or work with a team of PCP's.

Whatever you choose, good luck!!!!