Where do I belong?

Published

Hey guys I am a new nurse and have been working in an ED for 2 months. From the time I started school I wanted to be in ED but now I'm here I'm second guessing things. Some days are great and I love it other days I want to just go home and quit. The days that are good are when we have actual critical pts. The days I find most stressful and overwhelming are when we are full of the sniffles and drug seekers. It's weird I thrive in the critical situations but get overwhelmed with trying to manage 3+ low acuity pts.

Am I where I should be or should I think of going to ICU?

I love working a pt doing quick interventions watching for changes and making quick interventions to correct when things go south. I like getting a critical pt from ems and being the first line to stabilize that pt. but I get annoyed with all the low acuity stuff. I love patho especially complex where I really have to think about what is going on with a pt. and how to juggle all of their problems.

I know in ICU I'm always going to have a critical pt. But I'm just scared I'll miss the pt coming in from ems and I'm setting up intubation and getting other interventions in quick. Do you get to do these kind of things in ICU?

I know I'm a new nurse and I'm going to stick my current job out for awhile because I am getting good experience it's just tough on some days dealing with just riff raff. Am I where I belong and just gotta learn to deal with the riff raff or could ICU be for me?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.

Are you done with orientation?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

If you've only just started, I think you need to give it more time, especially if you are a new grad. If you are a new grad, you need to develop a "clinical gut" before you go anywhere else. I've considered ICU too, it seemed like a natural progression when I worked on a step down unit, but it would become boring after a while I think. You'd have the same patient for weeks on end. That's what I hate about floor nursing, the monotony of having the same patient day in day out. I haven't even started orientation yet, but am super excited about moving to the ED. I just thought I'd add my 2 cents even if I'm not an experienced ER nurse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm about half way through orientation. I know I'm new and I do plan to stick it out where I'm at for at least a year I'm getting good experience

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

It's way too soon to know where you belong yet. Try to enjoy the experience.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Weird to me that you are "annoyed" by lower acuity patients. Especially for a newer RN? You should learn all you can from all your patients including lower acuity. There are always things to learn from each case, esp for a newer RN. And even more so should you develop aspirations in the future of becoming an advanced practice RN. I am in NP school and try to learn from each case whether I am in express or have 2 GI bleeds, a meningitis, and a chest pain.

Good luck. The ER rocks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm referring to the people that don't need to be in the ER.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatric, Aesthetics.

Huh... Interesting. Someone said boring having the same patients weeks on end and another referring pts as to riff raff.

wow.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I'm referring to the people that don't need to be in the ER.

The fact is that if we only saw true emergencies, many of us wouldn't have jobs — at least not in the ER. After a decade I have gotten way past being annoyed by those with non-emergent complaints, they can be a nice break sometimes. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I'm referring to the people that don't need to be in the ER.

In the ICU, you're going to find people that don't need to be in the ICU as well. Honestly, if you're annoyed at low acuity patients this early in your career, you're doing it wrong. You are so new and have so much to learn . . . if you're actually trying to critically think through everything, you might not be as bored.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well this has been therapeutic. I explain what I like and don't like about where I work to see if another area will be a better fit and I get eye rolls and told I'm doing it wrong because I don't like dealing with an er full of drug seekers and things that could be easily handled at a pcp. I'm a new nurse, I'm not an idiot. I already said I am staying where I am at for at least a year, because I know I am getting good experience. I just wanted to know if ICU would eventually be a more fulfilling, enjoyable job based on what I do and don't like about my current position.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.
Huh... Interesting. Someone said boring having the same patients weeks on end and another referring pts as to riff raff.

wow.

Yes, I said it is boring and that is one reason I want to switch to the ED. I find floor nursing, what I have been doing boring. I never said I was uncaring but part of the reason I wanted to go into nursing is because of the pathophysiology and the thinking component. I find that my work is not challenging enough mentally. I don't feel my comment should be taken as some sort of insult. But you are free to think what ever you like.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion