Working in ER/ED

JMBM · Mar 9, 2006

Okay, starting from the top....

Yep, nurses with Associate degrees in nursing can work in ERs. We have several that I know of in our ER. A Bachelors comes in handy when/if you are looking for advancement, but you can add your BS later.

Yep, if you practice in the US, you will have to take the NCLEX to get your state license. However, if you are just starting school, this is a long way off and you shouldn't worry about it now.

Yep, you will keep changing your mind as to where you want to practice. One of the great things about school is that you'll get to work a semester or part of semester in many different settings - med/surg, peds, Psych, LTC, critical care, etc. The best thing to do is keep your eyes open and learn as much as you can from each situation.

Stories about the ER? ....... The ER is not about dramatic life-saving trauma cases - although you'll see those occasionally. It is more a non-stop parade of kids with the flu, street alcoholics with DTs, people with kidney/gall stones, seniors with dehydration, folks that have slipped on the ice and now have sprained ankles, dislocated shoulders, etc. Mix in a few cases of chest pain, asthma exacerbations, and migraines. In one room, you'll be nursing a kid with pink-eye, in the next, there will be a yelling street psychotic and in the third is a matronly lady with pneumonia. Then a code rolls in. This is all in the first hour, only 11 more to go. If you are comfortable in chaos, have a relatively short attention span and a large bladder, you'll do fine in an ER. best of luck in school.

moorpark · Mar 9, 2006

Okay, starting from the top....
Yep, nurses with Associate degrees in nursing can work in ERs. We have several that I know of in our ER. A Bachelors comes in handy when/if you are looking for advancement, but you can add your BS later.
Yep, if you practice in the US, you will have to take the NCLEX to get your state license. However, if you are just starting school, this is a long way off and you shouldn't worry about it now.
Yep, you will keep changing your mind as to where you want to practice. One of the great things about school is that you'll get to work a semester or part of semester in many different settings - med/surg, peds, Psych, LTC, critical care, etc. The best thing to do is keep your eyes open and learn as much as you can from each situation.
Stories about the ER? ....... The ER is not about dramatic life-saving trauma cases - although you'll see those occasionally. It is more a non-stop parade of kids with the flu, street alcoholics with DTs, people with kidney/gall stones, seniors with dehydration, folks that have slipped on the ice and now have sprained ankles, dislocated shoulders, etc. Mix in a few cases of chest pain, asthma exacerbations, and migraines. In one room, you'll be nursing a kid with pink-eye, in the next, there will be a yelling street psychotic and in the third is a matronly lady with pneumonia. Then a code rolls in. This is all in the first hour, only 11 more to go. If you are comfortable in chaos, have a relatively short attention span and a large bladder, you'll do fine in an ER. best of luck in school.

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond to this post! I still can't believe how great this site is and how much people are willing to respond and share their experience/knowledge. I really appreciate it. It's helpful to learn all this stuff and get a good idea if Nursing seems right prior to enrolling and going to all the school. Thanks again..I really really enjoyed your response and it was so helpful!

EDTEd · Mar 10, 2006

JMBM,

Great words...

You just forgot to say that in the ER/ED the word lunch will no longer mean anything.

:)

casualjim · Mar 11, 2006

JMBM,
Great words...
You just forgot to say that in the ER/ED the word lunch will no longer mean anything.
:)

I disagree, it just shifts to the context of assesment ie. "I fear that this highly experienced consumer of healthcare services may in fact, be out to lunch."

aloha

Jim