Youngling wanting to know about ED

[nurz2be]

I am still in nursing school. I will graduate summer 2009. I have ALWAYS had my head and heart on ED. For the life I have lived, I don't stress easily and am good under pressure, I am soooo not comparing life stresses to ED stress (Wink wink), quick learner, and LOVE to learn and be challenged. So for any ED nurses what would you suggest to someone who is coming out of school and wants ED? I am a go-getter, so whatever you suggest I will make it happen!!!!!!!! LOL

Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions.

[FlyingScot, RN]

Have you shadowed an ER nurse? I'd do that first before setting your plans only on emergency nursing. If you do that and still love the idea then perhaps a student internship during your senior year would be the next step.

[nurz2be]

Have you shadowed an ER nurse? I'd do that first before setting your plans only on emergency nursing. If you do that and still love the idea then perhaps a student internship during your senior year would be the next step.

Shadowing, huh, I can do that while in nursing school? I am in an ASN program. I start my core nursing in January. I would contact a local hospital to do this?

Thanks

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Yes, hopefully you can arrange a shadowing day. Contact your local hospitals (start with human resources) and also ask your instructors - they may well have some contacts that can be useful.

If your school schedule & other commitments allow for it, think about trying to get a part-time job as an ER tech while you're in school. Many ERs will utilize non-paramedics in some kind of tech or unit clerk capacity and you'll learn a lot this way.

I will, however, echo something that another poster said -- don't necessarily limit your interests at this point. As you progress in your school clinicals, you may very well find another area that interests you.

Good luck to you. :)

[FlyingScot, RN]

Yep. You'll have to wait until you are actually in nursing school (patient privacy and all that) and I would wait until you've finished your basic nursing courses so you have a better understanding of what is going on. Have one of your instructors call the clinical educator or whatever title they go by at your local hospital to arrange it. I can't tell you how many students I've had follow me around for a day. Good luck!

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

The other thing to consider is some volunteer work at the hospital. Most volunteer services departments would be glad to have you, regardless of your level of education at this point.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

Contact a hospital because you may not have to wait until nursing school!!! My local hospital will let ANYONE shadow. They have their own shadowing program separate from the nursing schools. The kicker is you have to actually find an ED nurse who will let you shadow them before the hospital will do the rest (give you access to the floor on a particular date at a particular time). GL.

[EMTSNA]

I strongly recommend working as a tech in order to get comfortable with the flow of the ED. If you work at the hospital where you will end up as a nurse, the relationships you will build with the staff can really help once you transition as a nurse. It's your relationships with your coworkers that will get you through a tough shift and it will be helpful to already know who has your back.

Many ERs require an EMT-B cert to work as a tech and you will learn things in that course that they don't teach in nursing school. If you can get some prehospital experience with a volunteer EMS company it will definately serve you well in the ER as you will have some perspective as to what happens before the patient comes through the doors.

Good luck, the ER is awesome

[labcat01, BSN, RN]

Talk to your instructors first. In my nursing program shadowing is NOT allowed nor is any kind of volunteer work at the hospital.

[bill4745, RN]

We frequently have shadows from our local high school. Better yet, become an ER tech so you really can see what goes on. And don't narrow your choices too much yet. I love the ER, but there are a lot of other things a nurse can do.