-Focus Assessment. Always document your VS and the assessment that correlates with the body system that is the patient’s main complaint.
-Keep a pad of paper to keep your notes on
-Always give warm fluids, unless the patient has a fever
-If you patient is over 60, CT wont take them until blood work has come back, specifically creatinine.
-Patient’s will ALWAYS say they are a hard stick! I don’t believe them until I have missed twice. ONLY poke your patient twice, ask another nurse if you have missed.
-If the provider hasn’t seen the patient yet, draw blood in anticipation that the doc will order labs.
– EKG, IV and labs on all chest pain patients. Aspirin and Nitro as well!
-IV, urine and labs on all abdominal pain patients
-Carry tape on you! I use tape all day! And it’s so handy to have it on you
-If you have time don’t ask the ED tech to do something for you, they are SO BUSY!
-Always ask for help and always offer help
-Drink water and bring snacks, there are days when you wont get a lunch and you will need fuel!
-Tell your boss to put you into all the educational courses they offer! (ACLS, PALS, TCRN, CCRN)
-Ask the charge nurse to let you observe traumas, critical patients ect that you haven’t seen yet
-Laugh when you can and cry when you can!