Critical Care Nursing?

[USIJurgy]

Hi!

I was just wondering if anyone found it interesting that Emergency Nursing is listed under "Nursing Specialties" instead of "Critical Care Nursing?"

I know in my hospital, once the 50 or so ICU beds are full, we do not go on diversion. Instead, ICU pts are housed in the ER until some pts are d/c'd and step-down in the AM. I once took care of an intubated ICU pt for the full 12 hours of my shift- including my other three typical ED pts!

I think emergency nursing is critical care nursing and should be represented as such on this website. Just my opinion!

Mike

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

We have had this discussion before. Most of my nursing career was spent in the ER, level one trauma center, no diversion, sounds like yours - lol.

However, though ER has critical care, it is episodic in nature - meaning we usually don't do long-term monitoring and/or "fixing" of the patient. Our focus in the ER is to treat, street or admit. Doesn't mean that we don't care for critical patients, just that that is not the focus of the ER. Otherwise, we would be the ICU.

My own love of the ER was the fact that you never knew what was coming thru the door, you didn't get (or need) report, you just dealt with it! Loved that and still miss it.

[meandragonbrett]

Here we go again.