ED nursing tasks/responsibilities:

[ivyleaf]

What tasks/responsibilities make up most of your shift (and do you work at a small community ED, level 1 trauma center, etc)? I am really drawn to the ED and want to get a better idea of the more mundane, day to day/hour to hour tasks in between major emergencies-- I realize its not all excitement, drama, and trauma. Thanks!

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

ER docs are not always the most patient types when it comes to urine, particularly when the pt has a fever and/or a white count with no other explanation for such. An A&O pt always has the right to refuse, but usually just showing them the cath scares the you-know-what out of them, and, well, there's your sample.

This is very true. Urine is like gold in the ER. Not having a urine sample can delay the patient's discharge (unless of course they decide to leave AMA) and course of treatment at times.

[mcnacht]

And the psych/substance use patients often can NOT refuse if they are involuntarily there and the urine is the only/best way to determine presence of drugs in their system. The counselors can't even talk to them until presence of drugs is known.