[cari rn]

Am going to be new to Emerg soon. Wondering if all you experienced ED nurses can talk about your assessment skills, namely, how you specifically approach your assessment, how to "assess the pt in 2 minutes" and what this means, etc. I feel fairly confident assessing peds pts, as this is all my backround is, but I'm feeling nervous (and excited) about working in an adult emerg. Any tips will surely be appreciated by all!
Thanks!

[Jennifer, RN]

Working in the ER means focused assessments. We assess the complaint only. The exception is if you have a critical pt, then you have to take the time to do a full head to toe assessment. If pt c/o asthma exac, you assess lungs and circulatory system. If pt c/o headache, you assess neuro. If pt c/o left arm pain, you assess left upper extremity. If pt has abd pain, you assess GI/GU, sometimes cardiac. Fast assessments come with time.

[bill4745]

After 12 years of ICU it was an adjustment to only focus on the main complaint (except critical patients) but it's the only way to function in the ER. You also must have the pt focus on their main problem and keep them from meandering and elaborating.

[cari rn]

Thank you, that was another question I had: do you have to assess the WHOLE person, or just specifically related to their concern? Sounds like it's only the latter.

[bill4745]

Addendum: You tend to only focus on the main complaint unless you notice something else significant. Example - a pt c/o possible broken toe, attending orders xray, nothing more (pt has no significant medical history). An experienced nurse mentions pt seems rather pale, finally convinces attending to do blood work: Pt with Hg 5.2, BUN 48, ECG with major changes, etc. Score: RN 1, MD 0.

[treborhon]

can you please help to do a 3 minutes assessment?my clinical instructors say that they could do a 3 minutes assessment.Pls anwer me.Im a student nurse...Nd im new here..Thanks in advance

[treborhon]

can somebody help me how to do a three minutes assessment?Coz my clinical instructor said that they could do a 3 minutes assessment.Pls answer me.Im a nursing student.Hoping to learn here..Thanks in advance...

[traumaRUs]

Am unsure by what you mean about a 3 minute assessment. What components is it suposed to have?

[treborhon]

Originally Posted by traumaRUs

Am unsure by what you mean about a 3 minute assessment. What components is it suposed to have?

sorry.I mean the head to toe assessment to patient.Is it possible to do it in just three minutes?

[er_guy2003]

I'm with the other ones above. Not sure what you mean by a 3 min assessment. We do focused, sometimes across the room assessments. I also agree with Bill, you'll develop that "extra sense" that may make you look at another system, but that comes with time. I teach my preceptees 1 thing that may help. You will develop this with time: Just by looking and talking to someone for 10 seconds you'll decide 1 of three things.
the pt is OK, the pt is not OK, or the gray area, We're Ok now, but we may not be in a few minutes. It's the latter that seperates the outstanding ER nurse, from just a good one.