Nurse sees worst, best of profession during daughter's ER visit

I agree this would help, but damned if I am going to ask permission or forgiveness from 50 people every time I need to pee. It's a personal need and if anyone doesn't allow me that privacy can bite me. I'm sorry the line has to be drawn- I've given up breaks, I've given up personal comfort- thank goodness someone allows me to eat once every 12 hours, and I'm supposed to ask for understanding because I NEED to EAT? No way.

That said (and I meant it), I do try to go around each hour to ER rooms and say "We've done x, y, z, and now we are waiting for f__" We also ask registration to make a general announcement to the waiting room if there's going to be a slow down in people being called back- usually because ambulances are arriving.

Why do people assume that we are uncaring or lazy when there is a delay instead of assuming that there is someone that needs attention? It is an emergency room you know.

I dont think anyone should have to eat at their desk. Take 15 minutes and eat where no one is looking. I dont want to see the people at wal mart eating at their checkstand, it looks like they arent doing their job to a person who does not work there, not like they are too busy to get a break.

I dont think anyone should have to eat at their desk. Take 15 minutes and eat where no one is looking. I dont want to see the people at wal mart eating at their checkstand, it looks like they arent doing their job to a person who does not work there, not like they are too busy to get a break.

Do you honestly think we WANT to eat at our desks? I would LOVE to be able to sneak off to the cafeteria and hang out with the nurses from other areas for half an hour. Unfortunately staffing in my ER doesn't allow that. My partner would literally drown while I was gone. She does the same for me.

Mostly, I take a bite here and a bite there as I run from room to room. But if I do get to sit down for a minute, I eat my lunch alone in a corner of the ER behind the nurses station. I pull a tri-fold standing screen across the area (hint, hint...do not disturb?). Even with the screen up, patients' family members will walk behind the nurses' station, open the screen just to tell me Granny needs a blanket, a cup of ice, etc....even when they see the fork in my hand

I have no clue how you guys do it! I simply admire ER RNs, maybe because I know I would not be able to work in ER and you can and do.