ED Culture

Published

Specializes in Emergency/Trauma Nurse.

I will be graduating in May and am interested in emergency nursing. Can any of you tell me what the culture is like in your ED? I am confident that I can learn quickly and understand the steep learning curve, and believe my personality is best suited to this kind of nursing. But, I have one reservation- I don't want to work with a bunch of cut-throat, gossipy jerks. It's not that I have thin skin, bc I don't. I just prefer to work with a smart, collaborative, supportive team who can count on each other. I'm an older nursing student (30's), and if there is one thing I have learned in my life it is that you can't be happy if you're surrounded by negativity and/or mean-spiritedness. Should I worry?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, Critical care, & Education.

amyjm333~

I believe culture varies ED to ED and floor to floor. Finding the department with the right fit sometimes takes works. ED tends to attract stronger personalities in that you need to be assertive, think on your feet etc... Most of the ED staff I have worked with in my career are extremely smart people.

I have worked in a few different EDs and for the most part have found my co-workers to be extremely collaborative. I help you with your patient load and you help me back type of mentality. When a critical patient arrives, most of the time a whole team of people jump in until the patient is stable and then slowly they move on, return to their patients etc.

If you feel like the ED is your place...go find the right department to work in. It's out there. When I think of the best teams I have worked with, I see a theme with the best ED director being around at the same time. Be sure to meet the director if you interview and try to see how passionate they are about the success of their team. I have found some of my best friends in my ER co-workers and I definitely don't prefer cut-throat people either. Chase your passion...whatever that may be.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

It varies I think. I've worked in 2 EDs and both are very different. I've spoken with travelers who have worked all over and they tell me certain places are good and others not so good. Team work has been strong in both of the EDs I've worked at so far.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency/Trauma Nurse.

Thank you for the info! I was just offered a position in the ED and I am so excited. I asked alot of questions in my interview and it really seemed that the unit is very collaborative and full of many, many nurses who have a true passion for teaching newer nurses, so I am thrilled to be starting once I graduate in May! (I'm actually starting in March as a extern/tech, just to get my feet wet until I'm licensed).

Wish me luck! Any tips appreciated!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion