ER the most physically demanding?

guzzebear · Dec 13, 2005

I did my workstudy in the ER....and from my experience we got a lot of help when needed and when asked.:chuckle . I am 5ft tall and weigh about 100 pounds. I will be graduating in Dec. and will be working in the ER in Feb 2006. So the answer is yes and no!!!

LeahJet, ASN, RN · Dec 13, 2005

so do you all have to like, overhead press 400 pound patients? caber toss unruly drunks and crack addicts?

Nope, that's what restraints and vitamins A and H are for.

ativan. haldol.

guzzebear · Dec 13, 2005

Nope, that's what restraints and vitamins A and H are for.
ativan. haldol.

HEE HEE True

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Dec 13, 2005

Toss in a little benadryl and your good to go.

RJ

Nope, that's what restraints and vitamins A and H are for.
ativan. haldol.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2005

And you don't bench press the med/surg patients for the rest of their six week stay.

All of nursing is physically demanding.

Human nurse · Dec 13, 2005

I think that the Neuro floors are tougher in terms of having to lift patients. I worked as a tech in the ER and on a Neuro floor which means that I was lifting most of the patients. Neuro patients were usually paralyzed. Never worked in the ER as a nurse so I cannot really speak to that. I plan on going back to ER next year after I rap up my RN. I work rehab now as LPN and it can be heavy too. I often think that Peds would be nice (little people are easyto lift), but way too depressing for me.

NurseWilliam · Dec 13, 2005

Having worked in both MedSurg and ER, I can say that both are both physically demanding in their own ways. ER work involves more rapid, coordinated movement and endurance with prolonged cooldown phases. MedSurg requires more heavy lifting and what sports medicine practitioners call "explosive strength"- that is, a lot of strength is demanded in a hurry, like coming off the line of scrimmage to block a defensive lineman.

NurseWilliam · Dec 13, 2005

Nope, that's what restraints and vitamins A and H are for.
ativan. haldol.

Ah, yes. Better living through chemistry.

Kidrn911 · Dec 15, 2005

Since I work in a pediatric facility, 99% of the lifting is not an issue. But I often need earplugs for the crying and screaming

NessaNurse · Dec 15, 2005

Ahh the screaming in peds, thats why nights are much nicer. On my peds floor we get some nuero kids too, and neuro adoscents can be heavy, but probably not as much as adults. You would be surpised how strong those little folks get when you have a procedure to do on them though. I've actually been bit, hit, you name it by kids who are familiar with the floor, they really hate nurses. I wold love to do ER! But not w kids. Also with PEds at least for the first coupla years you are SICK. I've never been sick so much in my life! I do like kids though, but it can be really sad

CoolhandHutch, MSN, RN · Dec 15, 2005

Take into consideration it's not only the floor you work on that can be demanding- it's how well you take care of your body. I'll sound like your mother here- eat right, get plenty of sleep, EXERCISE AND DON'T SMOKE! Everyone has their anecdotal example of how stressful a certain floor is but if you aren't prepared for it, even the simple tasks can seem extraordinarily difficult.

/soapbox