Emergency Room Skills

Published

Fellow ER Nurse

HAPPY EMERGENCY NURSES WEEK

As you know it takes a special nurse to

effectively work in the ER.

There are several skills that are essential in this field.

I would love to here what is your skill that sets you

apart?

What is the one thing that helps you do your job in the ER?

Assessing

Problem solving

Communication

multi tasking

What is your skill that makes you proud to be an ER NURSE?

For me I feel proud of my IV skills, whether its a baby, junkie or elderly

patient, I can say my IV skills are pretty darn good.

Please leave your comments and share your experience.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Turn on a dime and reprioritize my previously reprioritized priorities.

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma.

As long as a patient is in possession of at least some of their mental faculties (e.g. not post-ictal, in the throes of a mental health crisis or suffering from dementia) I can make peace and negotiate with just about anyone. ******-off narc seekers in withdrawal, people experiencing their first kidney stone, chest pain patients who have spent 3 hours in the waiting room before being roomed, you name it, I can keep them calm-ish until dispo.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Ability to stay calm and maintain focus on the priority at hand during high acuity patient care (GSW to chest requiring emergent thoracotomy and around blood product infusion in ED was the most recent intense case last week) as well as ability to recognize disease processes from minor complaints to critical complaints in a timely and effective manner to discern who needs care now versus those who can safely wait. These skills are critical for all effective ED nurses. I believe that is what sets our specialty apart from others.

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My sense of humor even in intense situations

Able to prioritize and get the job done quickly and accurately

Im also proud I can stay calm in all the craziness

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Specializes in ED.

Brainpower.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

My nonjudgmental attitude and matter a fact manner seems to be good at getting pts to open up to me. I have pts tell me things that they did not tell other nurses or even the Dr, including recent IV drug use, STD hx, abuse, alcohol use, etc.

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Ahh, the art of negotiation...NICE!

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Staying calm and portraying your calmness is definitely a skill....eventhough in the inside you might be saying HOLY....COW!!

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You know aside from fire fighters OUR sense of humor is definitely something special.

I take my sense of humor to other places and I either offend, insult, or gross out other people...

I come back to the ER and I fit right in....

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Patient trust and confidentiality seems to be your strenght,...that is an excellent attribute!

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I agree. Nobody outside the ER understands our sense of humor. They think I'm weird and crazy!! Hahhaa

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