Er Holds?

[tiredfeetED]

Lately we have had numerous holds, a ICU or 2, tons of med-surg, tele and lots of baby's. We are a small hospital with 18 bed ER and 6 bed extenstion for small cases. Yesterday we had 15 holding which led to 3 beds for acute pts which never seem to open up. Pts are in the halls, Chest pains are geting worked up in the fast track, Blood is being hung in the halls! Is this common throughout the country! :chair:

It is really unfair for the pts being held in the ED. I know they dont get the care that they should! We have lots of travelers who signed up for ED who play floor/ED RNs. We have one tech if were lucky so it is all primary care!

[TinyNurse, RN]

I'm a new nurse, and have worked in the ED since graduation 7 months ago. I work in a 25 bed ER, with 9 hall beds. It's nothing for an icu/ vent patient to sit in the ER for 2-3 days. I've hung heparin in the hallways before while we wait for a bed upstairs, not to mention people that need tubed on stepdown or medsurg and they send the patient to us to tube and hold for an icu bed.

at times we have an ICU nurse get pulled to ER to care for these patients which is great.

[Uptoherern, RN]

There aren't enough nurses to staff the er's to take care of the holds. The holds can't get up to the floor because there aren't enough nurses on the floors. Meanwhile the ambulances circle, and the walking wounded keep walking in. IMHO

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Welcome to the wonderfull world of ER nursing

Aint it grand

as the throngs come coursing

we will strike up the Band

Doo wah ditty

Im picking up Good Vibrations

One day at a time sweet jesus