ER nurses a different 'type' than others?

[Madigan]

Could you imagine yourself being a floor nurse, or a bedside nurse etc? I ask because the ER seems really interesting to me and about one of the only places I would want to be a nurse, not sure if that means the career isnt for me, of it legitimately attracts different types.

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

What is the difference between ICU, CCU and ER, loosely? ICU is kind of a super by-the-book kind of job right? I am way way more of the adapt on the fly, thats why I like street emt so much.

ICU and CCU can be the same thing, but scopes may vary from organization to organization. Those are usually inpatient settings for the most acutely ill patients. The ER is strictly a short-term solution. Assess, treat and street, or assess, treat, and transfer/admit.

[pugmom79]

Floor nursing was too rote, too routine for me. I learned I am not a detail oriented person. I love the er. Stabilize them and ship them upstairs or treat and street. When I give report to floor nurses that's get cranky that I don't have every IV gauge and location memorized. They have access. It works. That's all that matters. But I'll tell you their vitals off the top of my head know how they responding to the fluid boluses etc, or what their trops were. We see so many patients that I do forget little things like where their iv is ( but I know they have one and it works since I just told you I have them 1mg dilaudid IV before they come up to you). I care about the truly emergent stuff. Not when they last pooped. Unless they are here for an obstruction obviously. It's a better fit for me, but not for everyone.

[pugmom79]

And yes, I have to be assertive and super confident in front of the patients and some coworkers. I'm also like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, being firm and assertive with one patient and the immediately going to the next one and holding their hand.

This!!!!!

[ERGirl83]

ER is it for me. If I had to work the floor, I'd probably quit. I like the unpredictability and the lack of continuity of care, lol

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

"'acute rehabilitation (CRRN), LTC & psych'."

And I in turn, bow down in respect to anyone who can work those fields! I'd rather deal with pediatric burns before I do LTC, Psych, Alzheimers!

This is a point I've belaboured before - as an ER nurse, can I take care of ICU/Med-Surg/Psych/L&D etc. patients? Absolutely! As an ER nurse, will I take care of those patients the same way an ICU/Med-Surg/Psych/L&D etc. specialty nurse can? Probably not!

ER nursing is all about rapid diagnosis, stabilisation and either admit, transfer or discharge. But as an ER nurse (who must also point out that working a community hospital ER versus working a trauma center ER in the Trauma Bay are two completely different planets!) I should also mention that 95% of what you do as an ER nurse is "routine" (i.e. 'non-emergent'. Especially if you're not working Trauma Bay... and even there, most of it is 'routine' and 'by the books'.)

I guess what I'm trying to say is: if you're basing your perception of what ER nursing is like based on the endless TV shows and dramas - you're in for quite a rude awakening. Celluloid life AIN'T nothing like REAL LIFE ER. Easiest example? Nobody talks about the 'co-dependent frequent fliers' and the barrage of "needs" they bring with them....

But all said and done - I love the field. For the most part, I love the docs and nurses I work with. The patients are a mixed bag - but I take pride in knowing that on the worst day of their lives, I was the helpful professional who 'explained things' and 'calmed nerves' and 'who made me laugh' etc.

ER nursing isn't for every nurse - but for the ones who do identify with it; the rewards are endless! :-)