ER Wasted

[RNFiona]

I have been an ER nurse for 10 years, mostly in large, urban, inner city emergency rooms. Basically I am fried and can't take it anymore. I go into nursing to help people but mostly I just get yelled at. By patients, their families etc. For things that have NOTHING to do with me. 99% of what folks complain about is the wait. The wait to see the doctor, the wait for lab results, the wait for imaging tests, beds, etc. Aside from making phone calls or talking to the doctor(who usually blows me off) these things are out of my control. Yet I take the abuse. I feel like I spend most of my shift placating people. It doesn't help that folks are becoming more and more entitled and expect to see a doctor within 30 seconds of their arrival in the ED, regardless of how minor the complaint. They could care less if their is a coding infant in the room next to them. Their need to see a doctor for their itchy lady parts NOW. I have tried changing specialties but no one will hire me without experience in that particular field. I have applied to other hospitals in the suburbs but nursing jobs are tight nowadays. I am confronted, verbally abused and threatened on a daily basis. While I do my best to see my its immediately and keep them informed, they still feel it is perfectly acceptable to treat me like garbage. While I am aware that their anger and frustration is misdirected and not about me, (or they are just entitled jerks who want everything NOW) it doesn't mean I like it. Another thing is that when I was hired I was put on nights because the majority of the staff are brand new graduates so they wanted someone with experience. Basically that means,I do the work of 3 people because the novice nurses are overwhelmed and struggling. So basically I am indefinitely stuck on nights. I am miserable and burnt out and depressed. In a bad economy I feel like I am stuck:crying2::crying2:

[vanburbian]

look at short stay/day surgery, ambulatory surgery units. The flow is very much like an ER, people come in, and go out same day, you do a brief history, check meds, allergies, VS, start an IV, maybe an EKG, some education and send them to OR. Then, they go home, or on to the inpatient unit.

The benefit is that many are there electively, and most are actually very pleasant, and generally only irritable because they missed their coffee or oatmeal or whatever.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Talk to HR about a transfer. They may want to keep an experienced nurse

Talk to HR about employee assistance programs to help you deal with negative emotions and your anxiety. Nothing worse than feeling trapped.

Talk to yourself about the possibility of moving to take another job, travel nursing, returning to school to qualify you for another position. When I am working on a goal I feel like change is inevitable.

Pretend everyone you meet in ER is a psych patient because in a way they are. Anxiety brings out the worst in the patients and you should not have to be their emotional punching bag. When I pretend someone is nuts then I do not respond to them like I would with a sane person. I just smile and do my best and can pretty much ignore what they say. Of course it helps to provide my best service so at least I know the patient is being treated appropriately.

Take a vacation. Maybe go alone. I have done that and it feels good to eat and sleep and read and do exactly what I want for a day or two. Makes me feel back in control again.

[eslvn]

I would look for another job regardless, someone will hire you. Its not right that people think that nurses are there to take their anger out on. I once heard some radio guy complain about how rude the nurses were, well no one started rude, they got PO'd by being bullied for years. We are human beings too, and we deserve to be treated like them, nursing is a hard job. I hope you find something soon, I am sure your ER experience will be helpful in any specialty.

[RNFiona]

I am a good ER nurse and I deal with the abuse well.I remain calm. I don't show anger, I don't argue with them etc. But inside, I am miserable. Travel nursing is out of the question(did it for years when I was single..married now..wouldn't work for me). What i really want to do i get the hell out of the ER. You would think someone with 10 years of ER experience would be snatched up by another specialty but sadly that is not the case. I DREAD going to work and count the minutes until it is time to leave:(

[TabKC]

I was told that by the managers in surgery at my hospital that ER nurses usually make good scrub nurses in the OR. Have you wanted to get into surgery? That might be a good place to take your experience.

[TonyaM73, ASN, RN]

OR sounds good. They don't complain or talk back!

[RNFiona]

OR wants at least 2 years OR experience. At least around here. I wouldn't mind the complaining if it was something I could FIX. But these complaints have nothing to do with me. I am just the most visible, thus an easy target for misguided rage.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I'm sorry you are feeling so down...:hug:. Have you tried critical care? When was you last vacation? I will tell you that many ED nurses that leave because they've had enough end up coming back because they are adrenaline junkies at heart and are stir crazy anywhere else. I would look into Rapid Response Nurse positions if they have them where you live....it will feed your need for unpredictability but get you out of the ED. I will tell you that the patient population in general has become very demanding and in this instant gratification age and are difficult to deal with anywhere except maybe the OR (or the morgue;)). I also recommend supervision on nights. YOu are the resource person, rapid response, and extra ED nurse, but you get the entire B*&^$ fest of the entire place. I'd even look into an LTAC but I'd keep you ED position per-diem just in case.

For many years I worked at some very tuff urban hospitals. When I moved to the east coast I worked at a very well endowed hospital in a very affluent neighborhood (there were more Mercedes in the visitors parking lot Thant the doctors lot.). You want to talk about being entitled, demanding and rude?? Have I got stories for you!

I once got a phone call from an airplane over the atlantic asking me to tell the pilot of a commercial airline to land the plane because they were "member's @ blank hospital" and the pilot won't listen to them. His wife had a dilated pupil from helping him with his scopolamine patch. Another time was the first time I was genuinely frightened (other than being arm robbed for narcs) was when a commercial airline pilot pinned me against the wall because I wasn't seeing his infant daughter quick enough:eek:. (the baby had gotten immunizations and had a rectal temp of 100.1) I once had a family come into a room where we were coding a teen with anaphylactic arrest and demand to know what the delay was on her tea and it's been 30 mins....where's the doctor....I wanted to punch her:devil:.

So, it happens reguardless of demographic. A personal favourite is the loss of the family heirloom that grandma was wearing when she coded alone in the nursing home.

Remember that in the ED, no matter what (usually) you won't be caring for the same patient tomorrow (I know frequent flyers) The patients either go home, go upstairs, go back from wence they came, or go to heaven.

Good luck!!

[sweetnurse63, BSN, RN]

I am a good ER nurse and I deal with the abuse well.I remain calm. I don't show anger, I don't argue with them etc. But inside, I am miserable. Travel nursing is out of the question(did it for years when I was single..married now..wouldn't work for me). What i really want to do i get the hell out of the ER. You would think someone with 10 years of ER experience would be snatched up by another specialty but sadly that is not the case. I DREAD going to work and count the minutes until it is time to leave:(

I have been there and I understand what you are going through. Your happiness and peace is a priority stress can literally make you sick. You will find another job, keep the faith.:redbeathe hugs to you.

[missbutton]

I second looking at PACU/ ambulatory surgery for a lateral transfer. But have you looked for more supervisory positions? 10 years of hardcore er experience sounds perfect for advancing to a dedicated charge nurse position or a house supervisor position.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Urgent Care

Case manager or Care manager (ER)

Vein Clinics (prefer ER, ICU)

Some GI labs esp. freestanding

Some Cath labs esp. freestanding