hating my job in the er

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Specializes in ER/Trauma/Critical Care.

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Baby Gurl, the first year is always hard...to start off with....It's that way for all of us as we get used to the hospital setting. If you feel unsafe, perhaps it's time to look into a new unit or even a new job if you want to stay in the ER. Take some time to think about what you want - I hope you find something that suits better. I'm sure you are not a bad nurse, you can only do what you can do with the staff that you have. Good luck! :icon_hug:

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Specializes in L&D, High Risk OB, OR, Med-Surg, PHN.

]:uhoh3: That sounds like my old L&D unit not taking a bathroom break for an entire 12 hr shift. I remember one night having 4 lady partsl deliveries and 1 c-section myself I was there 3 hrs p my shift was over doing paperwork. I LOVE nursing but sometimes it is so overwhelming.

:smilecoffeecup: Lisa

Sitting here drinking my coffee and watching news

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Specializes in ER, Medicine.

There are many hospitals out there with supportive environments. Sometimes you have to do what's best for you and your license, it sounds like it's time to move on. Don't risk it by staying any longer.

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How do you guys handle the stress of everything? is it always in your mind that your liscence is in jepardy? I am in the nursing program and just looking for any advice i can get. THANKS!

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YOu just have to stop thinking about work when you leave - Find other things to focus on in your personal life.

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Specializes in Hematology/Oncology and Medicine.

Hey! Sounds like the ER I was precepted in.

I was precepted in an inner-city ER that was EXTREMELY busy. Thankfully I had one of the best preceptors that they had there, ER nurse for 25+ years, and he was a supportive non-burned out 25 yr veteran.

With regards to med errors. They teach you in school that it's never going to happen, that if you do the 5 rights, you will get it right everytime. [insert Wrong Answer Buzzer here] Just not reality. Talk to any good nurse, and they will tell you that they have made a med error before. Everyone does, that's life, and we learn what we can do better from our mistakes. Unfortuately it sounds like you are working in an environment where you have to TELL someone you are going on break rather than ask. Make sure you take breaks though, in any nursing job.

I personally DO NOT like the 8 patient load that seems to be the "norm" where you work. In my experience this is not the norm unless 96% of those patients are level 3 or level 4 patients (Ingrown toenails, colds ect.) Don't get me wrong, if I was working triage we sometimes would endup triaging about 130 patients per shift, but if I was working in the back, taking care of patients we would only do 4-5 each.

As far as not getting a lot of time to teach or talk with patients, this is the part where I tell you that whichever ER you go to it's going to be pretty much the same. It's cowboy/cowgirl medicine. Figure out what your patient's biggest problem is, stabalize 'em, and send 'em packing or ship'em upstairs. If talking with patients and doing patient teaching is what you live for, maybe you might want to consider transfering to a different department in the hospital, cause in all reality you aren't going to get much time to in the ER.

So I'm with ya on the busy part, on not having a lot of time for patient teaching and talking with patients. But I'm not liking the work environment with an 8 RN to patient load (you could probably find a hospital with a better RN to patient ratio than that, hey, maybe a level 2 or level 3). I was working 12's in the ED as well, and you WILL fizzle out unless you take your breaks. Sounds like you need to tell rather than ask though!

ER life is exciting, and stressful, but make sure that your employer isn't setting you up to fail with a pt load that is too large (which to me it sounds like they are). But there are really great ED's to work in out there, and if you don't like where you are at right now, I am sure that your current experience would help to get you in the door somewhere else.

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Specializes in geriatric, hospice, med/surg.

When I was practicing, I found that fearful feeling in my gut actually kept me on my toes but too much at times...a sort of functional anxiety if you will. What I did learn over the years, was to pace myself, take the time no matter what was going on to go to the bathroom to promote bladder health, not going to be given time off for polynephritis, are we, if we do not ever void enough! That urine just sits there allowing microbes to set up infection, to also eat and drink enough to have fuel and hydration enough to be able to even function in a healthy state. Also, I stopped worrying about my license being on the line, 'cuz I promised myself that if I just concentrated, did the very best that I possibly could, that no harm would come to my pts. as a result of my being careless from being nervous or distracted. Once I came of that mindset, of being as careful as humanly possible, carrying ALWAYS, and then letting the thought drift away from the above mindset, I was much more relaxed, hence, able to do a much better job!

Hope this helps. It is not safe to go without fuel or to empty your tank! I know that's easier said than done. Good luck to everyone...and by the way, I could never be an e.r. nurse That used to be a goal of mine, but I eventually let the dream go...I'm too much of a nervous nelly to ever be able to function in that mode. I take my hat off to all of you e.r. nurses. God bless you for your nerves of steel, critical thinking skills, etc that make you a gift to the needy in rushed hours of delivering nursing care of an awesome level.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Thread closed as op deleted the original post.

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