Have the floors poisoned me?

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Specializes in ED.

Before I went into nursing school I worked in EMS for a long time and was pretty sure that I wanted to do ER nursing. I've gone through some rotations in different ER's as a nurse and I loved it. I am looking into a few hospitals that have orientation "internship" programs for new grads that help more you into the ER or other specialties. But as a nurse, one thing has been bothering me lately. We spend a lot of time on "the floors" so I come in every week to the same unit and we all get to know some of the patients. I go in and see how Mrs. M. that I had last week or go see how some of the other longer-term patients are doing and I realized that when I work in the ER it's not the same. I was wondering if that bothered any of you or is it just something you get used to?

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I think the nature of each unit is different. When I worked ER the goal was to treat the patient and try to move 'em out as soon as possible, ie discharge home, admit to floor, transfer to observation. In the ER since your time with patients is brief, the nurse-patient relationship is compressed.

On an inpatient unit where patients stay longer there's more time to get to know someone.

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I think of it as a bonus. If I have a particularly difficult patient, I know that patient will not be there the next day. I always start Fresh. Every ED of course has a frequent flyer program, so you do get to see some people often.:rotfl:

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

Except of course for the frequent fliers we see ALL the time! :) I walk by a room and say "I know you...What are you doing back?"

Usually psych patient or something chronic (HTN, liver...)

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Specializes in ER.

I was teaching a PALS course earlier today and, in an effort to be up front and honest with the students, I offered the following disclosure:

"You need to understand that I have a different outlook on life than all of you here. First, I've been doing ambulance calls for 15 years. That certainly warps your mind. Second, I work in an emergency department as an RN. And, yes, it's true that we really don't see the world the way the most people do. Third, I work nights."

There were many nods of agreement.

The ER is unlike any other place in the hospital. There is always a high degree of unknown - you never know what will come through the door next. That will either make you love it, or passionately hate it. There is no middle ground.

I suggest that you do some shadowing in the hospitals that you're interested it. I did that before I picked a job and, frankly, it's the reason that I work where I do now. And remember, if you go to work in a hospital where you routinely drop patients as a medic, there will be a level of expectation about you - good or bad.

Good luck - and don't limit yourself!

Chip

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Except of course for the frequent fliers we see ALL the time! :) I walk by a room and say "I know you...What are you doing back?"

Usually psych patient or something chronic (HTN, liver...)

That usually fills my longterm day to day contact need---more than fills it.

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