I want to be an ER nurse. I'm so worried about freezing up when something serious happens. I worried that a mother will lose (or is afraid to lose) her child and I will break down with her and not be able to perform my duties.
I had to go to a CPS hearing a long time ago with my uncle to win custody back of his kids (his ex was on drugs wanted the kids back so she called CPS...long story short the system failed those kids but in the end my cousins where back where they belonged with their dad) and we saw a mom there (relinquishing her rights) and the dad there in handcuffs (losing his rights ) because he raped his daughter . It was awhile back but I remember she will have to use a bag to potty for the rest of her life. He damaged some of her organs. How can live with those images in my head? How could the nurses handle that?
Now let's say that a guy just abused a woman/child physically or sexually :mad:and he was stabbed. How do you hide your disgust for this person? Let's say is it's a woman that abused her kid. How do you handled that? I know it's unethical to tell them they are the scum of the earth and they deserve a needle to the arm. I just don't know if I can handle these scenarios.
Another question how often are you presented with these scenarios? Am I watching too much TV?
When I think or ER I think of me just saving lives. My friend asked me today was I being realistic with myself? There is alot of bad in the world but does the good outweighs the bad that in the ER?
I just used this response earlier and it is the best advice I have ever received as an ER RN... "It is NOT YOUR emergency."
You are the ED RN. You have to make the best of a bad situation in the time allowed.
When it is done, my rule is that I give myself 15 mins after work to think about things. The good, the bad. My mistakes, what I did right. Then.. TURN IT OFF! You can't take their problems home with you.
) because he raped his daughter 
. It was awhile back but I remember she will have to use a bag to potty for the rest of her life. He damaged some of her organs. How can live with those images in my head? How could the nurses handle that?
TpaRN17
11 Posts
I just used this response earlier and it is the best advice I have ever received as an ER RN... "It is NOT YOUR emergency."
You are the ED RN. You have to make the best of a bad situation in the time allowed.
When it is done, my rule is that I give myself 15 mins after work to think about things. The good, the bad. My mistakes, what I did right. Then.. TURN IT OFF! You can't take their problems home with you.