I HATE THE ER

HiddencatBSN, BSN · Sep 2, 2020

Start applying for other jobs. Sometimes it’s worth sticking things out but I’ve left jobs after I’ve decided I’m just done.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Sep 2, 2020

You can handle uppity coworkers and bully management for six more months. Who CARES if they have a big ego, do your job and go home.

You have 6 months to secure your next move. Job hunting will improve your mood and give you hope that this will be over soon.

What do you want to do next?

EDNURSE20, BSN · Sep 2, 2020

22 minutes ago, Been there,done that said:

What do you want to do next?

I’m not 100% sure. I know I plan on leaving the bedside one day, but I don’t think I’m ready for that yet.

I know I really enjoy surgical nursing, and I’m good at it. Im thinking PACU, I've done it before, I like that the hours are generally a bit better and that it’s still acute care, so I still have a lot of possibilities when/if I wanted a change in the future.

long term I know I want to work in rural/remote nursing. That’s why I went to the ER, to build up my experience. I don’t know how much pacu would help that.

speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Sep 2, 2020

7 hours ago, EDNURSE20 said:

I started in March, just as COVID hit. I didn’t like the job, but thought I would give it a chance. 6 months on, covid is not an issue where I am and things are back to normal. But I hate the job more than ever!!

everyone has such a big ego, even the nurses that have just finish there new grad year. They all think they are the best and know it all. Management is toxic! They bully staff and put staff down every chance they can get.

I worked float pool before, so had done ER and most clinical areas, but they see me as ‘just a floor nurse’ which in there opinion is the lowest form of nursing where all you do is shower/toliet pt all day. I am sick of it.

I feel like I use less skills in the ER than anywhere else I’ve worked. All pt are the same, vitals, ECG, blood draws, urine sample, pain relief, and the odd catheter I’ve literally done nothing else! I miss all the things I did on the floor.

I applied to a few job back in February, before Covid, and to my surprise I got offered interviews at every single hospital. But I choose this job because the manager talked it so much, made it out to be completely different to what it is. This was a big decision for me, it was on the other side of the country. I knew absolutely no one here. And was an expensive move. I 100% regret my decision.

I feel stuck here. I don’t want to be here. I have told myself I have to stay one year, get that ‘ER experience’, pay off my student loan and not look like a job hopper. But I’m so unhappy. I don’t know if I can stick it out.

First, never put yourself down for having that floor experience and I am sorry you were made to feel that way. I feel like I have fantastic time management as an ER nurse, but when I have hold patients, I struggle the entire day. I could never do floor nursing! I am always so behind.

Honestly - I have been in the ER for 6 years. I have gained valuable experience and don’t regret it at all. My first team was wonderful and supportive. Second team....not so much.

If you are not happy with the job and feel like you need a different job, then apply. I think I always had the mentality that ER nursing was the best form of nursing there was until I had some major life changes and HAD to make adjustments. I finally had a very kind coworker nurse in the ER who transferred to pre-op tell me something along the lines of “our jobs can be so much less stressful when we already have stress to deal with in our day to day lives. If we can still take care of patients, but do it in a different, safer way, then why not take that opportunity?” I didn’t understand that 6 years ago. Now I do.....and transferring to the pre-op/PACU setting very soon.

The ER can be fantastic for some - it was for me for a long time! But sometimes life changes and it takes you to different aspects in life where change is needed. If you aren’t happy in the ER, then by all means, apply for other jobs. It doesn’t mean you are a job hopper but simply different circumstances in your life. I wish you all the best.

JKL33 · Sep 2, 2020

9 hours ago, EDNURSE20 said:

everyone has such a big ego, even the nurses that have just finish there new grad year. They all think they are the best and know it all.

No they don't. People with a healthy self-esteem don't act that way. What you are seeing is them repeatedly trying to shore themselves up without even knowing what they're doing.

9 hours ago, EDNURSE20 said:

they see me as ‘just a floor nurse’ which in there opinion is the lowest form of nursing where all you do is shower/toliet pt all day. I am sick of it.

Ditto the same train of thought from my first comment. Apparently they need to have someone to think of as "lesser" in order to feel good about themselves. Sad and pathetic. There is no reason to care one bit about how such individuals characterize something they know nothing about.

9 hours ago, EDNURSE20 said:

I feel like I use less skills in the ER than anywhere else I’ve worked. All pt are the same, vitals, ECG, blood draws, urine sample, pain relief, and the odd catheter I’ve literally done nothing else! I miss all the things I did on the floor.

Talk with the manager and tell him/her you are ready for additional learning opportunities and responsibilities.

9 hours ago, EDNURSE20 said:

I have told myself I have to stay one year, get that ‘ER experience’, pay off my student loan and not look like a job hopper. But I’m so unhappy. I don’t know if I can stick it out.

Sometimes it's right/okay to throw in the towel. But you should really think carefully about putting yourself in a position to take hits and losses (such as financial) mostly because other people like to think of themselves as big shots.

I say try to rise above before considering alternatives. Your work ethic and your performance is determined by you, not them. They don't have anything to do with anything.

Chickenlady · Sep 2, 2020

Yeah, ED nurses have egos. Just like ICU and Surgery and Cath Lab....

If those are the only skills you are using, then you are in a low acuity ED or they are giving you the easier assignments. If you want to do more, ask to shadow the crash rooms, resus room, whatever you call it in your unit. Personally, I can't remember the last shift we didn't have an ESI 1 or 2 patient.

If the environment sucks so badly that you can't stick it out and get into the more acute beds, then I'd be cautious in saying you have standard ED experience, because with a year of experience, the next ED you hire into is going to expect you to hop on those acute cases and rock it with minimal orientation.

Chickenlady · Sep 2, 2020

4 hours ago, speedynurse said:

I feel like I have fantastic time management as an ER nurse, but when I have hold patients, I struggle the entire day. I could never do floor nursing! I am always so behind.

I would suck as a floor nurse. It is a different skill set

Emergent, RN · Sep 3, 2020

If you ER isn't your thing, cut ties, if you have a possibility, before a year. Some ERs are worse about the Hot Shot personality syndrome people. It can be VERY obnoxious.

HiddencatBSN, BSN · Sep 3, 2020

11 hours ago, Chickenlady said:

I would suck as a floor nurse. It is a different skill set

I worked in the er first and did 2 years of med surg when my kids were babies and I was starting from scratch. I made all sorts of dumb new nurse mistakes my first year on that floor. This is why I get so irritated at the whole “you have to start in med surg” thing, like it’s nursing basics. And it’s certainly a great place for new grads to start but it is its own specialty.

OP, life is short. I think it makes sense to stay until you have another job offer but there’s no reason to not actively pursue other options now. Whether it’s the specialty is just not for you or the unit just sucks, you have solid experience in your background and I think you can put a positive spin on it just not being the right fit for you in your cover letters and interviews.

EDNURSE20, BSN · Sep 3, 2020

I worked in the Er while in float pool quite often. I enjoyed it, I felt comfortable there. I thought it would be a good next step to get more acute care experience. But now this er has completely put me off, I don’t want to move to another er and go threw the same problems.

I gave this employer so much, I moved during COVID lockdown to start earlier that I was meant to. They wouldnt give me my contract, and I was worried if I didn’t move when I did I would of been jobless.

I was forced to live in hotels for 3 months, unable to get a rental place, worried each week where I was going to live at the end of week when that hotel accomodation run out. My employer didn’t help at all with the hotel cost.

I had to fly down quickly, before they stopped flights, I had just a back pack of clothes, no car or personal belongings. I was also doing a Lot of overtime. It was a really s**t time! (I’m sure most nurses would say that, and a lot of us are unfortunately still working with covid)

This is why I regret my decision to move here so much. I could of had a much easier time if I had stay put, or even chosen a different hospital that I Had offers at. (But ofcourse back in February no one knew covid would of had this effect on us) I know now not to trust a employer that makes such big promises!

Guest219794 · Sep 3, 2020

If what you are saying is accurate, this is a toxic environment, and won't get better.
Only you know what you can financially manage, but if you can- quit.

OTOH- if you see some reasonable, decent humans flourishing there, part of this might be your perspective. Talk to somebody, either officially or casually. Have a sit down with your immediate supervisor.