Please forgive the long story!
Our ER is seriously drowning. As in patients waiting full DAYS (not hours), EMTs being requested to stay with instead of drop off patients because there is no one to care for them, etc etc. On a particularly bad day the hospital had to enact their disaster plan and pull employees from all departments, ancillary staff included for extra hands just to get almost stable. We weren’t able to go on diversion bc the other area hospitals already were.
I have worked at this hospital for years, and I truly love our organization. However, I have been away from bedside nursing (Telehealth)for 4-5 years. Prior to that, I was med surg. Not only are bedside skills likely super rusty, I have zero ED experience as an RN.
I would really love to help for the sake of our patients/ community but I know transitioning to a specialty like this in a struggling environment will be an extreme challenge. I would truly love to hear any and all advice/opinions/thoughts you may have. Should I run to the fire or away from it??
SN:
I have already put my name on the list to be called as a disaster volunteer if the need arises again. My husband is slightly concerned about the risk of bringing home COVID as well since we have small children who are too young to be vaccinated. He says he would be less anxious if I did all I could to be safe. What measures are you taking to limit transmission?
Specializes in EMT since 92, Paramedic since 97, RN and PHRN 2021.
Last year I was working the ER. We had 3 codes come in simultaneously. Heard something over the hospital PA I have never heard before or since.
" ALL AVAILABLE RESIDENTS REPORT TO THE ER STAT".
They got in the way more than they helped but I guess the point is that no matter what happens, more staff can be called in. Although it may actually cause more harm than good.
Unless there was a county declared mass casualty incident, can't imagine how that could be considered a good idea on any planet. And then it would be 'all available residents report to ER conference room for briefing'...or something.
Specializes in EMT since 92, Paramedic since 97, RN and PHRN 2021.
20 hours ago, offlabel said:
Unless there was a county declared mass casualty incident, can't imagine how that could be considered a good idea on any planet. And then it would be 'all available residents report to ER conference room for briefing'...or something.
Yeah, im not sure who made that call to have that relayed over the PA system. Its kind of like when a lemur pops its head above the rest, and then all of the others follows.
emtpbill, ASN, RN, EMT-P
482 Posts
Last year I was working the ER. We had 3 codes come in simultaneously. Heard something over the hospital PA I have never heard before or since.
" ALL AVAILABLE RESIDENTS REPORT TO THE ER STAT".
They got in the way more than they helped but I guess the point is that no matter what happens, more staff can be called in. Although it may actually cause more harm than good.