Leaving the ER full time

prettymica, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN, APRN, NP · Feb 9, 2015

Yes, its like this in my ER. I am leaving for am OR position. I am tired from holding, tele, ICU and OBS patients, with the revolving rooms. We are also very short on nursing staff and nurses and providers are quitting left and right. Mandatory 24 hours extra every 6 weeks. We are tired and beat down and not making money, this is a privately owned institution.

SeaH20RN, BSN · Feb 9, 2015

I used to work ER and its where I truely want to be. But with the Modern day care and demands on nurses, its just too much for me. I left ER for 12hrs Ortho floor. The patients are all "cleaned" up when they come in and I usually have the same 5-6 pt for the entire 12 hrs. I know what my day is going to look like ahead of time. IV's in, Lab comes to draw my blood. I know when antibiotics are due. Hx of pt is complete. Drugs are out of the pt systems. lol!! And no one is spitting me. The pay is less but so it the stress. Gotta love what you do.

Loo17 · Feb 17, 2015

So inhale, and breathe! I'm leaving my full time ER gig, to go to TELE!!! Ugh, I almost want to vomit just saying it. Ok honestly I have worked tele before so I know what's ahead. I'm leaving not just for a better 12 hour shift on days, from 8 hours nights, but because at the ER I'am at we hold observation patients for about 24 hours so you constantly can have 3 tele pts and one room constantly turning over, or even worse 3 rooms totally turning over and tele pt. who is confused and falling out bed!! It's insane, is this seen in other EDs? This is the first ER I ever worked at that had this! Also, Im tired of nights 8 hour nights just don't cut it, has anyone ever made the ER to tele transition, ps I'm still keeping my ER per diem, just in case

Only 4 patients?!? Jealous! We've been running 6 on average as of late. 4 patients per nurse is the department "goal" but I rarely see that for more than a couple hours of my 12-hr shift. When I say 6 patients it could be any combo of acuity.

Congrats on your new job!

NeedMoreCoffee · Feb 18, 2015

People don't realize what a toll holding those patients can take in the ED. Its so frustrating to not be able to spend the time with those patients who are sick enough to need you to spend the time with them. I hope you get a lot of benefit from changing your schedule and maybe you'll be able to recharge your batteries as well. :)

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Feb 23, 2015

Good luck to you. My last job was like that. I was lucky enough to find an ER job where despite the chaos. They give us enough staff to be effective and feel safe in our care. I hope the transition works well for you.

Footballnut · Feb 27, 2015

After 33 years in the ED I am leaving for a Short Stay gig. Not only are the hours better but I am enjoying it immensely. Although I now work in a fast paced environment it is much less stressful. As it turns out you can't take the ED out of the nurse once they leave the ED. My skills are helping where I am and I have the ED to thank for that. I still pick up in the ED from time to time so if I need an ED fix it's there for me.