No trauma at Parkland emergency dept

[Thenurseofmordor]

I want to clear up some misconceptions about working in the Parkland Emergency dept for anyone wanting to go be a part of the level one trauma center Parkland legacy.

If you work in the Emergency dept at Parkland, you DO NOT work in the Parkland trauma dept. This includes new residents, etc.

If you are employed by the emergency dept you will have Zero and I mean ZERO trauma experience. The two departments are completely separate, different nurses, different doctors, literally separated by a wall. There is no crossover between the to departments. All trauma patients are triaged to the trauma dept. Any that slip through to the main ED are swiftly taken away to the trauma dept once trauma is identified, this includes all burns, GSWs, MVCs, falls over 10' or bleeding that requires a pressure bandage.

The trauma dept only hires RNs with 3+ years of experience and only has 2-4 RNs on staff per shift. The main ED has 50+RNs per shift and hires all skill levels and sees 600-1000pt's/day with medical/social complaints.

Both departments are world class. But let there be no doubt they are completely separate and will likely remain that way for the foreseeable future.

For a combined emergency and trauma experiece look elsewhere.

[Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN]

Thanks???

I did not know there were misconceptions about it. Did not even know what Parkland was till I googled it.

[PD82]

Thank you!

I am doing 4th semester clinical at another Dallas hospital and our ER rotations have not been what we expected AT ALL. But after reading your post, that makes sense. All the good stuff is going somewhere else and the ER we are at gets all the basic stuff.

I did a OB rotation at Parkland and they do seem to have a separate unit for just about everything. Impressive facility though!!!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

I find it difficult to believe that a Texan, especially someone who is apparently involved in emergency services, did not know what Parkland was - LOL.

OP, thanks for the clarification. Most top-tier EDs are very selective when it comes to hiring - it makes perfect sense. That's the way they maintain their status.

[lbroberts265]

Thanks for the clear up! I was unaware and I am interviewing there for their residency. I completely get it though, not sure if I would want new nurses like me doing the traumas-lol!

[Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN]

I find it difficult to believe that a Texan, especially someone who is apparently involved in emergency services, did not know what Parkland was - LOL. ...

Never really been up that way. For some reason I think psych facility when I hear Parkland.

I know Baylor is up there, but that is it.