Personality traits suited for ER??

Victoriakem · Nov 17, 2004

Having a short attention span helps in the ED. I like NOT seeing the same people day after day, although in my ED we tend to see those people on a regular basis, some weekly. At least we take turns taking care of them, esp. the a**holes. It is a good feeling to feel like you are actually doing something for someone, as opposed to caring for someone too stupid to take tylenol at home for a fever or mild pain. Some people are actually surprised you can buy so many OTC meds at their own supermarkets. Wow! Who'd of thought?! Ok, I'm done now.

Victoriakem · Nov 17, 2004

Heck, I hate it when I have been in triage for a while then have to go back to the ER and see the same patients I already triaged!

All those sick people get on my freaking nerves, sometimes.....:roll

ManEnough · Nov 17, 2004

So many brilliant posts. I'm still deciding if ED nursing is for me (I'm heavily leaning toward "no" for many of the reasons posted.. the never-ending chaos, the drug seekers, the angry, often dumb families, the management that wants you to run a Ritz Carlton) but there are two things I LOVE about the ED:

1. Doctors are there. None of that "sorry to disturb you at 2:30 am but your patient's BP is up." There is a lot to be said for having access to immediate orders and interventions.

2. I love that there are men in the ED. The balance of male/female coworkers is rarely seen in other departments.

Like others have said, the only way to know if it's for you is to try it out. (Currently in my trial period here). :)

aw930 · Nov 17, 2004

Thanks for all of the insight! I too am a soon to be new grad and am struggling with whether to do ICU or ER new grad programs. I definitely think my personality is much more suited for ER, however for some reason I fear that if I go straight to ER I may miss out on getting the more "classic" nursing floor/unit experience and that it may hurt me in the end. (?) If I did go the ER route and then later decided to do unit or floor nursing would I be at a disadvantage?

This is a second degree and career for me so I don't want to spend time doing something just to pay my dues when I could be really enjoying myself and thriving more in the ER.

Thanks!!

So many brilliant posts. I'm still deciding if ED nursing is for me (I'm heavily leaning toward "no" for many of the reasons posted.. the never-ending chaos, the drug seekers, the angry, often dumb families, the management that wants you to run a Ritz Carlton) but there are two things I LOVE about the ED:
1. Doctors are there. None of that "sorry to disturb you at 2:30 am but your patient's BP is up." There is a lot to be said for having access to immediate orders and interventions.
2. I love that there are men in the ED. The balance of male/female coworkers is rarely seen in other departments.
Like others have said, the only way to know if it's for you is to try it out. (Currently in my trial period here). :)

chip193 · Nov 17, 2004

Hi...I thought all you experienced (and new) ER nurses could help me out. Currently, I'm working in an ICU as an Apprentice Nurse. I graduate in May 2005. Recently, I was told that my personality was suited more for the ER than ICU. I am not sure what this meant and am curious to see what all of you think makes a good ER nurse. What kind of a personality thrives in the ER? What are some must have strengths and what are the weaknesses that will cause an ER nurse to fail or be unhappy in that environment?
I was initially going to school to seek a Paramedic position, but was dismayed at how poorly they pay the Paramedics in my area (starting pay $34,000) and realized with a family I can't work 24 hours shifts, which most require. I still get excited when we have a Code Blue in our unit and am always impressed by the choreography that goes on in the Trauma Bay in the ER. I decided to go into ICU nursing back in my 1st semester of nursing school because I thought the possibility was there for me to pursue CRNA school. I have since decided that I need a lot more excitement than that and I HATE standing around in the OR. Not to mention I would like to add to our family someday and with CRNA school, that wouldn't be a possibility. I love fast paced environments (I think that's why I was a waitress for years) and I love organized chaos.
Any advice or information you could give me would be greatly appreciated. I'm becoming very confused about where I would like to work as it gets closer to my graduation date. The areas of Emergency Medicine and Forensics interest me greatly. I loved my EMT class and loved going on calls. I think the variety that an ER sees is what draws me to thinking I would enjoy it. What is everyone's opinion on ER nursing?
Melanie

Melanie,

I was a medic for 15 years before getting bored and going to nursing school. I've been doing ER nursing for the last six months and I still like it.

My wife, who was an EMT before going to nursing school, took an ER position after a year in the ICU at her hospital. She hated the ER, so she's going back to the ICU.

She hated the ER for the same reasons that I thrive on it - the absolute unpredictable day and the associated insanity. She's a unit nurse, one who thrives on order, and sets a schedule. She doesn't like the ambulances showing up any time with people who are sick (or not) and trying to find a place to put them. She prefers the whole "wait an hour, we're busy up here".

But, yes, to be effective in an ER, you need to be pathological. And, I admit, I certainly would be pathological!

Chip

P.S. I don't know where you were looking to be a medic, but I never made less than $50K as one...perhaps it the area.

lynswim · Nov 23, 2004

Hhhmmm.....sounds like the ER is alot like the OR. Any nurses out there that used to work OR and now love ER?

Lyn

veetach · Nov 29, 2004

Did I mention a sick sense of humor too? LOLOL Personally, I am trying to get one of our local police officers to give me a tazer gun for Christmas, ohhhh man! Could I have fun with that! :rotfl:

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Nov 29, 2004

All you really need is a Fentynal salt lick in the waiting room. Comming from 17years of combined EMS and ER as both nurse and medic oh the stories one could tell. Prob need to sit down and write a book, but hey we are the ones who dont sit for long.

:rotfl: Rj

RNin92 · Nov 30, 2004

Did I mention a sick sense of humor too? LOLOL Personally, I am trying to get one of our local police officers to give me a tazer gun for Christmas, ohhhh man! Could I have fun with that! :rotfl:

So veetach my friend...

Care to share that taser with a friend in illinois!!!??

Just sayin'

:coollook:

blueinplaid · Jan 26, 2005

im still trying to figure out if I fit in the ER. I started here almost 3 months ago from PICU and have come home crying on half of those days lol. i love learning though. it's a busy busy place and am struggling to find time to eat or take the time to drink in my 14 hr shift. i understand though that the middle shift in the winter is the hardest so im getting a baptism by fire. im very task oriented now, and am learning to start iv's and draw labs and juggle adult patients and read doctors' handwriting whom i don't know and become familiar with adult drugs i've never heard of....it's crazy! then, when i go over to the peds er, it's more comfortable of course, but i'm still so task oriented that i can't focus on the critical kids properly! grrr! i'm struggling for the balance. i say all of this but i do love the learning. i feel like i've learned so much in the past couple of months then i have in a while. ER is a different animal. i give reports to the nurses on the floor and in the icu's on patients i barely know. it's hard because i come from an area where every detail matters lol. i like that but i like the variety here. im going to make it through the winter season and reevaluate my place, but so far i'm hanging in by my fingernails and my ego is getting a knocking! :coollook:

blueinplaid · Jan 26, 2005

im still trying to figure out if I fit in the ER. I started here almost 3 months ago from PICU and have come home crying on half of those days lol. i love learning though. it's a busy busy place and am struggling to find time to eat or take the time to drink in my 14 hr shift. i understand though that the middle shift in the winter is the hardest so im getting a baptism by fire. im very task oriented now, and am learning to start iv's and draw labs and juggle adult patients and read doctors' handwriting whom i don't know and become familiar with adult drugs i've never heard of....it's crazy! then, when i go over to the peds er, it's more comfortable of course, but i'm still so task oriented that i can't focus on the critical kids properly! grrr! i'm struggling for the balance. i say all of this but i do love the learning. i feel like i've learned so much in the past couple of months then i have in a while. ER is a different animal. i give reports to the nurses on the floor and in the icu's on patients i barely know. it's hard because i come from an area where every detail matters lol. i like that but i like the variety here. im going to make it through the winter season and reevaluate my place, but so far i'm hanging in by my fingernails and my ego is getting a knocking! :coollook:

katrinamay · Jan 26, 2005

Hi...I thought all you experienced (and new) ER nurses could help me out. Currently, I'm working in an ICU as an Apprentice Nurse. I graduate in May 2005. Recently, I was told that my personality was suited more for the ER than ICU. I am not sure what this meant and am curious to see what all of you think makes a good ER nurse. What kind of a personality thrives in the ER? What are some must have strengths and what are the weaknesses that will cause an ER nurse to fail or be unhappy in that environment?
I was initially going to school to seek a Paramedic position, but was dismayed at how poorly they pay the Paramedics in my area (starting pay $34,000) and realized with a family I can't work 24 hours shifts, which most require. I still get excited when we have a Code Blue in our unit and am always impressed by the choreography that goes on in the Trauma Bay in the ER. I decided to go into ICU nursing back in my 1st semester of nursing school because I thought the possibility was there for me to pursue CRNA school. I have since decided that I need a lot more excitement than that and I HATE standing around in the OR. Not to mention I would like to add to our family someday and with CRNA school, that wouldn't be a possibility. I love fast paced environments (I think that's why I was a waitress for years) and I love organized chaos.
Any advice or information you could give me would be greatly appreciated. I'm becoming very confused about where I would like to work as it gets closer to my graduation date. The areas of Emergency Medicine and Forensics interest me greatly. I loved my EMT class and loved going on calls. I think the variety that an ER sees is what draws me to thinking I would enjoy it. What is everyone's opinion on ER nursing?
Melanie

melanie,

you need a sense of humour, need to be able to stand, walk and run for 8-12 hours and able to come back to work the next day do it all over again. You need to equip yourself clinically because some staff (nurses/doctors) dont know what they're doing. And you know that you are suited to ER when after a code blue you tell yourself.........."Wow! that was great!" (even the patient died)

goodluck

katrinamay