Hagabel

Look at outpatients clinics or possibly a practice nurse position.

What a nasty post. She is trying to do her best and it sounds like she prioritised correctly in an emergency...if some one has fractured legs during nasty fall hardly the time to respond to the other family member with his complaints.

I work in NZ and our ratio in ED is 1:4 or 1:1 if they are in resus or really sick. In the US I worked various ED's and it was normally 1:4 or occassionally 1:5. I cannot imagine working a floor and having 4-7 pts!

Tonight: I have sunburnt feet...seriously.......... healthy person with red legs at 11pm at night in summer I hurt my foot.......pt has not had a shower in possibly months, drunk and feet so skanky I cold not see anything except dirt and hard skin Numb lip Abdo pain X 4 years The broken little toe after stubbing it who calls an ambulance and brings her kid with her late at night leaving a houseful of people and cars in the driveway. And the 2 pts in a 100kmh high speed rollover who walked away!!!!!

I hear all you guys! I work in a very busy ED in NZ and we have no visiting hrs for obvious reasons. We only encourage 2 visitors and quickly ask more visitors to leave or swap out, unless ot is dying etc. We do allow visitors into our resus roms but ask then to stay on 1 side of pts bed so we can do what we need to do. Only 2 chairs per room usually limits the visitors! If they are interfering with care we ask them to leave and our wards do have restricted visiting hrs still, apparently they were open until a few yrs and ago and then they have gone back to rstricted, 11am-1130 pm and 4-8 pm. NO worries about pt satisfaction surveys here but most people over here are grateful and very patient.

Yes I agree, if you are going to post on a ED nursing board you probably want to know what you are talking about and have some experience, just to appear a little more credible. (nothing personal)

I actually like the 3-11 shift but only cos my my OH can pick up kids from after school care. I can drop them at school, get some errands done, walk dog and sleep if I want. Mind you I am only casual(prn) and pick my shifts. I have spent 20 yrs doing 12 hrs (3 per week) and pre kids loved it. Now I am in NZ doing 8 hr shifts and feel so much better for them. I get 1/2 hr lunch and 20 mins tea in a 8 1/2 hr shift. Crap pay but better conditions!

I am off over holidays this year but only because I went casual(prn) after 22 yrs of nursing and sick of doing a lot of holidays. I now enjoy staying home with the kids on the holidays whilst they are still young. Here in NZ you get double time and a day of annual leave in lieu! Same for Boxing day and any other public holiday! Merry Christmas to people who are working 25th!

I trained in the UK, worked in the US for 20 yrs and have ben working in NZ for 18 mths in ER. I actually prefer working in NZ, (even though the pay is crap) but the staffing, way you get treated and working conditions are much better.

At this job...noo way. I am casual and work what I want/can. In the past I have at a job I had been at for a long time but no. My days are my days off.

[COLOR=#003366]gloryfied Have not read all the answers so sorry if this repetetive but have you looked for a day postition or one with better hours? practice nursing, clinic, urgent care etc? I was miserable with shifts recently and I quit and went casual so i deliberately avoid nights..best thing I ever did!

Good for you finding something that makes you happy! And I want to reassure you that a lot of us out here (more seasoned nurses) are very nice to new nurses. As long as they ask questions before doing anything potentially lethal thay can ask away!

I just went casual after 22 years of nursing and suddenly got tired of weekends, holidays and nights! I work 3 days per week(8 hr shifts) and choose to work no holidays or weekends. I did work a Sat today (my choice) and still do shifts but never before 7a and no later than 2315. I also do a little home health admin(no scrubs or hands on nursing) about 1/2 day every other week. And I wonder why I see my kids more and my attitude has improved!

Sounds like you are doing fine esp if you have a great preceptor. Use the monitors but don't rely on them, look at your pts first, On our monitors the resp rate is typically unreliable and I never really use it. If concerned about a patient pop them on the monitor leads or the pulse ox but don't rely on it. Don't be intimidated by the Drs..their poop does not smell like roses and most ED Drs are really approachable and nice. After 13 yrs in ICU it took me about 1 yr to feel competent in ED! Enjoy and be patient with yourself!!!

Exactly why I left the US! Here in NZ, socialised Health Care is a basic human right, as it should be .....