erdaynurse

I was wondering if any of you had standards for staff debriefing after a code or trauma, particularly after a bad one or a pediatric one. Our ER does not debrief staff members at all and I was thinking about preparing a proposal for this, but I am no...

The Money Back Guarantee is a joke!! Who wouldn't take advantage of that!! And, like stated in a previous post, most people don't pay in the first place. I do like the staff survey to send to the patients! If only we could!!!

This just goes to show how far off track the healthcare profession has gotten from actually treating sick and injured patients with appropriate treatments and how the so-called patients of today call all the shots...literally. It's sad when patient s...

I have to agree that it is anyone's business that this overt behavior affects. The workplace is not the place to shove an affair in everyone's faces. Also, I agree that sex is not the only way to have an affair. It is up to the individuals involved i...

There is an NP in our ER who has worked in ERs as an RN and NP for many, many years. She wears bilat hearing aids. She does a great job and I have no concerns about her competence at all!

Keep 'em coming - this thread is tooooo funny!!! I agree with all of them! If you are the patient or the patient's family, you came here (or brought your loved one here) because you (or he/she) were (was) sick. It takes time and lots of tests to find...

I have to agree with Larry - I am an ER nurse but I have done PRN shifts in the ICU. I like ER much better. I think you are better able to hone your critical thinking skills in the ER - plus you have the docs to ask questions or debate issues with. T...

We do have the Employee Assistance Program, but I was thinking more of a group debriefing. Thanks for the suggestion, though, and I am sorry about your ex-husband. I have one of those, so I know how it is!! But sometimes, it is better that they are G...

Three really stick out in my mind... 1) Had a patient that came in with a "toy" stuck in his rectum - states that someone put it on the seat of his car as a joke...now, I ask, how many of you get into the driver's seat of your vehicle naked and do no...

I will usually hold PO and IM medication until the driver arrives and signs for the patient. If the patient has had IV narcotics, I hold all discharge paperwork and prescriptions at the nurse's desk until the driver comes. I also paperclip a note to ...

If you are comfortable with either of the co-workers having the affair, pull him or her to the side and explain that you (staff) can not control what happens outside of work but that they are being highly unprofessional and putting you (staff) in an ...

We used to have first and last names on our badges, but in response to heavy pressure from the staff after a security issue, our badges no longer have our last names or even initials.

I am sitting here with tears pouring out of my eyes from reading these! They are hilarious!! We also get "How long is the wait?" and "Can I make an appointment?" We get really annoying nurse advise calls too. Of course, when I say "Our policy prevent...

Pockets: 3-4 black pens (in case the "pen thieves" attack - haha) alcohol swabs small note pad cash ($1 bills and quarters especially for vending machines)Other Stuff: Stethescope around neck (used to clip to side, but it kept getting hung up on th...

ER nursing should be a little scary - true, most patients are "clinic" patients - dehydration, UTIs, strep throat, toothache, back pain, headache, and the list goes on. We do however see MIs, CVAs, MVCs, DKA, ODs, gunshot wounds, stabbings, falls, bu...

OMG!! I had to stop and giggle a little bit! This is too true!!!

Even after a horrible shift I can not imagine working anywhere else. There is a lot of burn out - you see awful things and are abused daily...but no where else do you see immediate return on making someone in severe pain or distress comfortable and w...

The ED I work in sees 150-200 patients per day. There is 1 triage nurse (we do 12-hour shifts) and 1 tech (sometimes no tech after 11pm). If a patient comes in via EMS, the patient is assigned a room and that nurse triages the patient. The triage nur...

I went back to nursing school at age 30 and graduated at age 33. I felt that my "real life" experience gave me a definite edge over the 18 and 19 year olds in my class!! Go for it and enjoy every minute of it!! And, by the way, I was NOT the oldest i...

In the ER I work at, I have been verbally assaulted (no biggie), but there have been instances in which my co-workers and I have been kicked at, punched, spit on, and other forms of physical assault. We have great security officers who are always the...

Congratulations and good luck with your new assignment! The main thing to remember is to know your limitations! Never be afraid to ask if you don't know something because your main goal is patient safety!! The ER is a busy, hectic, noisy, and confusi...

I have served in the charge nurse role and I have found that the most important thing is FAIRNESS! All the rules apply to everybody. Praise those who are doing well. If there is a problem, take the individual to the side and ask what is going on and ...

As an ER nurse, I am thankful for the recognition from Dr. Baehren! Excellent article!!

Patient Satisfaction? In the ER? Are they for real??!! In our ER, we house psych patients for 3-4 DAYS before they are accepted/transported to psych facilities! In our ER, the majority of our patients are F.F.s looking for the blessed release from na...