DOBOY

I work in the ER and find it's a quick way to look up drug info. Epocrates, the program I use, also contains formulas, lab values, and other features that tend to make life a little easier.

i don’t know about your er but i can give you a quick break down of what happened labs take any where from 45 to 90 minutes, then the er physician has to see the pt or at least view the chart 30 minutes, the pt’s dr. is paged, wait for them to call back, and then wait for them to come in, 30 to 60 minutes, the dr. then usually talks with the pt, writes orders, dictates orders, and then leaves the chart in dictation for the nurse to have to find later 60 to 90 minutes easily. this is all based on you having no other pt’s being admitted, your er dr. is on the ball, and no critical pt’s come in. i have found though the biggest problem is getting the private dr.s to do their jobs and quickly.

Caller: I took 2 Tylenol PM and they are making me fall into a deep sleep. Me: Yes that's what they are for to help you sleep Caller: But I didn't want a deep sleep, I just wanted to rest a little (I am trying not to laugh at the woman who I can tell is only about half awake) Caller: I can feel my eyes roll in the back of my head when I close my eye Me: Ma'm I think it best you just go to sleep, but if you feel the need you can come to the ER, but have some one else drive you. The best part the same person calls back about 10 minutes later and talks with another nurse. When I found out she was on the phone again I had the PA pick up the phone. He answers insomnia hot line. He then tells the lady to go to bed and sleep it off.

I took my boards just over 6 months ago and I remeber wanting to cry when the machine shut off best advise right now go have a stiff drink or a cold beer and sit back and wait three days to see if you passed because it will take about that long for the results to be up.

I watched way too much ER growing and thought how great is it to have people around you dying and you saving their lives. Then I thought hey being a Dr takes way too long. I have finally realized that the real ER is nothing like the televison show and I am greatful for that, could you imagine every Thursday night for one hour you have the worst pts of an enitre week. Just last night I worked a code for 45 minutes and it took me a good hour plus to catch up with my other 5 pts, my zone partner was a borrowed ICU nurse who took the one on one vent pt we inherited from day shift. God I love the ER. It would be boring without the emergency belly pains , nursing home dump pts, and the always interesting psychs, and it's way better than the show could ever be.

The ER department at my hospital is trying out a tracking system. They told us it was so pts could not say they have not seen a nurse in so long. Personally I think it's so the hospital knows where we are. I tend to forget mine...opps