johnnrachel

QUOTE: "What happened to you? Your feelings towards the ER nurses and techs are quite negative. Couching it in humor is troubling because this post has real teeth and fits in with all the countless ER bashing posts. Wow. Are you a nurse? A patient who didn't get the care they felt they deserved? Both? I'm curious." YOU KNOW YOUR A REAL ER NURSE WHEN YOU CAN LAUGH AT ER HUMOR AND NOT BASH IT. LOVED THE ER POST, ALL OF IT IS TRUE, THANKS FOR BRINGING LAUGHTER TO ALL OF OUR DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS HANNARN! KEEP THEM COMING!!!

Not sure if this one was mentioned, but my biggest pet peeve is when family comes in with the patient and your asking them all your assessment questions: How do you rate your pain, When was your last bowel movement? And the family member answers, He rates his pain a ten and his last bowel movement was this morning. This family member happened to be his sister!!!!!!!!!!!!! True story I almost answered: And what did this bowel movement look like this morning>??? (To the sister) Point being I HATE WHEN FAMILY MEMBERS ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS FOR AN ALERT AND ORIENTED PATIENT!!! My response is I am legally documenting and I need to chart what HE is saying or feeling!!!!!!!!:argue: Oh and by the way the above mentioned patient was an ambulatory, alert and oriented 30 year old male with abdominal pain times one week, who just ate Arby's one hour ago!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh yes, we still do it, I think I bought my lunch with my winnings!!!!!!!

I have three school age children and I work 2nd shift and would not have it any other way!!!!!! Of course I only work 3 days a week!!! Part time it is great!!!!!! I dont worry when the kids get sick, or on vacation, etc, (it is much easier to get a sitter for a few hours rather than the entire day)!!!!!!!! I rest before going to work, the anticipation thing people have mentioned (cloud over your head waiting to work) that goes away, you really get used to it!! I worked days for 1 and 1/2 year and I am much happier now!!!!!!!! I dont miss any during the day school events either!!!!!!!!

I completely agree!!!!!!!!! I try to go after each stick with the attitude... I WILL GET THIS STICK!!!!!!!!!! When I feel pressure from family watching or a constantly complaining patient I most certainly always miss!!!!!!!!:lol_hitti:hhmth:

This pretty much sums it all up. The best advice a very experienced charge nurse gave me on my last day prior to going to my true love ER

The news media needs to focus on telling people when they SHOULD run to the ER and when immediate care centers are more appropriate instead of focusing on scaring everyone on how BAD this flu season is or how DEADLY mrsa has become. I just saw on the news today the media made mention of two of our local hospitals (edwards and Good samaritian) that the ER actually had to TURN away ambulances. OH REALLY!!! Welcome to BYpass baby!!!!!! We have been on bypass a total of 122 hours this year 2008 alone and last entire year only 65 hours. Expand on this story by telling little Bobby's mother that he does not need to be rushed, triaged and seen by a doctor immediately for his sore finger from gym class today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:smackingf:hpygrp: Sorry off topic, just want to say honestly the average wait time to see an md has been between 5 and 10 hours respectively!!!!!!!!

I can just say my two cents worth...... As a student you do NOT have the same responsibilities as a registered nurse, you are not talking to 50 doctors, dealing with ALL the families, critically ever changing patients, etc. I now work in the ER (love it) but I did work the floor for over a year. I can just say give nursing school and nursing in general much more time to make any judgements just yet. Better yet just keep reading allnurses and you will learn the real world of nursing. Good Luck in your schooling.:thnkg::prdnrs:

I currently work in the ER at Palos Community, I know several friends who work or worked at St Joes in Joliet and Silver Cross in Joliet, the new hospital in Bolingbrook just opened their doors in November or December this year, it is a new ADVENTIST hospital.. I can just say that ER nurses are still staff nurses at ANY facility if you are hired on, however agency is different, If you are hired as a staff nurse your paid as a Staff nurse, not any more for ER, ICU, etc. Many people I know did not like the experience of staff nursing in this area, they are the first cancelled, etc. However there are many positives I am sure to agency as well. Sometimes you have to consider all things, gas, mileage on car, benefits, etc. I hope you find a happy home whatever or whereever you choose to go. Good LUck.:dncgbby:

Just my two cents,..... I was in the same rut:innerconf:omy::wtosts: Hated every minute. A year ago switched to ER and LUV

I have been a nurse for a little over 2 years I started in the ER almost 1 year ago, I will celebrate my 41st birthday this summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love, love the fast pace and all the excitement. I have been off all week (illness) I cant wait to get back on Saturday!! I can honestly say I will NEVER, NEVER go back to floor nursing!!!!!!!!!!!! Good Luck and enjoy the ride:roll:clpty::anpom::chrs:

It looks like your a nursing student...... just want to say good luck with WHATEVER program you choose..... ADN, BSN.........

I graduated from moraine valley 2 yrs ago, I feel that I could not have gotten a better education anywhere, and graduates from other schools needed longer orientation than graduates from our program. The human resource manager from our facility told me that she will hire a Moraine Graduate over other schools because of the reputation surrounding Moraine Valley. I agree this is a VERY hard program, however you will be more than prepared for the real nursing world!!!!!!! Private message me anytime!!! I am passionate about the program and the world of nursing!!!!

After checking abc's and addressing needs, I calmly explain to them that they are scaring the children and frankly they are scaring me by yelling so much!!!!!!!! I tell them calmly and usually this works. ( I work in an ER) I truly cant stand when the elderly yell and are alert and oriented, they are just being Pains in the duppa's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:thankya::thankya:

I wear the unisex from life uniform, if anyone has any other ideas I would luv to know as well!!!!!!!!!!:cheers:

I am an ER nurse and I know this discussion can get to be an ugly discussion on ER vs ICU. I can just say this little advice, I personally would make a terrible ICU nurse, but I think I rock ER. This is because ICU is more of a long term type of nursing care, and ER is more like treat em and street em attitude. Just different type of nursing, one is no better, or harder or anything like that. Also you have to be very adaptable and able to change gears in an instant in the ER. However, I think in the ICU you have to get closer to the patient and worse yet the families because most patients are in the ICU long. I will be following this thread because I am curious what people will say!!!!!! Good Luck with your decision. I personally think if you are a new grad you should go for ICU, I worked telemetry before ER and I adapted well!!!!! Good Luck with your decision. :innerconf

10 months ago I transitioned from Telemetry to ER. I can tel you to expect mostly utter insanity most of the time... You will quickly adjust to any situation and just take things as they happen, Just do your best and hold on and enjoy the ride!!!!!:dncgbby::nclr: Good luck

Just a thought to let you know it is not uncommon for prn or per diem staff to be called off, they are the first floated and the first called off. Just thought I would let you know you would need to consider this with regard to finances, and it is very, very hard to get the 5 shifts in a row, would probably include a lot of weekends. Just something to consider.... still think you could be a GREAT mom and work part time to help the hubby.

Okay may I say politely. Why dont you work 60 hours a week for the next year on your feet ALL 60 hours, mentally draining yourself for 60 hours a week and then see how you feel???? If you are both a TEAM you can save all this money the next year and this wont be an issue will it????? Many people would like you to babysit their kids and it pays very well after you have kids. As far as the comments from the farmers out there who work 60+ hours. Having peoples lives in your hands is very different when your exhausted. Face it this girl is planning already now she does not want to work a full 2 YEARS before it really happens. Sounds to me like she doesnt want to work. plain and simple. I did not see that you were even expecting yet.

VERY WELL SAID!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is very obvious that you want to stay home and burn your husband out, if you notice, all of the people who disagree (which you seem not to like) are nurses who work 12 hours shifts. I give you less than a year and you will be divorced than you will be forced to work. Dont ask for advice if you dont want to hear it. And please enlighten us all, last time I looked there were MANY part time positions in the paper, why dont you offer to babysit??

Dont waste your money on the kaplan review, go to the book store and use the kaplan book while you drink coffee. I paid way too much for the course and I firmly believe you can self study. Good luck.

I just have to thank you all for such great threads. I am 8 weeks into my orientation and panicking because in 4 short weeks I will be on my own. Reading your posts just makes me feel better and I am sure many others. Thank you all so much!!!!!!!!!!! :cheers:

I have been orientating for 6 weeks now, as of tommorrow I start my 12 hour shifts (what I was hired for) and will continue to orient for 6 more weeks. How long till I feel like I can really do this. Sure now Im very confident, talking to docs, passing meds, interpreting orders, etc. BUT I have someone I can run everything by and continually ask questions. Please tell me in the next 6 weeks will I feel as if I can do this myself??????? I am up to 4 patients and I pretty much do it all unless there is a problem, such as my pt was scheduled in 1/2 hour for a perm pacemaker implantation and was refusing to sign consent!!!!!!! ( this was a very last minute planned operation) Okay so call surgery, cancel, get a cardiologist to inform him of the importance, etc. I had my preceptor helping with this last minute change. Will I know what to do on my own. Im starting to get nervous. So how long does it really take....... Thanks so much :thankya: