jerry5657

What is your current patient/staff ratio's? I work in a 13 bed ER with a Fasttrack of 10 beds(Fasttrack staffing is 1 or 2 nurses for usually a little of 30 patients for a 12 hour shift) during the day shift only, consequently that shift has basically the sicker patients in the ER part. Our staffing could be a 1 to 1 say for a code or possible up to 1 to 4. That doesn't sound so bad but often with the accuity of the patient care its really beyond safety to take more than 2 or 3. We are often short of monitors and supplies, have very few tech's usually one that we often have to share with triage. We see more patients in our area than the nearest hospitals - usually around 130/d (including the fast track patients) give or take a dozen. There are few hospital rooms available so often there are holds and we wind up with folks in the halls on carts. I see great nurses being overwhelmed by the workload - the hospital doesn't seem to have the funds for improving the facilty or staffing - any magic beans out there?

shock the patient by saying---------- something like "I am a closet thespian" "To shock or not to shock, That is the question!"

Thanks, for the sugestions - I have been to several official sites and have difficulty getting to any useful data - I'll keep swinging, Thanks

Going to an ICU Is a good step toward CC transport. Your experience in ER will give you confidence in tough times and ICU will sharpen the details of critical care. Take all the classes and training you are offered that you are able too. Good Luck!

Hello, My name is Jerry and I started my nursing career on a burn unit with an ICU for 4 years, then I went to a general 20 bed ICU that did everything from Trauma to post CABG, of course AMI's as well and so on. After 4 years in the ICU I always dared to think of working in an ER, and I do not regret it at all! I liked all the cool gadgets and detailed care of ICU. There is nothing like struggeling with a sick patient all night - swan and pumps and drips I love it but the ER has just as wonderful rewards - never have I worked in an environment where Dr., Nurse, RT, and Tech's (at least where I work)work so close and as a team. In ICU people don't usually get a lot better - just enough to ship off to tele or somethng and then who knows - In the ER half your patients or more will get to go home better right now! (Not counting drug seekers who don't get what they want). I don't think I ever want to go back to such a stuctured environment as an ICU or Nursing floor - Its cool taking care of the immediate and let the ICU and floor take the next step - its a nice place. No MARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No Baths!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO CALL LIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Floors wont like you - you bring them work and they got enough. ICU will think your lazy(or stupid) because you don't have the pt. tweaked ICU style - but let them work a little while in an ER and styles change. Icu nurse takes 2 patients usually, three if busy - ER you keep taking patients until all are cared for. Every room will be full, and cots in the hallway as well will be full and floor nurses will not take report and will think your pushy but actually your desparate. You will use ACLS often, you will become an a terrific IV starter and vampire. Good hands on and good use of nursing theroy. Well, take care Jerry

Dear Nurses, I am on a comittee that is searching for fire disaster preperation. There is a lot of federal sites but a lot of non humonoid language having more to do with the Idea of having disaster preparation and no indication where step one step two or here is some standards - all vague mission statement speak - whole lot of nice sounds weak on clarity. I have some data from a sourse but looking for more if anyone knows of some viewable plans, ideas I sure would like to take a look. Thanks and God bless you. Jerry