Reporting to ICU

Oh yes, we get this all the time. It's the worst with ICU, but PCU and tele do the same thing. If they want to decide on the treatment for patients they need to get their MD and then THEY can have nurses second guess their every move in the ED.

Sometimes, those questions aren't to bust your buns. Sometimes the ICU nurse is trying to see if there's a reason that something wasn't done, e.g. "he needs a CTA but he's allergic to IV dye, so he's going to need to be prepped first." Sometimes it is just whining, but not always.

I'm sorry this goes on. It seems inevitable that many people from different units develop tunnel vision and can only see things from their own perspective. I'm afraid those of us in ICU are prone to this more than most. The nature of your job in the ER is totally different from the ICU, and some people will never understand that. Also, there are b****y people everywhere you look -- don't let 'em bring you down.

Some of my best friends at work are ER nurses (and damn fine ones), and we all get a kick out of indulging in the whole "ER vs ICU" thing, but it is totally light-hearted and all in good fun. I hope this helps. If not, since you're an ER nurse, I'd be glad to dangle a nice, shiny object in front of you and you'll be completely distracted in no time flat (just kidding!).

Love, a male Trauma/Surgical ICU nurse :)

. If not, since you're an ER nurse, I'd be glad to dangle a nice, shiny object in front of you and you'll be completely distracted in no time flat (just kidding!).

Love, a male Trauma/Surgical ICU nurse :)

We would't be ER nurses if that wasn't true. Our attention is constantly being directed somewhere else. :)

Frankly, I think that's part of the reason for a lot of the ER/ICU tension. The personality types that gravitate to each specialty are fundamentally different. Sometimes opposites attract, but mostly it's just like oil and water.

Now, where's my shiny object?

it's the same story no matter where you go. we've got a great new intensivist who believes that ICU pts are to be in the ER for as short of time as possible - which means we often don't have time to do all the little things, just enough to stabilize and make sure they'll survive transport. love that new doc! no more ICU patients in the ER for hours and hours on end... ::crosses fingers::

In the ED I work we do everything possible for the patient. Once we get the admission orders for the patient we have an hour to get that patient to the floor. Sometimes this may be tough because we have other patient to tend to and maybe more to admit. What I do, I call the floor letting them know the patient will be coming, inform them I have to do some little more things for the patient like copy the chart or whatever and maybe give them a time frame on ETA. This would give the nurse some time to get the room ready and if they have any questions about the information I sent to them about the patient.

Frankly, I think that's part of the reason for a lot of the ER/ICU tension. The personality types that gravitate to each specialty are fundamentally different. Sometimes opposites attract, but mostly it's just like oil and water.

Very true. But I do love my ER colleagues :redbeathe (and they seem to tolerate me fairly well -- out of sympathy, I suppose ).

Frankly, I think that's part of the reason for a lot of the ER/ICU tension. The personality types that gravitate to each specialty are fundamentally different. Sometimes opposites attract, but mostly it's just like oil and water.

Very true. But I do love my ER colleagues :redbeathe (and they seem to tolerate me fairly well -- out of sympathy, I suppose ).

You have a good point. In the ER I work one of the clinical coordinator, worked the ICU for 9 years and earned her CCRN. She loves the ER. Some nurses feel they are tired of babysitting patients and having too many to handle. I agree with that. I float to different units so I wont get bored. It is beneficial for me to learn and grow.

You have a good point. In the ER I work one of the clinical coordinator, worked the ICU for 9 years and earned her CCRN. She loves the ER. Some nurses feel they are tired of babysitting patients and having too many to handle. I agree with that. I float to different units so I wont get bored. It is beneficial for me to learn and grow.

It is a good point, but just to clarify, it was made by Fribblet, not me. I failed to negotiate the quote function properly the first time around and accidentally usurped Fribblet's thought while trying to agree with it. Sorry, Fribblet!

I work in the ICU and I don't give anyone crap in report. I just figure I'll be doing my own assessment when the pt's get here anyways so oh well. If I need anything I'll just ask the Resident. No big deal.

ER and ICU are two different ways of operating with different mindsets. In ER you triage, treat and admit or street. In ICU, it's detail, detail, detail. So it's natural to have some annoyances once in awhile. The ER nurse can end up feeling like s/he's been grilled about impossibly picky minutiae and criticized every step of the way; The ICU nurse can end up feeling like s/he's just been dumped on with a hot mess, a ton if issues that need to be addressed, and a wham bam thank you ma'am report that leaves a few surprises to be discovered later. Just be nice to one another and try to understand eachother's perspective. When an aggravation comes up, deal with it respectfully. Try to be accommodating, it'll make future interactions much more collegial.

I have never observed or experienced any problems between ER vs ICU nurses. Many of the ICU nurses at my hospital also work part time or casual in the ER. We all get along great.

For us the problem is between ICU/ER nurses and the med-surg floors.

Somebody mentioned an ICU nurse wanted to know why a central line wasn't places for an insulin gtt. Why would you need a central line just for an insulin gtt?