Things you wish someone told you...

NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN · Jul 23, 2016

There's a pattern that you can plan around, even in the ER.

enuf_already · Jul 24, 2016

Only floated to the ER but I wish I had known that

1. I would see many things that no one who is not a nurse would believe.

2. Foreign objects seem to end up in strange places.

3. Humans do some nasty things to each other.

4. Granny dump always happens around major holidays and family vacations.

5. People may not always tell the truth.

Uptoherern, RN · Jul 29, 2016

In my job no matter what you do it isn't good enough. Our "mandatory" meetings are always at 7a. We are constantly lectured about lwbs percentages and what we are doing wrong. We hardly ever hear about what we are doing right!

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Jul 29, 2016

Check your equipment and stock your station before you get slammed. When everything is right where you need it, life runs a lot smoother. (I go in early just so I know I'm ready.)

Pee before the trauma, you might be stuck for hours.

Always help your coworkers, karma comes back.

When you are the busiest, and most stressed, stand in one spot for ten seconds and regroup/reprioritize. What can you delegate? What can you forget about, for now? Take the ten seconds, then go again.

ED_Murse · Jul 30, 2016

Trust your instincts. If you think somethings going on with a pt, it probably is.

Never touch money. As an ED nurse you end up finding it in the grossest places.

Mander0415 · Aug 3, 2016

Becoming an ER nurse will be more emotionally, psychologically and physically stressful and demanding then most other positions, but if it's in your blood, you will never be able to go back to regular bedside nursing again.