Sorry for the dumb question, but I really have no experience with ER whatsoever. I graduate nursing school (RN) in July and am somewhat interested in emergency care. We do off site days for clinical, but none in ER. We really aren't even taught that much about emergency issues (besides the big ones that are more likely to happen on a floor) during class.
My grandmother who passed away in 1998 was an ER nurse for years. I never got to discuss this with her because I was 100% sure I wanted to be an actress when I was that age. :lol: So nursing wasn't even a consideration when I was young. Now at least I know it's the only thing I could ever do! Anyways, I'd love to follow in her footsteps, but not JUST to be following her - yanno what I mean? I think ER would be interesting.
Problem is, I really don't know what goes on. When I pass through ER at work all I see are patients sitting in little rooms getting asked questions by people. I'm not even sure if these people are nurses or techs or what.
So...I'd like to know what goes on in the ER. Is it just getting an admission report? Do you do many hands on things besides codes? I'm thinking that's a yes because our patients always come up with IVs and foleys. But I just am really interested to know what an ER nurse does.
I had a very similar question. Great post guys. I have been an inactive nurse for 4yrs now. I don't really have much nursing to back me up. I really would like to do ER as Med/Surg I hated. How is someone like me considered since I am not a new grad. I have just 1yr of nursing and that was yrs ago.
Does anyone know of somone who went into ER after taking a RN refresher?
Ooooh, I'm transferring departments. My nails look baaaaad.
Everyone prepare for the onset of opinions from people who can't take a joke and can't find the red x.
HEY!! I'm offended by that remark! oh wait....joke, right? I"m with ya.
Seriously though, we're part nurse, MD, respiratory, housekeeper, mental health counselor, social worker, peace keeper, historian, spiritual advisor and standup comedian.
Shadow a nurse for a day in the ER, that will give you a better idea of the unpredictability of each day. No two shifts can possible be the same. I've been in ICU for a good long time now and definitely miss the old days, my co-workers are always asking me to tell them "weird-but-true" stories from down there.
I agree with susi q, her post covered so much of what a day in the life of an ER nurse looks like. I have been a nurse for 18 years, and would never want to work anywhere else. I have done my share of med surg and SNF, but just prefer the ER.
I have worked in a small rural ER, where we had 3 ER rooms. They only had 1 nurse for the ER on days, and 1 nurse on nights. I worked nights there. You didn't have a ward clerk or CNA, so you registered the patients, you ran errands if someone on the floor couldn't do it. You made the blue cards, got the patients snacks or trays if they could eat. You make transportation arrangements via helicopter if they were bad or ground ambulance.
I also have worked in a busy city ER where we saw a lot of traumas and stayed full to the gills. You usually have a ward clerk and aide, or orderly, but they stayed very busy as well.
When we are full and a trauma or chest pain patient comes in, we have to play "fruit basket turnover" so to speak, and find them a room quickly. Often, patients that aren't traumas find themselves in the hall on a stretcher. Not very comfortable, I have been there myself, but it is better than throwing up in the lobby.
When a patient on the floor codes, if they survives, they will be down there if there aren't any unit beds. We have held ICU patients so long, they have been downgraded to medical or even d/ced.
The nurses run errands, pick up supplies, assist with procedures (EGDs, ect), they act as case managers or social workers, ect.
You name it.... although it isn't exactly as portrayed on TV, sometimes there is alot of minor things, but man I still wouldn't do anything else. It really is something that is in you. You have to think quickly.
Plan for the worst , hope for the best and take whatever comes through the door!!!!
It can be a dirty, exhausting job but ya know, I wouldn't go anywhere else. We complain and whine but my co-workers love what we do....and do it well I might add....we have an awesome crew.....even the newbies...
Has anyone mentioned the digital dissempaction task yet......ick?
I was wondering if I could interview any ER nurse by email by this Saturday? I'm doing this project @ school about my career choice and I'm interested in ER nursing so if its ok with one of you guys, can I interview you? Please :)
Please don't think this is a luxury. What this means is that we do everything in our power not to have to call. The doctor only gets called when we need intubation. Otherwise, we manage everything and keep the pt alive until the doctor pulls the chart. I think this is like ICU? I mean, you guys don't call the MD everytime the pt pukes or asks for the doctor or complains of the worse pain ever. I don't think we call for them anytime you wouldn't in ICU, just we have to manage their care until then without orders.
Specializes in Emergency, Critical Care Transport.
We do everything. We're functionally ADD. When I mean everything, I mean EVERYTHING. I've started lines on a 6 day old and a 110 year old. I've delivered. I've accessed a portacath of many someones who are neutropenic. I've given TPN. I've run Mach 5 to the OR with a trauma surgeon's hand in someone's cracked chest holding an aortic arch together while the flight nurse charts and our charge nurse hangs blood in the Belmont and two other nurses are handing blood to the charge and titrating pressors and we don't care when the OR nurses tell us not to pass the line because well - it's truly life or death. I've been clawed by insane, demented 75 year olds. I've cajoled the docs into doing that head CT and been glad they've done it because, wow, yes, the patient is drunk but also has a subarachnoid hemorrhage. I've listened to my gut. I've kept residents from killing patients. I've made (fortunately small) mistakes. I've been punched by 25 year old schizophrenics. I've said a small prayer (and I'm not particularly religious) for every patient who has come in coding and doesn't make it. I've stabilized serious burn patients. I've dealt with noncompliant everything: heart failure, diabetes. I've pressed the shock button. I've done chest compressions. I've been the ICU helper, even though ICU is my achilles' heel. I've done fasttrack. I've handed out dilaudid like candy. I've been there when a 20 year old learns she has a brain tumor. I've looked in the eyes of a parent who asks, "Is my child going to be okay," and honestly answered, "I don't know" with tears in my eyes. I try to give comfort.
We do everything. We're functionally ADD. When I mean everything, I mean EVERYTHING. I've started lines on a 6 day old and a 110 year old. I've delivered. I've accessed a portacath of many someones who are neutropenic. I've given TPN. I've run Mach 5 to the OR with a trauma surgeon's hand in someone's cracked chest holding an aortic arch together while the flight nurse charts and our charge nurse hangs blood in the Belmont and two other nurses are handing blood to the charge and titrating pressors and we don't care when the OR nurses tell us not to pass the line because well - it's truly life or death. I've been clawed by insane, demented 75 year olds. I've cajoled the docs into doing that head CT and been glad they've done it because, wow, yes, the patient is drunk but also has a subarachnoid hemorrhage. I've listened to my gut. I've kept residents from killing patients. I've made (fortunately small) mistakes. I've been punched by 25 year old schizophrenics. I've said a small prayer (and I'm not particularly religious) for every patient who has come in coding and doesn't make it. I've stabilized serious burn patients. I've dealt with noncompliant everything: heart failure, diabetes. I've pressed the shock button. I've done chest compressions. I've been the ICU helper, even though ICU is my achilles' heel. I've done fasttrack. I've handed out dilaudid like candy. I've been there when a 20 year old learns she has a brain tumor. I've looked in the eyes of a parent who asks, "Is my child going to be okay," and honestly answered, "I don't know" with tears in my eyes. I try to give comfort.
I do my best.
I ask for help.
I don't have a typical night. Or day.
And I love it.
:heartbeat Love it!! Wow, the experience. You brought tears to my eyes. :)
We really aren't even taught that much about emergency issues (besides the big ones that are more likely to happen on a floor) during class. 
But I just am really interested to know what an ER nurse does.
RN28MD
272 Posts
I had a very similar question. Great post guys. I have been an inactive nurse for 4yrs now. I don't really have much nursing to back me up. I really would like to do ER as Med/Surg I hated. How is someone like me considered since I am not a new grad. I have just 1yr of nursing and that was yrs ago.
Does anyone know of somone who went into ER after taking a RN refresher?