What is a typical day?

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 2, 2017

For those of you who work in an emergency department, specifically a trauma center (level 1 or 2), how many traumas per day are treated? I'm just trying to get a feel for a typical day in a trauma center. I would much rather take care if a GSW patient rather than a GI flu patient.

This is going to vary widely by location, day of the week, time of day, phase of the moon, etc. Honestly, a true trauma should not spend that much time in the ED at all, and in some EDs, the trauma assignment is rotated among staff; you'll spend a significant amount of time not caring for traumas, especially as a new grad in the ED. If you want to spend your time taking care of trauma patients, you might consider looking for work in a TICU.

ShirlinDC · Jul 4, 2017

For those of you that do work in the Er or ED or TICU, how did you get started?

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 4, 2017

For those of you that do work in the Er or ED or TICU, how did you get started?

I worked in the same ED as a tech, was offered a job (and an ED nursing fellowship) at the same ED. New nurses should seek out residencies; experienced nurses should just apply and seek out opportunities. :)

amzyRN · Jul 4, 2017

For those of you that do work in the Er or ED or TICU, how did you get started?

I had about 3.5 years nursing experience in acute care when I applied for my first ED job. It was still tough to get my first ED job and I applied to a hospital that was desperate for staff and they were glad to get an experienced nurse. I learned a lot there but the staffing to acuity was unsafe so I left and then it was easier to get my next job in the ED.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Jul 6, 2017

For those of you that do work in the Er or ED or TICU, how did you get started?

I sold myself in the interview and got hired! New nurse, no prior ER experience, no healthcare experience prior to nursing.

elijahvegas, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Jul 13, 2017

For those of you that do work in the Er or ED or TICU, how did you get started?

Was a new grad straight to er. In a level 1 trauma facility smack dab inner city. Depends on the night and your facilitys criteria. Some days weve seen p some days weve seen 7 in a shift.

Majority of your er visits will be clinic stuff for people with no insurance but wanna be seen. Flu headaches for a couple days lady partsl bleeds utis stuff like that. Then there are your regulars and drug seekers who will just scream CHEST PAIN to try to get whatever they want. Then when yoy think youre having an easy day, some heroine overdose willcome in 20 minutes before shift change.

Or 2 vehicles filled with families crash into each other and trigger a MCI

Or theres a gang fight and a bunch of random people in the neighborhood gets shot by stray bullets

Or its 4th of july and some drunk yahoo thought itd be neat to hold a mortar.

Id say its about 60% routine 30% interesting injuries and cases and 9% that makes you shake your head saying what the hell were you thinking and 1% sheer horro, terror, anger, sadness and/or disgust

AZQuik · Jul 16, 2017

Was a new grad straight to er. In a level 1 trauma facility smack dab inner city. Depends on the night and your facilitys criteria. Some days weve seen p some days weve seen 7 in a shift.
Majority of your er visits will be clinic stuff for people with no insurance but wanna be seen. Flu headaches for a couple days lady partsl bleeds utis stuff like that. Then there are your regulars and drug seekers who will just scream CHEST PAIN to try to get whatever they want. Then when yoy think youre having an easy day, some heroine overdose willcome in 20 minutes before shift change.
Or 2 vehicles filled with families crash into each other and trigger a MCI
Or theres a gang fight and a bunch of random people in the neighborhood gets shot by stray bullets
Or its 4th of july and some drunk yahoo thought itd be neat to hold a mortar.
Id say its about 60% routine 30% interesting injuries and cases and 9% that makes you shake your head saying what the hell were you thinking and 1% sheer horro, terror, anger, sadness and/or disgust

Those percentages are a little different where I am, but this post is a good indicator of a day in an inner city ED. Things change a bit when you factor in your duty for the day as well.