What is your WORST ER story?

Nascar nurse, ASN, RN · May 1, 2011

No advice, no stories, just my sympathies. You are right, it does get easier with time but jeesh - 1st one gone by 8am. (Shakin my head and hugs to you)

Akeos · May 1, 2011

I worked as an ER scribe for a year, the saddest i saw was a guy came in, I don't remember what for but i know it wasn't chest pain, when he was taken back to an exam room he seemed fine, the nurses transferred him to the bed and in the middle of the transfer he coded, and wasn't able to be resuscitated. It was so unexpected and sudden, most the staff was crying. I don't have much advice. just know it's OK to feel sad, you just have to find a way to deal with it and still be able to perform your job. Maybe take a quick minute to yourself to cry or maybe try to think of something that makes you laugh and will take your mind off of it more a little while. cope in whatever way is best for you. Good luck, I'm sure you'll be great!

Akeos · May 1, 2011

You'll also find that there are some pretty interesting and amusing cases that come in. You'll remember those stories more than the sad ones!

PMFB-RN, RN · May 1, 2011

Many bad ones. I think the worst for me was I was working as the sole RN in the ER on the night shift of a very small town hospital. The physician was asleep in his call room and in the door walks a man carrying blood soaked little girl about 10-11 years old. Behind him in walked a woman carrying the little girls arm.

EDrunnerRN · May 1, 2011

Babies/Children are ALWAYS the worst! As for advice, be aware of your religous/spiritual aspect. When I have a patient die I say a prayer for the family/friends and find comfort in comforting the family. I also run and many, many of my long runs occur after stressful ER days! Additionally, at my hospital we have an inservice to help cope with death, check and see if your hospital does this too.

JenniferO · May 1, 2011

I feel for you and your patient. The ER is not an easy place to work and it's not for everyone. I traveled for a short time in different ER's around the country. It is a stressful place. I was to the point where I was becoming less sensitive in my home life and coping in negative ways because i had no positive outlet and didn't give myself enough time to reflect and heal around all the loss. But, there are staff out there that feel there is no other place for them. Try to seek out other staff who were involve and talk about it. Also, i always tried to be there with the family and cried with them, it helped me cope & I know it helped them realize that the staff does care and they know we did our best. Good luck!

JeneraterRN · May 1, 2011

There are many difficult things about nursing that will haunt you. It is unfortunate that your first experience was so bad, but as time goes by, I find that death isn't always so bad. The ones that linger at death's door for days or even weeks are the hardest for me. The first time I saw a child die was horrendous. The first baby you help bring in the world will also affect you, hopefully for the better (once you are done being terrified :)).

popeyepalmer · May 1, 2011

I am a first semester RN student that just received an ER tech position. One of the reasons I wanted the ER was to be exposed to more than the average PCT. I too am new to the healthcare field. I figured if I could work in the ER then I should be able to handle what Nursing will throw my way. I hope you get thru this. I remember my first day of clinicals when we were starting patient care, everyone said I hope I do not have to wipe any rectums today. I said I hope I do as at least I will have done it and gotten thru it. Then it will be over and done with. Obviously your experience on your first day was much more traumatic but it happened and you will now know what that experience is like. I hope that does not sound cold but I think as Nursing students we will have to deal with it and we better find out sooner than later if we can deal with it. Let us know how you do and what day 2 was like.

JustaGypsy · May 1, 2011

I'm sorry your first experience was a troubling one. I have always looked at it like this; I may not be able to pay your bills, make your roof not leak, or keep your family from being "dynamic," but I CAN take what may be the worst possible situation someone has ever dealt with as okay as possible. Bad things are going to happen whether you are there or not, and perhaps YOU were meant to be there for HIM, to comfort him as much as possible during his last hours. Don't feel badly that he died, be proud that you were able to comfort him when he needed it most.

NurseMaybeBaby · May 1, 2011

Thanks for the replies everyone! I really love this website:)

I am a first semester RN student that just received an ER tech position. One of the reasons I wanted the ER was to be exposed to more than the average PCT. I too am new to the healthcare field. I figured if I could work in the ER then I should be able to handle what Nursing will throw my way. I hope you get thru this. I remember my first day of clinicals when we were starting patient care, everyone said I hope I do not have to wipe any rectums today. I said I hope I do as at least I will have done it and gotten thru it. Then it will be over and done with. Obviously your experience on your first day was much more traumatic but it happened and you will now know what that experience is like. I hope that does not sound cold but I think as Nursing students we will have to deal with it and we better find out sooner than later if we can deal with it. Let us know how you do and what day 2 was like.

Thank you for the kind words. Sounds like we have a lot in common. I agree 100%, I'm here to learn as much as I can. I haven't had the chance to wipe any rectums yet, but I did do catheters on both a male and a female. :lol2: I've also managed to avoid vomit thus far. Day two was much better, no deaths:yeah:. I know I will get through this, it was just harder than I expected. They seem to have a lot of faith in me for some reason, so I'm gonna get it!!

Other things that I thought would bother me, haven't really. We had an older lady come in via ambulance and she was vomiting earlier in the day. I swear she had the worst breath EVER. But it didn't bother me. I just reminded myself that she needed care and I was going to do my best. If it was my mom or grandma, I would want the MD, RN, Tech, etc... to just get over the breath part!!!

Good luck to you in your position!

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · May 1, 2011

Hugs to you.

I was an ED tech for 3 years while in nursing school. The ones that come in talking to you and then code on you , you will remeber. The ones that came in full code and you didn't have chance to have a conversation with are easier to deal with, at least for me they were.

I remeber my 1st patient who coded and didn't make it, came in for back pain, to patient to radiology and back, help patient to the bathroom, chatting with her the whole time. Get her settled back into bed, bring family back in from the waiting room, and 2 min later she became unresponsive, we started coding her, as the MD is starting a femoral centeral line, we got the call from radiology that it was a disecting AAA. We never got her back, I remeber we had used up all the available pressure bags and squeezing the blood bag trying to get something into to her

The hardest ones to handle are cases involving children, the worst one was where it was obvious abuse to all involved in the case, police were involved made the news, just awful. those cases, it is okay to cry and to make it known that this case affected you. Your facility should have some form debreifing to help with the difficult cases.

The ED provides so much expereince, the cases that will stand out usually are the more wild and crazy stories and things that people will do.

I miss it sooo much, just trying to get my 1-2 years experience then oneday I will make it back to the ED.