Where are all of the Senior or Seasoned ED Nurses??

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I am an ED nurse for 20+ years and I have always loved it. :heartbeat I love the variety, the intense situations and the opportunity to impact patients and family at some of the most intimate moments in their life or death. I like the idea of coming in the next to a completely new group of patients.

I have also recently been involved with the development and implementation of an EMR. Since my return, it seems like the beast is changing- patient numbers are increasing, ED holds still continue to be an issue and all of the "older nurses' are leaving our department. Why is that? Our staff is primarily young, under 6-10 years experience. We grow our own through an internship program, but truly have staff turn-over, except for me, and seem to NEVER have a full staff.

What is the average years of ED experience does your staff have? WHat are the days' like? If nurses are leaving, why is that? I am looking for insight to what others do to keep their nurses in the ED. :nurse:

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I did level one trauma center for 10 years. I loved it very much. However, I went back to school and then I left. This particular ER doesn't hire APNs so I left. I do miss it every single day though.

Had to do an H&P yesterday at the hospital and went down to the ER - whew - didn't know anybody and I've only been gone 2.5 years.

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Specializes in Emergency.

The oldest nurse in our dept has been there for about ten years, the next probably about seven and then everyone else less than 5. The nurses with most seniority only work maybe 16 hours a week. Why? Burn out. The same unresolved issues apparently have been around for years. As I am told, "you can try but nothing ever changes around here." We just aren't paid much and the job is crazy hard and emotionally trying. How many years can a normal sane person do job like the one I have full time without going bananas? I've been told multiple times, "If you can nurse this ED you can nurse any ED." The problem is the salary doesn't reflect job.

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I work in a small rural ER. We have 7 beds, one doctor, and 2 nurses staffed/24 hrs. Although it gets very hectic, our nurse turnover rate is small. The ones that seem to leave are the newest nurses and that's because they are unaware that they landed the best job first. They move on in hunt for a "better job." Later they regret it. Our seasoned nurses are here to stay. We love it. It's small. We know each other well. We know the patients because they are the same ones over and over. It's like we are a family. We have no close competition, so our pay will never improve to match the larger hospitals. We either accept it or travel to one with better pay. The ages of the nurses are primarily in the 40 to 55yr range. Good luck in gathering the information you seek.

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Specializes in ER,ICU,L+D,OR.

How senior or seasoned do you want us to be. And what kind of seasoning do you like. Personally I like a little lemon juice with pepper and A 1 steak sauce on top.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

On the night shift, 2 of us over 20 years, the rest much less. The next one in seniority after me has 5 or 6 years. I work 2 12's a week.

On days, about 6 with 20 or more, again, the rest under 10.

We had some bad times where lots of people left in droves, only a few of us stuck it out. Dang it, this "one hospital" town is my home, where my children were born, my husband buried and most of my social support is. No way would I let them drive me out! I'm on my 7th or 8th CEO now, can't even count how many dept. managers I've outlasted.

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Specializes in ER- Correctional.

I worked in an ER for 7 years. After that I went into Corrections, & am still in Prison....I have found it's not that much different than working in the ER. You never know what kind of night you are going to have. Or what kind of injuries you will see..It's just a little slower paced.:wink2:

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The oldest nurse in our dept has been there for about ten years, the next probably about seven and then everyone else less than 5. The nurses with most seniority only work maybe 16 hours a week. Why? Burn out. The same unresolved issues apparently have been around for years. As I am told, "you can try but nothing ever changes around here." We just aren't paid much and the job is crazy hard and emotionally trying. How many years can a normal sane person do job like the one I have full time without going bananas? I've been told multiple times, "If you can nurse this ED you can nurse any ED." The problem is the salary doesn't reflect job.

Yes, I am one of those seasoned ER nurses who now only work 16 hours /week. It leaves me with options to pick up when I want to and still provide health insurance for my family. For years hubby paid (>800) per month before I even looked into it with my company. Now basically I work 32 hours/mth to get health insurance (medical, dental, and vision) for $120/month....Good deal for us!:D

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Specializes in ER, Urgent Care.

I reluctantly left the ER after many years because I wanted off of 12 hour shifts. I miss it...we need to come up with some good ideas for our "older" nurses who may need to back off of the loonngg shifts.........our ER has lost many experienced nurses for this reason. :zzzzz

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Informatics.

I agree with cardinalle- many of the more seasoned nurses leave because 12 hours are very exhausting. We are a level I and the pace never lets up - it is emotionally, physically and spiritually draining. Sometimes supervitamins help - but often it takes at least 2 days after a 4 day/12hr/day stretch to just get back on your feet.

If there could be flex scheduling - allowing 10 or 8 hour day options, perhaps some of the "boomer" nurses could continue to work at the bedside in the ED's we LOVE. :heartbeat

No doubt once in your blood it is hard to leave no matter how tired you are - you still love your work!

I would guess there are other nursing specialty areas where 12 hours really get to the more seasoned nurses...With numbers of people leaving the profession - this needs to be addressed...Potentially more would stay at the bedside if things were worked out!

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I have been in the ER 3yrs and am soooo done with that crap. I worked my a** off, rarely got brakes, was emotionally drained, became quickly cynical and judgemental, and didnt get paid enough. Everyday I came home thinking that this is not why I went to nursing school. Honestly I think "seasoned" er nurses must be insane.

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Specializes in ED, Tele, Med/surg, Psych, correctional.

The nurses with 20+ yrs of experience had enough and got out. Over the last yr, I've been invited to many goodbye, good luck dinners. Some really great nurses who I learned alot from finally said enough with the BS and are now working at less stressful jobs in surgicenters, urgent care clinics and occupational health centers. Sure the pay is lower, but they are far happier, the hours are shorter, they get breaks and they aren't treated like crap by their patients on a regular basis. I am currently in grad school because although I love the ER I know that there will come a day when I will say enough is enough and I need to set myself up for that time when it comes. I do work other jobs on the side but can't see myself doing it full-time just yet. I do enjoy the chaos of the ER even though it has it's share of downsides too.

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