Who loves their job as an RN in the ED?

Specialties Emergency

Published

How long have u done ED nursing? Where did u start from? What do u love about your ED job? What is the hardest part of the job? Please help. I need to get in your heads!

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I do! I've been an ED nurse since 2009. It started out as way to broaden my experience, working with different age groups and diagnoses, intended to be a stepping stone to something else. I got out for a little while, but ended up feeling bored and coming back to it. The hardest part of the job for me is dealing with people with unreasonable expectations.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

Me, me, meee! I love the really crazy ones and the really critical ones. I hate the needy, impatient ones.

I love being able to use every skill I have and a few more I didn't know I had. I love the nurse/MD cooperation we get that the med-surg floors don't. I love that I can help deliver a baby, reduce a shoulder dislocation, code an unresponsive pt, and hug a kid who scraped his knee all in the same shift.

It's fantastic!

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I love it and I hate it. But it's one of those things where it's almost an addiction.

I can't imagine being a floor nurse..ever.

When I speak with friends who work ed and they say they love it, they don't typically work inner city.

Where I work, big picture, it's more like a community resource for food and tv and phones.

'Eh my stomach hurts' f/u 'I haven't eaten in 3 days'

No one has insurance and the fashion is 2 iPhones, Michael Khors handbags, air Jordan's with hospital socks, which I must change upon arrival as the ones they wear are dirty.

Maybe 1 person out of 50 has a legit medical issue.

When I do peer interviews, I always ask why do you want this ER and I let them know we are typically high volume, low acuity and the community utilizes the ER as a pcp as service is faster than the free clinic.

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Been in the ED for a little bit over a year. Came from correctional nursing. I love the team work, all the support and resources at your disposal. The hardest part of my job is taking care of the overly needy/whiny patients that can do absolutely nothing for themselves.

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16 year veteran here...It is an addiction. I am addicted to the crazies. I love keeping my cool and trying to disarm the situation. Yesterday I had a patient, who we refused to administer narcotics to, tell me she hopes I get into a car crash and my spine gets crushed. One tip for drug seekers, don't come to the ER already high. :) We see right through that Sh!$.

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Went straight from school to ED and been at it for about a year and a half now. I agree with those who say it's like an addiction. I always joke with people that I have a twisted relationship with my job. All in one breath I can talk about how cool my job is and how much I love it, yet also how much I can hate it. I love the teamwork (especially on nights). Love my coworkers. Love the crazies, sick, and trauma patients. Dislike how it can be very emotionally draining. It's hard to picture myself doing anything else.

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I've been nursing for 9 yrs & ER for 5, with the first 4 being thoracic surgery stepdown. I love ER Cuz of the trauma & crazy pts! Every pt is different & if u dont get along with them, they'll be gone shortly, unlike the floor where u have to have them all shift. U continuously learn every shift too. There's always a "time" to beat like door to balloon or door to drug. It's a challenge. U know more on what the doctors expect & have a knowledge of different illnesses. The toughest part of course is when kids die. That and not being as able to follow up & know the ending of a pt who worked hard on to save their life. U just keep going on to the next one & put emotions back til the end.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.
16 year veteran here...It is an addiction. I am addicted to the crazies. I love keeping my cool and trying to disarm the situation. Yesterday I had a patient, who we refused to administer narcotics to, tell me she hopes I get into a car crash and my spine gets crushed. One tip for drug seekers, don't come to the ER already high. :) We see right through that Sh!$.

Oh if I could write all the comebacks that come to mind for that one! How about "thank you ma'am, I'll sure try. Will you be out driving later? Maybe we could meet up at an intersection?"

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

What I love is the variety of aliments, and the personalities. Saints to sinners all at the same time. It's always a challenge.

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Specializes in Emergency Department; Neonatal ICU.

Love it! I love the teamwork and getting the unexpected. I love that when I'm dealing with someone who is a big pain in the rear, I'm going to send them somewhere, whether it be to the floor, ICU or home. I love it when I have time to really listen to someone's story and how often that helps them feel a little bit better. I get frustrated when I suspect the issue is mental health (e.g. the frequent visitor for abdominal pain that always has a completely negative workup) and that the patient is not going to get help because of lack of mental health coverage (or any coverage for that matter). Or that they can't follow up with GI because they won't see them due to insurance issues. Overall, I can't imagine doing anything other type of bedside nursing.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

There isn't anywhere else I'd rather work. I started in the ED in 2005 as a tech, transitioned to ED RN in 2008 and I've never done anything else. The ED/trauma work in Afghanistan has probably been the highlight thus far ... there is nothing like providing care in that environment. But overall I enjoy the variety, and I enjoy helping others on what is sometimes the worst days of their lives. The ups and the downs, all of it.

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