Why go into trauma/critical care nursing?

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 2, 2012

The arenaline rush, the unpredicability, the acuity, the controlled chaos, the horror, the rewards, the pace, the constant changing scenery with different patients, different injuries.....the challenge.

missbutton · Jan 2, 2012

Earn your own internship.

melissacarey · Jan 2, 2012

I know... I will ultimately write the whole essay... it's just nice to get ideas that sparks something. I have writers block

Marine2Nurse · Jan 2, 2012

Don't put "the adre.neline rush". You will probably sound like a trauma junkie and not get it. I hear it all the time in the EMS world and it mostly earns the rolling eyes.

nursemaReN · Jan 3, 2012

The arenaline rush, the unpredicability, the acuity, the controlled chaos, the horror, the rewards, the pace, the constant changing scenery with different patients, different injuries.....the challenge.

I agree, I enjoy holding sick patients like that in the palm of my hand, having pretty much complete control of my room and knowing my 1-2 patients inside and out. I love that it is fast paced,and I work in a CCU and love that no two MI's are ever the same.

melissacarey · Jan 3, 2012

Wow, you all inspire me! Thanks!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2012

Don't put "the adre.neline rush". You will probably sound like a trauma junkie and not get it. I hear it all the time in the EMS world and it mostly earns the rolling eyes.

YOu're right....it will bring eye rolls. I freely admit that I am a trauma junkie AND and adreneline junkie AND the best job I EVER had was a trauma flight nurse. The pay wasn't good (with OT it racked up though) but I LOVED site retrevial, I LOVED going and getting the sickest of the sick and I admit it.....I LOVE being told when I arrived "Thank God you're here, these people need help". Guilty as charged.

IHeartDukeCTICU · Jan 12, 2012

Haha "the adrenaline rush"... it's true that all of us as ICU nurses love that. I do also enjoy when things are calm, but your brain is constantly being racked, trying to anticipate things and being proactive. It's not all about responding to crazy situations, most of the time you're trying to stay ahead of the game to prevent those crazy situations. It's almost like a chess game :)

flo136 · Jan 12, 2012

I agree with all the comments of life-threatening situations: fast-paced, exciting, etc. But also I like the nurse:patient ratio and also the support available when things go wrong. I have equipment, manpower and expertise available instantly. It is scary initially, but it's a great place to learn about nearly every acute aspect of most specialities.

CCRNDiva, BSN, RN · Jan 12, 2012

All of the above. I sometimes arrive at work hoping to admit a "good, down and dirty trauma" and then realize how morbid that can sound to others, lol. I love that my job requires a high level of critical thinking and I enjoy the level of autonomy we have on the unit. I work with an amazing interdisciplinary team that functions quite well together. It still amazes me that I know how to save a life. For me, it doesn't get any better than that!

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · May 29, 2012

i can honestly state that my adrenaline rush began after my own motorcycle accident many years ago, for some reason i was hooked on wanting to know more about each pt. that surrounded me while i was in physical therapy and not just any pt. the gruesome the better. needless to say, during my time as a red/zone trauma nurse i knew at any given moment i would be dancing all night during the full-moon on week-ends when i was on duty. in addition, just to realized that any given pt. one as a trauma nurse could impact their life with any decisions and actions that we might take, plus at the end the smiles of families and friends or to listen to the sometimes silent thanks yous... it's totally worth it!!!