Why you love/hate ER

Amberkat · Jul 10, 2002

Hi everyone, I work in a level 1 pediatric trauma center. What do I love and hate?

What I love-

Making kids feel better. You never get over how kids can bounce back so quickly.

Working with a great team to get the job done.

The hush that falls when a Level 1 trauma alert comes over the radio.

Slipping an IV in and taping it down before the child has time to say "ouch"

Watching babies sleep.

Parents who truly appreciate what you do and tell you so.

Hearing a doctor ask, "Can someone send a nurse in?"

Doctors who know they couldn't do their job without good nurses.

Walking out through the ambulance bay at night knowing you made a difference today.

What I hate:

Hearing a doctor scream, "I need a nurse, now"

Doctors that absolutely WILL NOT check a BP, get a popsicle, or hand out an extra blanket. "That's a nurses job."

Having 50 patients in the waiting room and no where to put them.

People that continually ask you "how much longer" when there child is eating dorritos and drinking coke out of a baby bottle when they're here for abd. pain.

Doctors who waltz in at the beginning of the month thinking they can order the nurses around like maids (and who usually don't know the first thing about ER practice)

Watching a child die.

Watching the parents find out their child has died.

People (parents) that stand in the hall and bore holes into the back of your head while you try to chart on five different people.

Seeing children that aren't loved or taken care of.

People that reproduce when they really shouldn't.

OD patients that vomit charcoal.

I could go on, but those are the big ones. I love my job and couldn't imagine doing anything else. ER nurses rule!!

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2002

Howdy yall

From deep in the heart of texas

I love ER, because PIZZA is the stable diet food

NurseDennie, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2002

Hi.

I think I've noticed something that might ADD TO the problem of non-emergent situations being taken to the ER. The home doc TELLS them to go!

I have been fighting off something that presents a lot like a kidney stone. It hurts a lot - sometimes more than others. I can't tell you how many times during the work-ups from various types of doctors that, if the pain becomes unbearable when I'm not there in the office, I should just go to the ER. I was just disgusted - I told one of them No WAY was I going to an ER for pain that has been variable for over a month!!

Today, I was in a doc's office on business, a patient called in c/o bx shoulder pain. Doc couldn't see her today, told MA to make her an appointment and if it hurt too bad before he could see her at the regular appointment, tell her to go to the ER.

I think the ER docs need to have a "chat" with some of these office docs and SPLAIN to them what "emergency" means!

Love

Dennie

l.rae · Jul 18, 2002

originally posted by teeituptom
howdy yall
from deep in the heart of texas

i love er, because pizza is the stable diet food

yes....that is the litmus test!!!....lol

k simon · Jul 18, 2002

Why I hate ER--

you may not want to read this, but I am about to leave ER after about a year. I did 12 yrs of floor nursing and loved it, just wanted a change. And boy did I get one. Much of this was already said in other posts--- but the most aggravating part is the Freeloaders. Folks bring their kids in for colds, black and blue marks (no joke), and I was there the night a kid was brought in for a temp of 102, by AMBULANCE!!!!! And then there are the drunks who come in every so often cuz they are found in the street. I call the ER "our tax dollars at work." And I feel it's totally unrewarding. I do think ER nurses have the most awesome skills in the world, and unfortunately I never did get to their level.... but I can't wait to get out of "the free clinic."

Tiiki · Jul 23, 2002

Wow, so much has been said, what can I add? My biggest surprise in going to the ER from the floor was seeing the pts first hand, not "prettied up" as they were when they usually got to me upstairs. I love not knowing what/who is going to come in next, and how their condition can turn on a dime. It's such an adenelin rush. I love that its a constant learning experience. I leave each shift with new skills and new knowledge. I love being able to give the personal touch to my patients, whether it's holding a hand, or listening to their concerns. We may not consider their maladies life threatening, but when you are elderly and alone, aches and pains can be frightening. We must remember it's relative.

There isn't a lot that I don't like. One of the things is that there is no down time in the ER. it's go go go. It's so emotionally and physically draining that after a shift I have little left for my children. I also get pissed at ungrateful pts. The ones who think the ER is the Hotel Hilton and we are bellhops. I have very little patience for that. I actually had one couple in....the husband would always talk for the wife (who was the pt). I finally said.."why can't she answer." His reply stunned me. He said.."she doesn't deal with the hired help!" I answered.."well she had better start dealing with me, A, I am NOT working for you, and B, I am the one who will be treating her." Unbelievable!!

:)

JO-ANNE

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jul 24, 2002

Howdy yall

from deep in the heart of texas

I agree to many private docs are sending their pts to us for workups because its faster and easier than arrangiing it themselves or they are too busy.

I placed a pt the pther night in 2 bed cubicle and the pts wife said, Oh you putting us in a ward..

I just smiled

allnurses Guide · Jul 25, 2002

originally posted by bluebear
hi everyone! i am considering a move from ortho/trauma to er but am nervous about moving and being the "new guy" all over again. !

it feels really odd to go from being the senior know it all(:chuckle ) to being the raw newbie, been there done that. but it is worth it. just don't be afraid to ask lots of questions. i worked lots and lots of years on the floors and step downs before going into the er, from being the preceptor to preceptee. these are two different worlds! so keep asking. the good thing is, you (we) don't have to relearn how to organise time, or assess people the way new grads do, so you are already a couple of steps ahead.

come on in, the water's fine! 'course the smells are something else........... :sniff: :lol2:

kathkrn · Jul 25, 2002

I am in agreement with pretty well everything that has been said.

I've gotten use to the drunks (I usually the pool winner in the 'alco-lotto'), the frequent flyers, the name droppers (I'm friends with/related to/my doctor is...). I came from a reconstructive ortho/gyne/ENT floor. I loved it there, but the amount of knowledge that you utilize and that you gain, nothing can compare.

My BIGGEST problem is people that reproduce when they really shouldn't be allowed. Bringing a child in with a fever x >24hrs. and when asked if they have given Acetaminophen/Advil etc., I am told no because their child does not like to take medicine. Well, after a 4 hour wait, at least, and one of us talking to the child, the parents usually don't have problems with their kid refusing. And these are the ones that will walk into the acute room and ask home much longer as the patient with the acute MI is going into pulseless v-tach after thrombolytics!

An ER nurse is a different breed of nurse, though. A sense of humour, and usually a warped one, in manditory - you won't survive without one.

I love what I do, I have an amazing group of colleagues and friends. I would not change it for the world.

Best of luck.

kathkrn · Jul 25, 2002

It's love and hate.

I hate the stupidity of people who come in at 0200 for a pain that their family doctor has been assessing for 2 years, for people that were referred by docotrs with ECG changes at 1400 and it is now 0100 (because the 'pain wasn't really that bad), people that should not have been allowed to reproduce...

I love my co-workers, the excitment, the critical thinking...I love what I do. The complaints/what I hate, that's second to why I love it. I have learned to do the PR, and bite my tongue...

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2002

Howdy yall

from deep in the heart of texas

Had a patient tell me the other night he had donated 50,000 dollars to the hospital last year, and for that I should triage him ahead of everyone else....... I just smiled.........

Maybe he is one of those people at disney world who spend the extra money for one of their special tours so he doesnt have to wait in line like evryone else.

tinyrn · Jul 28, 2002

I am a relatively new ED nurse (3 1/2 months) but a floor nurse many years before- I absolutely LOVE the ED. There's always something different coming in, and even the ones we think are repeaters (aka Frequent Flyers) sometimes turn out to be truly sick- keeps you on your toes. It's a challenging environment, especially when you're trying to chart on your patients and the crew from "Alcoholic's Alley" all start chanting "Nurse...Nurse!" at the top of their lungs. Where else can you experience the beginning, middle and end of life all in one day?! My biggest frustration is the 'I'm-gonna-die-if-you-don't-fix-my-hangnail-right-now-syndrome' while you're trying to treat a stroke-in-progress, a fresh MI and an active GI bleed all at the same time. Our staff is truly great and we all help each other- Docs are great too! I just feel lucky to be able to work in a place where I can do what I love and feel appreciated by staff and sometimes patients. Wouldn't go back to the floor for ANYTHING!