#ed nursing

[sahlosacarver]

GUYS I GOT A JOB

A NURSING JOB

AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT NURSING JOB NONETHELESS

I’m so #fakeunemployed now (it doesn’t start until mid April and I’ve been jobless since October last year and proper unemployed/not a student since December so it’s still rough I won’t lie)

so now I have like 2 months to speedrun healing from the awful burnout that nursing school left me withhhh, wish me luck, send advice plsss

[planstransamanacanalpanema]

New fear unlocked: esophageal varices.

When the ER doctor says "that was an absurd amount of blood", you know something has gone horrifically wrong

[kdougs95]

[justc4llm3murphy]

Emergency is in the eye of the beholder

Before I became an ED nurse, I was unaware that people had no idea what an emergency was. My mom raised me with the notion that ambulances are for dying people. This was said to me as I writhed on the floor from abdominal pain. Hell, she drove me to the hospital instead of calling an ambulance when norovirus took me out - Blood pressure was 70/30 on arrival. While I have gone to the ED for a nonemergency, I waited my turn patiently, knowing much sicker people go first.

But, oh! What a shock it was when I saw how nonemergent most EMS calls are. People legitimately call an ambulance - taking up resources that could be used for actual sick AF people - so that they can get put in a bed in the treatment area faster. Then they get mad when they don’t get food and a blanket right away. Shit, people. If you wanted a meal and a blanket, the hotel is a better place to be. And when we can’t fix whatever problem that has been bothering them for weeks to decades, they get pissed.the spiel for what the Emergency Department is for and what our limitations are is ingrained into my brain sadly. I probably sound resigned to a perpetual Groundhog Day scenario as I say it.

But I cas anyone doesn’t know, an emergency is an event that threatens your heartbeat (or heart), lungs (breathing), circulation (think clots that block blood flow. Can happen in any body part), brain (or spinal cord) or puts you in danger of losing your limb(s). An emergency is something that could cause you to die within about 4-6 hours. An urgent complaint could cause you to die within a day or so. Nonurgent complaints are chronic and need follow up outpatient. Regardless, everyone who comes to the ED gets a medical evaluation because we can’t expect you to know what is an emergency because you aren’t trained to see the signs. But if you have had the same pain (not getting worse/no changes that you have noticed) that has been ongoing for several months or years, you are **probably** not going to die while you wait for your blanket and food.

But don’t take up emergency transportation because you want a bed faster. Don’t call to ask wait times. If you are having an emergency, there is no wait. And please be cognizant that while you wait for various things and are getting agitated, there is probably someone fighting for their next heartbeat or next breath not even 500 feet from you. Think about if it was you or someone you truly loved more than anything. You would want our efforts focused on them and getting them stable, not ignoring them to deal with something a lot less urgent.

I just don’t understand people sometimes

[kdougs95]

[justc4llm3murphy]

Phrases to avoid in the ER

“It sure is quiet in here.”

“You guys aren’t very busy today”

“I know MY body!” (99% of the time, all tests come back normal after this phrase is uttered)

“I didn’t come here for pain medication!” (Always followed by refusing any other tests or procedures until pain medication is given - but don’t try to give them anything that isn’t a narcotic.)

“You’re going to send me home in pain?!” (Usually said regarding pain that has been ongoing for years).

[justc4llm3murphy]

TV MD: (performs five compressions, 1 shock, 5 more compresssions)

TV MD COLLEAGUE: he’s gone. It’s over.

TV MD : (throws off his friend’s hand and fervently does more compressions before breaking down into tears)

Code time elapsed: 45 seconds. Strong work, guys

[justc4llm3murphy]

If you are at a job that doesn’t appreciate you, that always pulls you into the office to give you vague complaints from others and is destructive in their criticism, if there is no collaboration in making solutions and you are the only person who is ever asked to fix any issues brought forward, I want you to know some things:

1. You deserve better than that.

2. Get it in writing. Verbal warnings are only worth the breath that it takes to say them. Otherwise, it is just harassment.

3. Good employees are hard to come by. If you are a good employee and care about your job, find somewhere that appreciates that.

4. If it is fucking with your mental health, just leave. Give them the minimal two week notice and go.

You don’t deserve to be treated like shit. Your efforts deserve to be appreciated. You should be treated with dignity, especially when you afford others with that same dignity. You are not a victim. You are an agent of change.

Did you know it takes upwards of $150,000 per position turn over for a entry level staff RN job? Treat your employees with dignity and then maybe there will be enough money in the budget for bonuses. Js