2 Responses to “Please — More Careers In Focus!!”

1. Alexander Price Says:
   February 14th, 2009 at 10:39 pm

   Glad to oblige
   Emergency Room nursing in focus
   Not much different than a lot of nursing, emergency room nursing has a reputation as a area that develops a “Jack-of-all trades” approach. unique ER roles include fast track care, triage, and trauma. Floor nursing and Critical care roles are limited, but recognisable as equivalent to “upstairs”.After all, everything that comes through that comes through those doors has to be dealt with, there is no other option.

   Throughput is key and there is a constant battle to move patients out of the facility safely and efficiently. A typical nurse assignment is a mixture of acuities and four patients. Acuity ranges from Critical care, to no complaint other than wanting a place to sleep in safety.However, there is a nice feeling in caring for patients regardless of ability to pay.

   Relationships are vital. For many urgent care centers and doctors the ER is the only place that can “hold” patients too acute for their resources. ER nurses rely on urgent care centers to filter out the easy cases. ER nurses can call on a wide range of disciplines to help us, from L&D, RT, OR, ICU, and PEDS.
   The ER doctor system is nice in that there is very little paging necessary, the MD’s are always a room away and there is a very close Team spirit.

   Census is always boardering on overwhelming, and an ability to think clearly under pressure is critical. Very time pressured, but the emotional and social facets of patient care are often more vital that the medical care.

   Hope that helps.
   Alex Price RN, BSN

2. JoEllen Says:
   February 19th, 2009 at 1:05 pm

   Thank you, Alex! I love reading about other people’s “real life” takes on different nursing areas. I appreciate you sharing 🙂

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