Skip to main content

A Typical Saturday Night at the Emergency Room



What is a typical Saturday night in a busy hospital emergency room like?  Well, that is more or less a rhetorical question, because there actually is no typical Saturday night in a busy emergency room.  Some things stay the same, even some patients are the same, but everything typical?  Never! 

Related: 5 Questions to ask your Interviewer

  • 7:00 p.m.- an auto accident involving a car and a motorcycle was called into the ER.  The driver of the car had only minor injuries, however the motorcycle driver was very bad off.  Upon arrival, this 38 year old patient had multiple injuries, including a severe injury to his right leg.  He was unconscious, and doctors advised family members he would be going to surgery.  Two hours into surgery doctors advised the family that the patient would lose his right leg from the lower thigh down, and that they were still operating and attempting to stabilize.  At 4:00 a.m. the family was told the patient was, out of surgery, however he would not make it.  He lived 4 more hours and passed away with a fiancé, two children, and his parents at his side.

  • 8:45 p.m.- A 16 year old boy came into the ER with his friend, bleeding heavily.  He was attempting to impress his friends by catching a machete in midair.  Not only did the young man need sutures, he needed surgery after cutting through tendons and nerves.

  • 9:30 p.m. A 22 year old pregnant female arrived with her sister beside her holding a towel to her abdomen.  The patient's boyfriend was upset and stabbed her with a box cutter.  The patient and sister were both hysterical.  It was later revealed the knife entered the abdomen, however, missed the uterus by less than one inch.  Sutures and time to recover would be what the patient needed.  Social services were called in for a consult. 

  • 11:00 p.m. The police arrived with a very irate patient, saying that the patient had swallowed a handful of pills.  For safety reasons the patient was restrained, and later had his stomach voided of the contents, before heading off to jail.

  • 11:45 p.m. A 48 year old man was at the ER with the insistence of his wife.  He was experiencing chest pains earlier and although he insisted he was fine, his wife had other ideas.  As the nurse started his EKG, it was obvious there was a problem, then he spoke up saying he didn't feel well, right before coding.  Thankfully, staff got him back, and he was moved to the cardiac unit. His wife returned for a visit 3 days later, thanking everyone that saved her very “stubborn” husband’s life.


Five hours in the emergency room, and these could be some of the cases. Of course there are numerous other possibilities as well. 

Emergency rooms are often crowded, and even with enough staff, there is not always available space to treat patients.  Unfortunately, many people view emergency departments as a means of routine medical care, such as colds and viruses.  It can become a type of convenient care, so that they don't have to bother with doctor appointments.  Although this practice is discouraged, it is still a problem.  Some emergency departments are now providing only immediate care, and suggesting a follow up with a private physician. 

Related: What is Prader Willi Syndrome?

An emergency department is a very fast paced environment, and ideal for a nurse that prefers change and variety.  In order to be successful in the ER, there has to be a willingness to work with patients of all ages and from all walks of life.  Unlike designated floors such as pediatrics, the ER will see anyone from infants, to geriatric patients, and everyone in between.  Working in an emergency room can be a great experience, as you will see a variety of conditions and injuries.  It can appear very well on a resume, and it's nice to experience a multitude of treatments being performed. 

Emergency room nurses that work triage need to be able think quickly and make decisions based on priority of patient needs.  Most nurses work in an emergency have an average of 5 years’ experience  before changing jobs or transferring to another department.

If you have an interest in working in the ER, one of the first steps may be to volunteer for open shifts to determine if it's a good fit. You will know very soon if it's a good match. 

Related:  International Nurses Association - What's Your Superpower? T-shirt

Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest  and Twitter
Labels:
Location: New York, NY, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Where do Registered Nurses Work?

Registered nurses are needed far and wide, and there dispersal amongst various facilities is illuminating.   Commonly, you associate nurses with hospitals, but their expertise is needed in a plethora of environments.   An overwhelming amount of nurses, (60% to be exact) operate in hospitals.   Comparing this percentage to the mere 5% working in nursing homes, RN’s have disseminated into non-governmental and EDU positions, as well as employment facilities and doctor’s offices.    Related : 2016 INTERNATIONAL NURSES ASSOCIATION (INA) SCHOLARSHIP AWARD Visit www.nurseadvisormagazine.com for more information on nursing. R elated : Top Nurse with the International Nurses Association, Steven Eric Southerland, RN, BSN, AAS, EMT-P to Publish in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare Please follow us on Facebook , Linkedin , Pinterest , Twitter
1 comment
Read more

Top Diseases in 1917 – Top Diseases in 2017

1917 was just prior to the roaring 20s.  Unfortunately, the world’s population had been thinned out by 50 million people, all victims of the avian flu.  500 million people contracted this disease, which originated they believe in The United States, then spreading to France.  The death toll may be very much under-estimated, as South America and Asia were losing people so fast, they gave up on counting.  With World War I action, and this very deadly pandemic, the world's population was reduced dramatically.  This pandemic lasted through 1920 and was eventually called the Spanish Flu as it gained massive attention in Spain. Measles was in all the headlines in 1917.  Because of the very close quarters in the military, they were hit especially hard.  95,000 members of the military were infected with measles, leading to 3000 deaths. Perhaps surprising, sexually transmitted diseases were quite prominent in 1917.  Without the advantage of ant...
1 comment
Read more

Organ Donations - Facts and Information

Organ donation is a very controversial subject to discuss with someone that has a loved one at the end of life, or that has recently passed.   Some family members consider it a violation of their family member, and that it is disrespectful to their loved one.   There needs to be a trained staff that can speak with the family members, and it needs to be handled in a very delicate manner.   In some cases the patient may have already made their wishes known for organ donation, and in many states this is an option on a driver's license. Nurses should be prepared to have this conversation at any given time with a family member. Related:   Get the Facts on Hospice Care If family members do opt to allow organ donation from their loved one, it's imperative to be respectful, and allow them time to compose themselves. If they need to say their goodbyes, permit some alone time.   Despite continuing efforts at public education, misconceptions and inaccuraci...
Post a Comment
Read more