Where to start. First off the ER is stressful (hello major realization) and this is everyday. I am still considered an Intern but I am sure this will not last much longer. I have been on the floor full time for 2 months. I wonder Is my patient going to die on me today? What do I have to do right now...priorities. Time management (grab all my meds and do what I can when I am in the room all at once). Charge nurse yelling and wants them out now...room or discharge. Call report now? Who do I need to see first? Crap, where are my techs? What drugs do the patients need and why? When will I have time to chart? Oh God I hope I do not forget anything. Self Prayers to get the lines and labs on the patients first time. Please do not mix these patients up, control, and again...crap I have to pee. When can I pull away to pee and eat? Oh shit..its a pedi patient (what do I do and how to handle the parents). Well...used all my saline and tubing...run to supply, hope this baby can handle a 22g because it has a temp and 24's keep slipping out, explaining foleys and becoming speedy foley queen, pt has a heartrate of 18-push atropine connect to crash cart, run next door...pt NEED water and now they want ice, next room chest pain protocol (crap has it been 10 mins?)And then daily....holy crap can I really do this? Is this for me because I am about to have a mental break down and pull all of my hair out. I had heard about tough skin...mine came quick, really quick. Just finished compressions and enjoyed my much needed lunch, so Hard shell-check, already in place. I get home and realize, yes I can.
So how do I better describe controlled chaos and why is it called this anyways? Chaos is Chaos, especially when EMS is bringing in patients who are practically a walking triple A., torn aorta or stemi. Hello....where are we putting these people? Day in and day out I am exhausted. I keep hearing it will get better and I will get used to it, really? So I get up and try to put on my game face, 2 cups of coffee later I am ready to go. The best part is each day it is something different and I just hope I can care for my patients and do my best. I do know I could never be a floor nurse. My concerns are not bowel movements, one point off sodium labs, diet orders and Q6 medications. I need the rush! I need trauma but man.....I would kill for a relaxing day or 3 in a row.
was my first experience with feeling very uncomfortable about the situation but feelings aside, often it is hard to separate ethics and advocacy. My day was fairly steady but was full of MVA trauma, central lines, moderate sedation, psych patients who are assaulting staff and a pt who presented on levophed. AHHH... "You are telling me this one has a clot in his neck?" The orders were 2 pages long. Another first...dealing with a very, very sick ICU hold. I did it though!!! Sadly, I was unable to see one patient for over 30 minutes, thankfully it was shift change and I could pass it on. I am realizing how little time I actually spend with the patients and it is often scary. I wish we had more staff overall because the patients suffer. I am not super nurse....I am an intern.
