Experienced ER nurses leave because their work environment sucks. Maybe you care, and maybe you don’t, but one day each of us will hope and pray we have an experienced ER nurse who isn’t overwhelmed and overburdened. I know I will. I want one who can listen to me, focus on me, and has seen patients with my disease process at least a thousand times before I roll through the door. I want an experienced ER nurse because I have seen experienced ER nurses save lives, spot serious problems masquerading as benign ones, and prevent errors before they happen. Who wouldn’t want them in their corner?
American health care now focuses on patient satisfaction as a marker of quality care. Numerous studies have shown this practice to be unfounded, yet it continues. It continues because it is easier and cheaper to provide pedicures, gourmet food, and valet parking than increase the number of FTEs. Numerous studies (like this one spearheaded by Dr. Linda Aiken) and articles (like this one by Alexandra Robbins) have shown the increased morbidity and mortality in hospitals and wards where nurses are required to care for an excessive number of patients.
This is the way in all fields of nursing. I worked as a geriatric nurse for 28 years and by time I retired they were doing the same thing. I no longer can encourage young people to go into nursing because those we are suppose to care for are no longer first. Administration would rather blame nursing than fight and deal with what is truly the problem.
I have been an ER nurse for 24 years. When I look back on how it used to be, I get sad and frustrated. I loved my career and the fact that eventually I gained the experience to be proud of my nursing skills and being confident in what I was doing. Then things changed; I thought it was because I am now 63 years old. Thank you for validating how I am finally realizing that it is not just me feeling overwhelmed at times, it is the healthcare system with out-of-proportion nurse-to-patient ratios and the fact that there are some “clients” (do not like that label for patients) that we could NEVER be happy. Once again, thank you!
Thank YOU for posting eloquently and specifically and not just ranting. I, too have left the ER after 14 years. I have knowledge AND experience, but I call it like I see it, I’m not rude, but nor do I sugar coat things. Management doesn’t like that! They want brand new PERKY GN’s that have ‘book’ knowledge and will take unreasonable assignments to boast about, not realizing they’re too STUPID to know how STUPID they are, but they can TUCK & FLUFF while they PUSH IV potassium!