Through My Eyes

As I interviewed neighbors, friends, and professionals about their views and opinions about nursing, I realized that unless you have followed a nurse around for the day - perceptions vary greatly. Therefore, my first blog post is a brief glimpse of what I see through my own eyes as an Emergency Department nurse.
* You might think I'm just looking at the monitor to write down your pulse rate or blood pressure - but did you know I'm also interpreting your heart rhythm. In fact, just yesterday I caught a slight elevation in an ST segment which signaled a lack of oxygen to the heart before complete arterial blockage occurred.
* Did you know when I answered your call light to help you off the bed pan, I also assessed for any skin breakdown/bed sores before any infection can set in?
* It was your registered nurse that advocated and suggested a different pain medication when the regimen you were receiving wasn't relieving your pain.
* You might think I'm just playing and having fun with the little girl next door as we prepare to place stitches in a laceration to her head. In fact, I'm assessing her developmental level and creating a plan of care that will fit her coping needs the best so this experience is less traumatic.
* I remember taking care of an elderly woman who had fallen in the middle of the night - she had broken her hip and layed on the floor for almost 2 days until her neighbors found her. She was so appreciative of the cares we provided. Yes, I was the one that gave her the bed bath - not because no one else could - but because it was my chance to assess her skin, evaluate her ability to care for herself after surgery, and to help return a bit of her dignity as I washed her body and hair.
* Did you know that before I came into your room to offer education on home care after an asthma exacerbation that I was performing CPR and advanced cardiac life support on a 32 year old female who had intentionally overdosed on narcotics and alcohol?
* In a matter of one hour I might be prioritizing care for the following 5 patients: rehydrating a pregnant mom suffering from persistent vomiting with intravenous fluids, managing 3 different intravenous drips to help maintain a critical blood pressure of a 74 year old male with sepsis, monitoring the oxygenation and respiratory status of a 36 year old female after repetitive nebulizer treatments to decrease an asthma exacerbation, triaging a probable forearm fracture of a 16 year old football player and ordering xrays and pain medication from a protocol selection list, and evaluating the mental stability and safety of a homeless male waiting for an available bed in the community to detox from alcohol . . . and the waiting room is full.
* Yesterday I heard the crack in a new mom's voice when she arrived with her colicky 4 week old baby - exhausted from lack of sleep, scared of not knowing what was wrong with her baby, and stressed about her looming hospital bill. It was me - the registered nurse - that took the extra 15 minutes to assess her support network, emphasize the importance of "parent time outs", educate about colick, and give her a supportive hug.
* I might look tired today because I'm working an extra 4 hours to my 12 hour shift because our staffing is limited - but that won't stop me from taking the extra 5 minutes to ask you that one question I have asked many, "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
* Did you know that before I give you any medication - I have the knowledge and education to know it's use, action, duration, side effects, contraindications, and parameters to monitor?
* In order to give you the safest care, I obtain routine recertification for my CPR, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Life Support, Trauma Nurse Core Certification and Emergency Nurse Pediatric Certification?
* Yes, there are many tasks I perform (IVs, catheters, wound care, medication administration, lab draws, splints, etc). But did you know I am also educated in assessment? When I listen to your lungs I might suspect pneumonia. When I listen to your heart I might hear a subtle extra heart beat telling me you might have an enlarged heart. When I push on your tummy I might elicit a response that leads me to suspect appendicitis. When I have you get changed into a gown I'm watching your strength in movement, looking for skin breakdown, observing for unusual markings or bruising, looking at your skin color, observing for dehydration, anemia, or jaundice.
* Yes - I do have the virtues so many people attach to nurses (caring, compassionate, honest, comforting). However, I'm also an educated professional.
* And yes, Daddy . . . I can even change bedpans.