Emergency Nursing: Swimming In The Gar Hole

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be an ER Nurse? Dealing with the public during the worst moments of their lives is an everyday occurrence. There are wonderful, magical moments, but they are few and far between. You quickly learn common sense is not so common. Most people have no concept of what is or isn't an emergency. We approach this job with our own set of life skills plus what we've learned in college. On our fi rst day in the ER, we realize we must have slept through the lecture on Emergency Nursing. With luck you're following an experienced nurse. You realize you have none of these skills. Your preceptor smiles letting you know it will be ok. See one, do one, teach one, you're told with a smile. That's when you wonder, what have I gotten myself into. The ER, or Gar Gole, as it's aff ectionately called, is the 'red-headed stepchild of the hospital. The Staff, Physicians, Nurses, Techs and First Responders have a symbiotic working relationship. We all have the same goal, providing those in our charge with the best outcome possible. The rollercoaster of emotions in the Gar Hole from Patients, Family, and Staff are delt with by each of us, in our own way. We learn to meld our work life along with our home life, it's a much-needed tool of survival. Our personal goal is to go home at the end of our shift to our safe haven, our home and family.