When you think about nurses, what do you think of first? Which aspects of nurses are important, which are essential, and which ones can you take or leave? You be the judge.
Emergency nursing is a exceptional field of the nursing profession. In this field, nurses are equipped and trained to deal with patients in critical phase of their illness and injury. Emergency room nurses are capable of treating patients in this phase adrift department or complete diagnosis.
Emergency room nurses are used to fast paced environment. Thanks to the emergency department of a hospital, is usually overcrowded emergency room nurses can be seen multitasking to balance and point up patients and their time. How dangerous is positive to be working in a hospital?
With increasing reports of emergency component violence, emergency nurses are placed among police officers and other peace officers. The Massachusetts Bureau of Labor Statistics reported more than 4. 000 health care professionals to experience verbal and physical assault while working in the ER ( 2005 ).
Different steps are being undertaken to address the escalating umber of violence experienced by emergency room staff. Legislations in increasing the penalty being perpetrators are awaiting decision from the Assembly. Various programs and trainings to conclude violence are commencing in hospitals and other health care institutions.
So what else is dangerous about being an emergency nurse?
According to the International Hazard Datasheets on Occupation through released by the International Labour Organization, there are seven main dangers emergency nurses can be exposed to.
1. Emergency room nurses, as part of their responsibilities; cleans, disinfects and sterilize medical equipment. They may be exposed to agents that may damage the chicamin, mucous membranes and respiratory skeleton.
2. Emergency room nurses can also be alarming to anesthetic gases, drugs and radiation.
3. Emergency room nurses may be injured by shard objects like needles, blades and other similar objects.
4. They may contact with hot surfaces, faulty electrical equipment and may cause skin burns.
5. Sick patients in the emergency room present a risk of infection from body fluids.
6. Emergency room nurses may suffer from musculoskeletal problems and back pains due to handling heavy patients. Continuous work while standing and walking may cause fatigue and leg problems.
7. Emergency room nurses further may suffer from stress and burnout caused by shift and night work and by incomparable psychological and organization factors.
The Emergency Nurses Association recognizes the increasing number of emergency nurses experiencing stress. The emergency care environment can be very stressful and physically and emotionally traumatic for the health care workers and nurses.
ENA recognizes the following contributing factors in the increasing stress levels of emergency room nurses.
1. Queasy incidents that can cause strong emotion and may interfere with the ability to perform the duties. Incidents like close with casualties, disasters, unexpected death of a child or co – worker can be attributing factors.
2. Prolonged term demands burden also be a stressor. Stretched work hours, job insecurity, poor communication and an increased potential for a workplace power dance under this factor.
ENA sees that unresolved issue of stress can result into absenteeism, sleep disorders, burn out, emotional difficulties and health problems.
Whence how can these repercussions be avoided?
International Labor Grouping ( ILO ) provided several pointers to keep the emergency department safe owing to the emergency room health workers. Nurses should acknowledge with all safety instructions and bring periodic inspection of electrical medical equipment. Keeping all passages clearly visible and clear is also another tip. Following appropriate procedures in infection restraint and handling and disposing sharp objects is necessary.
To resolve the stress emergency nurses are experiencing, ENA supports the development and utilization of critical incident stress management. ENA also supports the use of individualizing stress management strategies like relaxation, meditation, exercise, group therapy, guided imagery, massage or humor therapy.
ENA also recognizes the impact of workplace violence and the need for a tack which would include education, prevention, appropriate dream measures, identification of incidents, reporting and protocols.
Emergency nurses have a special rewarding job and at the same a dangerous one. These are all the sacrifices they have to put up the serve the people.
Knowing enough about nurses to make solid, informed choices cuts down on the fear factor. If you apply what you’ve just learned about nurses, you should have nothing to worry about.