Re: working in the ER

["cindy holland" <cindyhol@bellsouth.net>]

When I flew with another program, we did work in the ER.  This is one reason
I left there and joined another program.

1.  Yes, we did (they still do) take primary assignments.

2.  We would attempt to keep the charge nurse up to date every hour or so on
the progress or lack there of on our assigned patients.  If we got a flight,
we could hopefully leave within 5 minutes, sometimes it was longer, when you
were caring for a critical patient.

3.  We reported to either the charge nurse, if not available, then the
closest person we can find.

4.  The one advantage of working in the ER was the continuing experience you
get.  Our physicians would let us do the advanced interventions, therefore
they could observe our skills, and continue their confidence in us.We worked
in a teaching facility.

5.  I don't ever remember a time when it did not cause animosity.  Certain
charge nurses would call our dispatch  and have them radio us to find out
when we will be back.  Sometimes this call was made before we would even
lift off the pad TO the call.  Lunch time was especially difficult.  If we
flew through lunch, when we returned we would rarely get to go to lunch,
since "we have been out having fun".  Friends became "enemies". There were
only a handful of the staff that understood our position.

6.



_______________________________________________
Flightmed mailing list