Emergencies can happen any time, and that is why emergency rooms are open 24 hours, seven days a week.
Therefore, nurse practitioners working in emergency rooms can work any shift – day, evening, or graveyard shift.
Also, the duration of the shift varies.
The shift can last eight, ten or even twelve hours, an emergency room nurse practitioner (ERNP) can be “on-call” for 24 hours.
The number of shifts per week also varies.
The ERNPs can work up to 40 hours or choose to work overtime.
The number of shifts in the ER depends on several factors.
First of all, the ER is unpredictable, because sometimes there can be a lot of accidents and there are days with only occasional emergencies.
The patient issues are also different.
Sometimes ERNP can help patients with cold, or severe injuries after car crashes or similar accidents.
However, the work in the ER is never dull or the same.
You can never know what can come into the ER, and ERNPs have to be prepared for so many diseases and alerts, many of which may include mental health issues.
The work of ERNPs can be challenging, both physically and mentally.
ERNPs work on their feet whole shift, take care of many patients, lift them, help them move and bend, stoop or perform other physically demanding actions.
If you are interested in ER, you should practice good ergonomics to ensure the safety of the patient.
Also, you can prevent issues with your back and extremities.
The work of ERNPs is also emotionally challenging.
An ERNP is on the front line, and have to treat patients with acute injuries, traumas, help patients after suicide attempts, help abused patient and patients arriving after MVs.
ERNPs should have a healthy outlet, which can help them deal with everyday stress.
What is also important is that these nurses should learn how to set
aside any personal bias or judgments to be able to treat every patient with the same commitment.
Death is also a common element of ER.
Therefore, ERNPs learn how to deal with their own grief and to continue to work with other patients after such tragic outcomes.
Having a “tough skin” and being able to make rapid decisions is also a common part of ERNP work.
In the same way, the ER is chaotic and extremely challenging, but also rewarding.
NPs get the gratifying feeling after help stabilizing critical patients, helping them transport, and saving their lives.