That AB Nurse

I’m a 15 year veteran RN of the Emergency department. A few years ago I did a brief stint in ICU, mostly with the goal of broadening and strengthening my critical care skills, but always with the intent to return to emerg. In the Nurse world, there are ICU nurses and there are

Emerg nurses. Few of us play both sides of the fence well, and I sure wasn’t one of them. Blame my ADHD brain I guess, but I thrive in the chaos. I spend my year in ICU, learned a heck of a lot, but returned “home” as soon as I could.

Yesterday, I was told I am being redeployed back to the ICU.

As we continue to expand ICU capacity, who will measure the collateral damage? It’s no secret ER’s across the province are screaming for staff, especially experienced and capable staff.

One of the reasons I haven’t left before today is I fear deeply for the day one of my family or loved ones is brought into an ER, and there isn’t someone like me there. I’ve spent 15 years learning to begood at what I do. All the rushed training in the world can’t beat experience

I’ve heard home care staff are being pulled. How many elderly patients will suffer or worse die, not checked on at home? Not receiving services they need?

Health link staff being pulled. How many people will spend hours on hold trying to get through, when otherwise a skilled nurse would have picked up, immediately recognized the need for an ambulance, and quickly dispatched one, saving their life?

The list can go on and on. We are sacrificing the good of 80% of the population who just quietly went about doing the right thing, played by the rules, cared about each other, for the insufferably loud 20% who only seem to care about themselves.