Trauma Nursing
Although most people are not exposed to it, level one trauma nursing is a wonderful job which is challenging and pushes my limits as a critical thinker, and is rewarding due to the close and positive interaction with people.
Critical thinking skills in a fast paced environment is the most important skill as a nurse I posses, for me to try and explain how fast my mind works in trauma situations would be impossible. For example, working a shift at University Medical Center in Fresno, CA as a trauma nurse requires you to be on your game at all times, and ready for anything that is thrown your way. You must be able to instantly assess any situation and any patient without notice. Because ambulances fly through the back door from just a block away, so there is no time to receive a proper call from the MICN nurse. There for, you must be able to instantly triage patients, start IV lines, and begin the complete trauma work up, yet this is just the beginning for the patient as we fight for their life. Another example, how crucial your ability to critically think would be, is the dependence your co- worker’s have on you to hold up your assignment and be there to help out in a crisis. When the ER sees on average 250 patients in a twenty-four hour period, and at least seventy - five of them are trauma patients or at least come through trauma at one point or another. It is your duty to stay focused on what is going on around you, and try to anticipate what others might need help with, and stay one step ahead of the game by keeping your trauma bay stripped down with IV bags ready for what might come in next. Another case, it was about seven-thirty pm and I had just received report from the nurse going home from trauma bay three, but suddenly the sirens go off which means a helicopter is approaching the landing pad. Our call room receives three calls of mass casualty and all trauma staff immediately went into trauma mode, so I begin pulling...