Farewell to the ER

Coming up on almost a year since I left the ER full time, I spent some time (with B’s input) reflecting on my experience in another area of healthcare and the cost of balancing a full time job in interventional cardiology as well as a PRN position in the ER.

In nursing, so much of our “nurse identity” is what department we work in. The whole time I was working inpatient, all I ever wanted was to be one of those badass nurses in the trauma bay saving lives. And I spent so much time and energy working towards that goal. In June, after 5 years of emergency medicine, I decided that (for now) I need to step away.

When I first accepted my new position, I was afraid to walk away from emergency medicine. I have experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows working in that department. Spending every night alongside some of the best providers, nurses, techs, respiratory therapists, and pharmacists literally saving lives has taught me more than I ever could have dreamed.

But I also saw firsthand the horrible things that human beings do to each other. I have held the hands of patients when no one was able to be at their bedside. I have comforted the families of patients after they have died. And I have had sleepless nights and nightmares about what I have seen. I was losing time with my husband and the fur babies, so I decided that right now, emergency medicine was not serving me and it was time to take a breather.

This is not goodbye, Emergency Medicine, just see ya later.