Emergency Room Nursing Through the Holidays

The holiday season may be a time of cheer and goodwill for some, but it's also a dangerous time. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 12,500 patients are treated in emergency rooms for holiday decorating incidents. Common injuries include those caused by falls from ladders while hanging decorations, cuts from broken glass ornaments, shocks from faulty lighting equipment and burns from Christmas tree fires. Christmas tree fires alone cause an average of 20 deaths and 40 injuries a year, reports the CPCS. In addition to holiday decorating accidents, more people are out on the road during the holiday season, going to and from holiday parties and other seasonal events. This results in an increase in traffic-related injuries.

Emergency room patients are rarely happy to be in hospital, but anyone who ends up in the emergency room on a major holiday can be forgiven for being especially resentful. And who do the irascible patients often take it out on? You guessed it: the emergency room nurses. Anxious patients suffering from pain rarely stop to think that the nurses who care for them are spending time away from their own loved ones.

If you're an emergency room nurse, you probably have your own tips and tricks for dealing with frustrated patients around the holidays. Here are a few ideas that you might consider.

Set Expectations

If possible, tell your patients how long they can expect to spend in the emergency room. Alyssa, a nurse who hails from Chicago, Illinois, explains that she gives patients an update every half hour or so: "Even if we are waiting for a surgeon who's tied up with another patient and we don't know exactly how long it's going to be, there's no excuse for not sharing that information with the patient." Most of your patients will never have been in the emergency room, and they have no idea of the procedure or the causes for delays. Reassure them by sharing everything you know about their situation: what the next steps are, how long they can expect to wait, and what you are planning to do to make them more comfortable.

Take Care of Yourself

Pushing yourself to the limit will only make you more likely to commit errors or become flustered. Act quickly when necessary, but take every chance you can to breathe and slow down. Be especially conscientious of infection prevention routines around this time of year. If you notice yourself feeling extra tired or run-down, don't just pass it off as fatigue--you could be experiencing the onset of flu. Play it safe. Sometimes a quiet evening at home is a better way to unwind from a stressful workday than a bustling holiday party.

Spread the Holiday Spirit

Jack, an emergency room nurse from Rhode Island, says he always keeps his pockets stocked with Christmas crackers and candycanes. "Kids especially have a hard time in the emergency room," he says. "I try to put a smile on their face every chance I get." Use your judgment, however. Bubbling about the holidays to folks who have no home to go to may simply make them feel bitter and lonely.

Don't Take it Personally

The patient who criticizes you when you're doing the best job possible...the patient with a minor injury who complains that the dying child is being treated before him...the patient who rages and calls you unspeakable names....it's so tempting to snap at them, isn't it? Don't give into the temptation. A kind word from you, although it may be met with a sullen look or rude reply, might be remembered by these patients long after you've gotten over the fleeting irritation. By the same token, if you respond to their behavior with impatience or disdain, they will remember that too. Don't take things personally. Just let the negativity slide off you like water off a duck's back. It'll make your job a lot easier.

Do you have any tips for dealing with emergency room patients around the holidays? Whether you're an LPN, a Paramedic, or a nurse manager in the emergency room, your expertise can help other nurses provide better care--and stay sane in the process-- so what are your favorite ideas?

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