ER Nurses: True stories from the frontline (2024)

FAQs

Were there real nurses on ER? ›

Every trauma scene features real emergency nurses in the background. "More than likely if they aren't talking, they're real nurses," says Preeman. In addition to on-set education, ER actors observe shifts in local EDs.

I want to work in the ER because it presents an opportunity for continuous learning, a fast-paced working environment, and a way to have a positive impact on people's lives. Working in the Emergency Room (ER) provides unique challenges and rewards that are different from other nursing disciplines.

To be successful in this role, you'll need a combination of clinical and people skills, as well as the ability to think on your feet. An ER nurse can be a challenging position for anyone but especially for people who have grown up thinking about something completely different.

Charge nursing: A charge nurse is a nursing leader who performs clinical duties and oversees a team of nurses, managing staffing, training and operations. An ER charge nurse may respond to patient concerns and complaints, help manage workflows to minimize delays in treatment and ensure the facility has supplies.

Carol Hathaway is a fictional character from the NBC medical drama series ER, portrayed by actress Julianna Margulies. She is the nurse manager in the ER. She regularly appeared throughout the series from the pilot episode to her penultimate episode of the show's sixth season.

The actress, who has shed 120 pounds since enrolling in a special UCLA weight-loss program, is keeping herself in shape with the help of a steady harvest of vegetables and herbs from her own back yard.

The Best Parts of Being an ER Nurse

ER nurses can even save lives. You don't get more meaningful than that. No two shifts in the ER are the same. As an ER nurse, you'll always be seeing something new, which means you'll regularly face new challenges and get to take on new tasks.

General Interview Questions

Answer general questions in a way that relates to emergency nursing. If you've never worked in an ER, show off skills relevant to the unit. Your ER interviewer looks for nurses who stay calm, focused, and task-oriented in the face of trauma and critical situations.

Provide Specific Examples. When interviewers ask you “Why do you want to work here?” keep in mind they don't want to hear a generic answer. Always be specific and back up everything you say with concrete examples, quantifiable data, impressive achievements, and anything else you think is relevant.

Ultimately, if you're a high-energy person who's able to think on your feet and remain calm in a crisis, ER nursing would be a better fit. The ICU lacks the urgency of the ER, but there is an immense amount of pressure because of the severity of the illnesses.

What is the average age of ER nurses? ›

Survey results suggest that emergency/trauma/transport nurses are younger than the general nursing population. Specifically, ETTS data indicate that the average age is 43.6, the median age is 42, and 31.7% of emergency/trauma/transport nurses are 50+ years old.

The salary of nurse anesthetists is the highest of all nursing professions. According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are anesthesia professionals who safely administer over 50 million anesthetics to patients in the United States annually.

Every day in the ER is different, and ER nurses must be able to adapt and respond to new situations at a moment's notice. In the ER, time moves quickly and there's not a lot of time to adjust. One minute, you might work with a critically declining patient who has been in a major car accident.

Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)

They work alongside other members of hospital leadership to develop patient care strategies. They develop emergency procedures, budgets, and professional development. CNOs do not deliver direct care, but they are required to have an active nursing license in case of staffing emergencies.

ER (1994-2009)

ER accurately demonstrated how difficult it is to be an emergency doctor — even if the NBC drama did make some common mistakes. For instance, they frequently showed residents doing the work of nurses, and they often exaggerated how effective CPR actually is.

That's right! Kyle had a recurring role as Nurse Dori and appeared in over 20 episodes of the award-winning drama from 1998-2006.

The show follows a docudrama format in which the real-life E.R. physician narrates through a series of "talking head" clips, while their interactions with the patient are reenacted. The doctors often play themselves, and whenever possible, the patients themselves take part in the reenactment as well.