"The admirable nurses I saw in the ED"

I was taken by ambulance to Charlie’s ED at 7pm recently and promptly deposited in the waiting room. It was scary.

There were at various times, police, people shouting, endless complaints about the wait time. I felt overwhelmed my anxiety soaring. I was reassured that my ECG was normal but I needed further tests to explain my chest pain. The wait was endless. I left at 0500.

The circulating wait room nurses I saw were amazing. They were calm, friendly but firm. I recall that the endless 'why am I waiting so long I should just leave' was met with patient replies advising the patient to do what they felt was best, 'it’s not a decision I can make for you' they said. I have always respected ED nurses but now my admiration was ten-fold. Occasionally I went through the doors to a bed for bloods, a CT, an ECG and everyone I saw was kind and professional.

Apparently they were down a doctor that night and hence the long wait. For me I knew I needed help and the long wait was worthwhile. For others I overheard people saying 'oh it’s been 4 hours I’ll just see the Gp tomorrow' which I think begs the question why are you in the ED if you think a GP would be enough? Well done to all staff I saw on a busy and overwhelming night. I truly believe (I am a Nurse) that an ED nurse should be a higher award rate due to the continual and overwhelming stress and aggravation.