I thought the ER nurses I encountered were very knowledgeable and caring, but I also noticed they were very busy and rushed and seemed to be constantly multitasking.
what mattered to me the most is that they knew what they were doing and were efficient

I did not go having the expectation of "warm fuzzies." Background: In a 3-month period of time (Nov 2006-Jan 2007), the doctors and nurses at this fine ER saved my life several times, even performing CPR, and connecting me to a vent (Addisonian crises, due to unrecognized, unresolved, pretty *minor* infections. I have CRPS Type 2 in all extremities and my face -- the infections were very hard to spot, as feeling rotten and hurting is par for the course.). You might say they had already earned my unwavering respect, and *undying* (sorry) gratitude! So this last visit, when I went in with a broken arm? I expected exactly what I received -- competent care, and information as to what to do next. They're professionals, not hand-holders.

Now, had I not already known how good they were, and were I scared and overcome with pain -- I might have wanted a bit more of a sense of "caring." Probably a kind word would suffice...

Thanks for your comments and feedback john and Guest. It's interesting that so far 100% of the votes are for knowledgeable but not caring. Hoping for more votes and comments on this!

I have just discovered the ER Nursing blogs, and for the most part, I am appalled. I understand the underworld that you deal with, but some items I have seen complained about, I have gone into the ER with no ill intentions.

Most recently, I had a "migraine" that had been going on for 5 days with a side of severe neck pain. Went the route of my primary care doctor, who sent me to the ER. I was amazed how rudely I was treated while there, until I started browsing these blogs. Apparently, I am a drug shopper that has no reason to be there unless I was close to death. (I have a well stocked medicine cabinet with full bottles of Dilaudid, Fentynal, and Vicodin due to a previous surgery) I just chose not to be a walking zombie.

I also read stories of nurses purposely missing veins for IVs. I had that happen to me, and I have great veins. I am also starting to wonder about the spinal tap that I was stuck 15 times with a needle before extracting any fluid. As paranoid as you are with the "public", I have now formed a paranoia for the ER Nurses.

Had I not read most of the blogs available today, I would have voted "caring", however, they were caring to my face, but hard telling what nickname I had at the nurses station. As a person with a lot of pride, that is very hurtful and disappointing.

I have had a few visits to the ED in my life. The 2 most recent ones about 1-2 yrs ago has pushed me to the point of "I wont go to the ED unless Im dead". I am a recovering addict and have been clean for 3 years. I am also a honest recovering addict, for when I was asked at my recent ED visits if I had a history of drug abuse, I told them yes. It was shocking to see the complete change in them towards me. They went from very kind and concerned, to very cold and rude. I was in the ER for SEVERE pain in my low back and abdomin. I had been dealing with this on my own for awhile, along with nausea, fatigue, and edema. When the pain got to the point I could no longer stand it, I went in to be seen. NOT for the drugs, as they all assumed, but more out of fear I was dying because I had never experienced such pain. They had me in the waiting room for 4 hours after triage, then when they came to take me back she was so short, rude, and cold to me. When I got to my room, I was not only in tears fromt he pain, but because she was so mean to me!! I am not going to get into detail as to exactly what was said, but she, along with the doctor, made it quite clear they thought I was "drug seeking" and nothing was wrong with me. The only thing they did was take my blood and urine (which they could of checked for drugs and seen I was clean if it made them feel better), then was ready to send me on my way. I was begging them, teling them I did not want ANY pain meds, just please do more tests and find out what is wrong with me. I know something wasnt right, I know my body. But they refused to help me. I left there crying, feeling so helpless, went home and took 4 IB profin and waited for the pain to go away. It did for about a week or so and then the pain came back with a few new symptoms, got to the point of fear once again, and decided to give one more ED a try (did not have insurance at the time, so of course no Doc office). Make it short, same scenario pretty much all over again, besides they did tell me they found a trace of blood in the urine and low potassium. But sent me on my way saying follow up with a doctor. I could not believe these professionals could be so judgemental! I can not believe anyone could be so inhumane as they way they were to me. I felt like a dog was treated better than I. All hope in Medical department vanished for me and I still have yet to see another ER or Doctor to this day. My symptoms continue to get worse and my husband begs me to go, but after leaving that ED was the closest I had come to going out and relapsing, and I dont EVER want to relapse and be the person I use to be. Maybe its just stones, or a kidney infection. Maybe its cancer or disease. I will deal with any of that better than I would walking back in somewhere that would make me feel like a piece of crap junkie all over again!! Sorry, I just wanted to vent a little about my experience and views on ED's

I completely understand and sympathize with Emergency Department staff these days. Mostly because I started reading some of these blogs recently (and have become slightly hooked on the cooky stories). I did end up in the ED a couple years ago, though, because of a migraine and didn't end up with such sympathetic care givers. I don't get headaches. Ever. I was in some crying-in-front-of-people pains from this one after Tylenol and Motrin failed to relieve me. Turns out it was a sinus infection. Boy I feel dumb, but I can tell you that the pain associated was no laughing matter and much more than I'd experienced before, and I got snubbed for sure! I had good insurance and the doc was trying to suggest I might need an MRI! When I asked if there was something else that might be going on she finally suggested a sinus infection. My mother has these a lot, and it make sense. I've always been taught to trust doctors, but sometimes you gotta speak up if something doesn't seem right! Geez! I'll take a $4 script for antibiotics before I commit my insurance company to thousands in unnecessary scans. I'm 25 for pete's sake! After a day of antibiotics I felt like a real person again!