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Diary of a Trauma Nurse
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About Me

My name is Cory. I am a mom, a wife, a NaNa, and a critical care nurse that lives in Nashville, TN. I have found my calling in ER/Trauma/ICU. Each day I find myself experiencing life changing events and hope that by reading my posts, you will experience and feel some of what I do. If you read nothing else, please take time to read "The Hardest Question Ever Asked". It's my very first posting. And if for some reason you think you see your story here.....you don't. It's not about you or anyone you know. =)



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Saturday, June 20, 2009

WHAT IS A TRAUMA NURSE?


A trauma nurse is a nurse who specializes in emergency care. Trauma nursing focuses on identifying serious problems in incoming trauma cases, and on stabilizing those patients so that they can receive further medical treatment. There are a number of arenas in which a trauma nurse can work, and employment prospects in this field are generally very good, as trauma nurses are constantly in demand around the world.

One of the most common places for a trauma nurse to work is in an emergency room, processing incoming patients. Trauma nurses can also work in critical care units, applying their specialized training to patients who may be prone to experiencing medical emergencies and various crises. A trauma nurse can also work for a transport company, keeping patients stable while they are moved by helicopter or bus to a new medical facility, and trauma nurses are also vital in battlefield medical care.

The key requirement for people in this field is the ability to work while under pressure. Trauma nurses may be able to cope with chaotic environments, stressful situations, and catastrophic trauma cases. They must often contend with cultural and language barriers, and they must be able to coordinate with doctors, other nurses, and healthcare professionals who work together as a team to provide patient care. Trauma nursing can also have long and unpredictable hours, and it tends to put a lot of strain on the body, with a lot of prolonged standing, heavy lifting, and other sources of physical stress.

To work as a trauma nurse, candidates usually get their nursing qualifications and try to focus on emergency care in their nursing training. Some trauma nurses pursue additional certification in trauma or emergency care so that they are more employable after graduation from nursing school. Many like to keep up their training with trade journals, periodic workshops, and memberships in professional organizations for trauma nurses.

Work in this field can be very emotionally stressful. A trauma nurse may need to cope with very seriously injured patients along with their family members, and the ability to triage patients and injuries is critical. For example, when a patient who comes in with a gory broken leg after a car accident, the more immediate concern might be the patient's airway, even if the leg looks awful. A good trauma nurse can overlook the superficial appearance of the patient, and focus on keeping vital signs strong and stable so that a doctor will be able to provide the additional care required by the patient. source

And Most important. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

THESE CAN'T GROSS YOU OUT!!!!! Happy Nursing!


CoryTraumaRN posted today at 10:59 PM

(12) comments
The World Needs More Nurses Like This:

This is an e-mail I received from one of my readers who just graduated and is aspiring to be a Trauma Nurse. (posted with permission) I had to share it because it really touched me. NOT ONLY the last sentence, but the fact that THIS is the type of person who needs to be a nurse, who our society needs to be a nurse. There needs to be more compassionate, caring, and quick thinking nurses out there! Way to go Brittany! You will be an AWESOME Trauma Nurse.



I'm starting to get some stories as well =) I thought about you the other day (sorry if that sounds weird!!). I was saving people all day!! lol... it started off with my little brother who fell and landed on some sharp rocks... i never knew i could run that fast!! He was perfectly fine.. only one small bruise and some hurt feelings but besides that everything was in perfect condition. Then me and my mom were walking along the mini shopping center when a man just collapsed in front of us!! Once again, i never knew i could run sooooo fast! (lol) I was scared when i thought about working in trauma because i know that you have to think fast on your feet.. but now, im even more excited because in those situations, everything came so naturally... like instinct. The man was fine as well... just a little embarrassed. I will admit, i didn't do much at all but check to make sure he was ok and check for cuts of course =), but i walked away with the best feeling in the world. This career is absolutely for me and im so excited to graduate and get started on it. Thanks for making me realize what exactly i want to accomplish after high school. In my eyes, you are the BEST nurse in the world and i pray that i can be the best just like you! =)

-britt

CoryTraumaRN posted today at 10:40 PM

(5) comments

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Blog Stalkers………



Have you ever wondered what a blog stalker is? Well let me tell you:
A blog stalker aka:
Blokker is someone who is so obsessed with someone and their life, he or she will sign on to that blog 2 & 3 times a day to see if there is anything new posted or if anyone they know has left a comment. (By the way stalkers, feel free to leave comments, you can leave them anonymously!)

Gradually, checking the blog daily begins to feel like a grind to the blokker. And when we don’t update as compulsively-obsessively-frequently as they are checking on us, they start to feel resentment. Update, dammit! (I can hear them now.)

Little do they know that they can be followed, and noted
when they are on the blog, how long they are on the blog and which stories and comments they read. But even those that do know they are being monitored, just can’t help themselves. It’s like an addiction. I know you’re out there, I can hear you breathing……… =)


Here is a definition:
Blog Stalkers: secretly reading someone’s blog with the express purpose of learning more about them without their knowledge; to stalk via blog
Most stalkers are believed to be under a great amount of stress and mentally unstable.
‘Stalker’ is such a harsh word and one not to be used lightly but in December of last year I realized that I had not one but two. And then of course one of them told a friend, and that friend told a friend, and so on and so on. It’s quite interesting to see how often they are signing on to read about me and my life. It’s kind of flattering actually. =)



There is a point where it can become dangerous. One of my stalkers has looked up my address, knows how much I paid for my house, keeps going back to look at my pictures on my blog, etc. She’s very interested in my life for some reason. Not quite sure why yet, or if I even care.


When we write in a public forum we are doing so with the hope that people will read us. The unfortunate side of this is that we have little control over the perceptions of others towards us and that from time to time people will disagree with us and even become agitated towards us. (ie All nurses are perverted and unprofessional – my favorite comment yet!) This is both one of blogging’s biggest strengths (ie the conversation, diversity and dialogue) but also one of it’s biggest weaknesses when it goes too far.

The nice thing about web stats though, is in case something does ever happen to you, your family or your property, you have proof of who was stalking you. I personally keep a log of all of mine. It amazes me to look at the number of hits from one place in particular. Pure obsession.


I work hard at presenting myself online as fairly easy going, polite and well mannered. This is partly because it’s my character and personality. I was brought up to always consider the feelings of others. Here’s a tip: Consider the costs of your actions and words both on yourself and others before you post.

WebStalkers


CoryTraumaRN posted today at 5:20 PM

(5) comments

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

How does this relate to Trauma? His first haircut by his parents was very traumatic!!! We had to take him to have it "fixed." LOL


CoryTraumaRN posted today at 9:51 PM

(3) comments