Kelsey Wallace

10/1/18
ED rotation

1. Identify services provided by the Emergency Department (ED).

During my clinical rotation in the ED many services were provided: radiological services, medical
procedures, and dietary services. Lunch was provided to a patient that presented with hypoglycemia,
bladder catheterization was done for a patient that was experiencing retention, a CT was scheduled for
a patient with possible cholecystitis, x-rays were preformed on a patient that presented with URI
symptoms, antibiotic therapy was initiated on a patient to be admitted to the floor with pneumonia and
appendicitis, bed placement verified for patient’s being admitted, respiratory therapy provided to a
patient of breath, and fluid and electrolyte replacement was initiated on patient’s presenting with UTI
and dehydration.

2. Identify roles of the staff in that ED.

The nurse is responsible for triage and check in procedure of the patient upon arrival. The
provider evaluates the patient and determines necessary procedures and therapies need to be provided
to the patient. The nurse, paramedic, respiratory therapist, radiology tech, and dietary staff provide
necessary services per physician’s orders.

3. Identify communication techniques of the staff with patient, family, hospital staff and staff

within the ED.

The main form of communication used in the ED is verbal communication. The staff provides
frequent education to the patient; regarding current procedures, or what the next step in the visit is.

Nonverbal communication is also used in the ED setting. Therapeutic touch is often helpful
when calming a patient.

When giving out AVS and educational printouts the ED staff is using visual communication.

4. Observe and report the differences of communication techniques between the emergency staff

and the patient, the emergency staff and the family, the emergency staff and the hospital staff

and between the emergency staff themselves.

The staff communicates amongst themselves in a much different manner than they
communicate with patient’s and families. The relationship between staff members is much more
relaxed, allowing for a more joking manner of communication. With the patient’s and the families, the
staff must remain more professional in their communication style.
5. Discuss any personal learning that occurred because of the experience.

This rotation was educational to me in many ways. I have not had the opportunity to start many
IVs in the last year of my nursing career and this allowed me to watch other nurses and how they are
most comfortable when starting and IV allowing me to see multiple techniques. When passing
medications, I became more familiar with some and learned new medications. I was able to see
different styles of nursing from different nurses. I was also able to se the way multiple providers interact
with staff and patients. The ED is not an environment I am accustomed to, therefore it provided me with
many experiences outside of my comfort zone, reminding me to stay flexible and willing to learn.