Welcome to Crash Cart Confessions!
Welcome to Crash Cart Confessions,
a nursing blog from an emergency room nurse.
My name is Erin and I've been an ER nurse for 12yrs but have worked in healthcare for 24yrs (started in EMS before becoming a CNA then a RN). To be honest, I wanted to be a dolphin trainer when I grew up but there aren't any oceans in WI so I pursued a degree in exercise science as I was an avid competitive swimmer. I realized fairly quickly that having a baby on the way and making $13/hr at the top of the food chain running a YMCA swimming pool wasn't going to cut when it came to raising a new baby.
Fast forward two years and another kid later and I went back to school for my nursing degree. After graduation I worked in GI but got very bored working butts and guts all day long. While I was in nursing school, I worked as an EMT and ER tech and fell in love with the world of emergency nursing. I liked the fast pace and the constant variety. I knew ER nursing is where I wanted to end up.
One year after graduation I landed my dream ER job at the University of Minnesota Medical Center. A month into my orientation I found out I had breast cancer. I survived cancer and I learned a lot in 8yrs at the UofM but eventually moved onto academia and became a full time nursing instructor as my passion had always been education. Even though my joy cup was full in teaching the future of nursing, I missed the excitement of the ER. (I also think it's valuable to work the bedside while teaching, it gives you insight into current evidenced based practice and what's really going on at the bedside).
As academia took it's toll physically and mentally, I transitioned back to the bedside and currently work as an ER RN and ER educator in a rural critical access hospital in western WI. I never pictured myself working in a small town hospital, but it is an absolute joy to go to work everyday serving my community and working with an amazing group of nurses and techs.
I hope you enjoy the blog! Here, you'll find insightful stories, valuable nursing tips, and experiences shared from the heart. Join our community as we delve into the world of emergency nursing & healthcare. The blog is a platform to learn, grow, and connect with fellow nurses and healthcare professionals. We aim to provide a unique perspective on the challenges and triumphs of nursing in the fast-paced emergency room environment.
