Let’s Talk About Emergency Nursing

Thinking about becoming an emergency nurse? Or wondering what really happens behind the triage desk?

In this episode, we sit down with Krista, an experienced emergency nurse and educator, to break down the true learning curve of transitioning from med-surg to the emergency department—and why nobody feels ready at first.

We talk about:

• What emergency nursing actually looks like day-to-day

• How ER roles, workflows, and teamwork differ from the floor

• Why the primary survey saves lives (and why med-surg nurses should use it too)

• Nurse-initiated protocols, autonomy, and critical thinking under pressure

• Triage levels, CTAS decision-making, and escalation

• Hallway care, capacity crisis, and ambulance offload delays

• When the ER is for you (and when it’s probably not)

Whether you're a student nurse, new grad, or practicing nurse curious about emergency care, this conversation gives you a grounded, honest look at the pace, mindset, unpredictability, and teamwork that define life in the ED.