Profiles in Nursing - Teresa Hulsey RN, CEN

Every day before I arrive at work at St. John’s Emergency Trauma Center, I pray that God will give me the skills and compassion to help those who are sick and injured. 

Being an ER nurse has taught me many things. One is that you never stop learning, and another is that teamwork is essential to saving lives!

Our staff provides a level of service that requires a tremendous amount of teamwork, critical thinking and skill. The department is comprised of 91 nurses (from a variety of nursing specialties) 30 physicians, and 82 ancillary staff such as emergency technicians, secretaries, phlebotomists and family patient advocates. We must work together as a team to make a difference in a patient’s life.

The emergency department is a necessary link in our hospital’s designation as a Level I Trauma Center, a Level I Stroke Center and being nationally recognized as one of the best in caring for cardiac patients in the United States. These high levels of care along with providing treatment for all age groups and all types of illness and injuries demand a great deal of continuing education for our staff.

We see an average of 216 patients per day, or 9 patients per hour.  Our current daily record stands at 302 patients in one day. Many of these patients may be critically ill or injured and require one on one care, which can be overwhelming when this pace continues for an extensive period of time.

One of the biggest challenges in emergency nursing is being able to maintain a high level of critical thinking and quick action in life-threatening situations, even when it would involve taking care of an emergency that turns out to be a friend, family member or co-worker. 

I am very proud to work in a department with a group of professionals that have played a major role in the recent advancements in the treatment of cardiac, stroke and trauma patients. Although emergency nursing is a stressful job, it is very rewarding to see the improvements in patients' outcomes. 

I have often said “It’s not just a job, it’s an adventure” because just when you think you have seen everything, something completely unbelievable arrives!