Admitted patients in the ED

24 admitted patients...

in a 34 bed emerg. Some of those leftover "beds" are chairs, and a mental health room.
That means every possible actual bed in our department was taken up with an admitted patient.

This means ambulance holds over 4 hours, and over 6 hour waits in the waiting room for the 2 beds we have left.


How the heck are we supposed to run as an EMERGENCY department, when inpatients have taken over? We even had to hold someone in the resuscitation room because there were no ICU beds immediately available.

At least I'm getting "floor" experience, sigh. I hate when I arrive and the three to four patients at the start of the shift stay with me the whole time. I'd almost rather be at an Urgent care clinic or doctor's office.

The unfortunate part is that it's not getting any better. We need to increase 1) the number of inpatient units, 2) hire more staff to care for patients in areas that are closed, and 3) reduce the number of patients waiting nursing home placement.

Then MAYBE we can have an emergency department, and wait times will be more close to normal!