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The hidden jewel of emergency medicine careers: Why it's time to explore the VA *

The hidden jewel of emergency medicine careers: Why it's time to explore the VA * “This isn't what I thought the VA was” whispered Lt. Col. Rutledge's brother as he tearfully hugged a crowd of emergency nurses, physicians, and health techs. Six hours ago, we had met Ms. Rutledge at the ambulance bay of our urban VA emergency department (ED) as paramedics were initiating rescue ventilation. She was quickly rolled into an ED treatment bay, lifeless and limp. Under her hand, her purse, with a “Vietnam War Veteran” embossed emblem peeked though, a powerful reminder of the service this Veteran had given us and her nation. The coordinated chaos of a code ensued, staff working in frenetic but harmonized fury as her brother watched on, being supported by our social work and nurse team members. After several rounds of epinephrine, defibrillation, and a video‐guided intubation, our cooling protocol was initiated, and our Veteran's care was handed off to our ICU colleagues.On my drive home that evening, I reflected on how Lt. Col. Rutledge's brother's statement could just have been said by any of the physicians working in our ED. “This isn't what I thought the VA was.” When I joined the VA straight out of emergency medicine residency at an urban, county Level I http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Academic Emergency Medicine Wiley

The hidden jewel of emergency medicine careers: Why it's time to explore the VA *

Patel, Neil; Kessler, Chad
Academic Emergency Medicine , Volume 30 (4) – Apr 1, 2023
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Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 2023 Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
ISSN
1069-6563
eISSN
1553-2712
DOI
10.1111/acem.14708
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

“This isn't what I thought the VA was” whispered Lt. Col. Rutledge's brother as he tearfully hugged a crowd of emergency nurses, physicians, and health techs. Six hours ago, we had met Ms. Rutledge at the ambulance bay of our urban VA emergency department (ED) as paramedics were initiating rescue ventilation. She was quickly rolled into an ED treatment bay, lifeless and limp. Under her hand, her purse, with a “Vietnam War Veteran” embossed emblem peeked though, a powerful reminder of the service this Veteran had given us and her nation. The coordinated chaos of a code ensued, staff working in frenetic but harmonized fury as her brother watched on, being supported by our social work and nurse team members. After several rounds of epinephrine, defibrillation, and a video‐guided intubation, our cooling protocol was initiated, and our Veteran's care was handed off to our ICU colleagues.On my drive home that evening, I reflected on how Lt. Col. Rutledge's brother's statement could just have been said by any of the physicians working in our ED. “This isn't what I thought the VA was.” When I joined the VA straight out of emergency medicine residency at an urban, county Level I

Journal

Academic Emergency Medicine – Wiley

Published: Apr 1, 2023

Keywords: burnout; career; government; military; VA; Veterans Affairs

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