Why is Friday idiots' day out?

[Nurse Ratched]

Ack. Just frustrated.

Dear patient:

If you're out of meds on a Friday (and how could you NOT notice earlier in the week?) why, oh why, do you wait until 4:25 to call me and request refills?

Is there a reason I got 7 calls from you in the span of 2 hours asking why the doctor has not called you back yet? (I was about ready to tell you that each subsequent call results in you being moved to the back of the line until you stop calling or die of old age, whichever comes first.)

Is there a reason you think I can diagnose and prescribe medications for you over the phone at 4:15 for a problem you have not be evaluated for that you've been experiencing all week that is suddenly an emergency because it's Friday?

Is there some trouble comprehending the fact that the problem you've had for 2 years that requires a specialist referral is NOT going to be resolved this weekend?

When you show up unannounced for your test results is there a reason you seem shocked that you have to *wait* for me to pull your chart and tend to the 10 other folks who "just happened to be in the neighborhood" first?

*sigh*

(BTW - I am not a believer in enabling those who refuse to treat me respectfully by giving me adequate notice of their needs. As always, sjoe's sig line rules.)

[darla80]

I empathize 100000 %

we also have the chronic Friday callers..it is 4:45 they are in the drive through and they need the xanax now..or worse "the heart pill .." ( quizzing them you find out they took the last Coreg or clonidine two days ago etc... well you know the rest..

Or they call from a friends house or a cell phoen ..can not leave a phone number for a call back and declare "This call is an emergency.."

I am thinking hey.. why not go to the Emergency room for the "Emergency"?????

But I have to share my last Friday experience

last week . an elderly woman called at 4:50 ..

She started the converstaion with: "I am so glad I caught you Honey, Mr Jones has a a Kidney infection"

Her bedridden husband had a UTI.. ( he has been bedbound for a few years and she has alot of experience with urinary frequency dysuria, voiding small amounts, odorous urine etc

She was desperate for some help.. Doc suggested Cipro and her voice began to waiver, she said "That costs alot of money, we can not pay for that, it is way to expensive.. I have some Amoxicillin here will that do?"

I felt sad for them.. they think an ABX is an ABX. After a chat about ABx and the doc punching in a few quinolones looking for the best deal on his PDA we called in 5 Cipro 250mg.. enough to last until Monday and I put ten days of Cipro samples out to give her on Monday. I went home shaking my head.

Monday rolled around and I recieved the most beautiful handmade thank you card and a cinnamon sugar cake..It made me cry and I thought yep sometimes we are appreciated

Nursing gotta love it, the ups and the downs

Hang in there

Joy and Smiles * Darla

[Brownms46]

:rotfl: :roll Thanks you guys, you had me crying LOL with these!:chuckle

[Sekar]

Don't forget those who call at 0800 on monday morning for a refill and then call 30 minutes later from the pharmacy ranting and raving at you because the refill was not called in and they are waiting for it. Never mind that the answering service took the call because the phones are not switched over until 0830. Never mind that they let themselves run out of these medications a week ago. Never mind that our clinic policy is that we have 48 hours (2 WORKING days) to call in a refill and the patients sign an agreement to such when we take them on as patients.

I empathize with you 1000%

[Dave ARNP]

I love the Pharm D's who call wanting to know why we've not called over that script for a CII.

Now think about that....?

Know anywhere in the US that those can be called in on a whim outside of an emergency?

David Adams, ARNP

-ACNP/FNP