abusers and losers. Can you top this one?

Specialties Emergency

Published

Specializes in Emergency Room.

Last monday, I had a lady come into triage with a godawful, pity-me limp. She proceeded to tell me that she had terrible pain from her low back radiating into her left leg. She offered up that maybe she had "over done it at her family picnic" the morning before. Then she said, "I think it might be sciatica!" (stage limp = 1st red flag, medical jargon from non-medical person = 2nd red flag). For some unknown reason, she felt she needed to share that she had had an MRI the previous thursday, but her Dr. didn't have the results yet. Now I am confused beyond reason....why did she have the MRI thursday, when the pain started Sunday am? (red flag #3). I simply told her that since it was now Monday, I would place her in a room, and call her PCP for the MRI results. Looking a bit nervous, she allowed me to place her in a room. I told her to get into a gown, and the Dr. would be in to see her shortly. She did get into the gown, then opened the door and laid back onto the cart. I called her PCP, and they said they would get back to me. A few minutes later, one of the nurses said, "Diane, you have a phone call from dr. so and so's office regarding the lady in bed #3". As I go to answer the phone, the patient appears on the other side of the desk, fully clothed (nt having seen the er dr yet), and proceeds into this tearful tyrant about her PCP having "washed his hands of me!" boo, hoo. As I am looking at her, her dr.'s office informs me that this lady did indeed have an MRI in April, however it was in 2002. I thank them, and hang up. Then the pt. tell me that her "othopedist" (red flag #45) "told me that if EVERYBODY in the world was taking oxycontin, then who would be left to govern the world?!!!" boo, hoo, hoo. I tell her, she hasn't even yet seen the ER dr. Would she like to return to her room to see him? She sniffs a few times, and goes into the room, only to return to the nurses desk a minute later, saying "I want to sign out AMA!" (another one of those medical jargon red flags". So, we sign her out...and upon cleaning the room, discover that the code cart key is broken, and the pre-filled valium syringes are gone. Great. BTW, another thing she had said in triage was "My co-worker dropped me off during my lunch break and will pick me up when I'm done" I hadn't even asked her how she got to the ER. She obviously Knew enough to say that, so that if she got narcs, we would think she had a ride. When she signed out AMA, she had her car keys in her hand.

Call me....MS suspicious

I shoulda been a cop

Specializes in Emergency Room.

Last monday, I had a lady come into triage with a godawful, pity-me limp. She proceeded to tell me that she had terrible pain from her low back radiating into her left leg. She offered up that maybe she had "over done it at her family picnic" the morning before. Then she said, "I think it might be sciatica!" (stage limp = 1st red flag, medical jargon from non-medical person = 2nd red flag). For some unknown reason, she felt she needed to share that she had had an MRI the previous thursday, but her Dr. didn't have the results yet. Now I am confused beyond reason....why did she have the MRI thursday, when the pain started Sunday am? (red flag #3). I simply told her that since it was now Monday, I would place her in a room, and call her PCP for the MRI results. Looking a bit nervous, she allowed me to place her in a room. I told her to get into a gown, and the Dr. would be in to see her shortly. She did get into the gown, then opened the door and laid back onto the cart. I called her PCP, and they said they would get back to me. A few minutes later, one of the nurses said, "Diane, you have a phone call from dr. so and so's office regarding the lady in bed #3". As I go to answer the phone, the patient appears on the other side of the desk, fully clothed (nt having seen the er dr yet), and proceeds into this tearful tyrant about her PCP having "washed his hands of me!" boo, hoo. As I am looking at her, her dr.'s office informs me that this lady did indeed have an MRI in April, however it was in 2002. I thank them, and hang up. Then the pt. tell me that her "othopedist" (red flag #45) "told me that if EVERYBODY in the world was taking oxycontin, then who would be left to govern the world?!!!" boo, hoo, hoo. I tell her, she hasn't even yet seen the ER dr. Would she like to return to her room to see him? She sniffs a few times, and goes into the room, only to return to the nurses desk a minute later, saying "I want to sign out AMA!" (another one of those medical jargon red flags". So, we sign her out...and upon cleaning the room, discover that the code cart key is broken, and the pre-filled valium syringes are gone. Great. BTW, another thing she had said in triage was "My co-worker dropped me off during my lunch break and will pick me up when I'm done" I hadn't even asked her how she got to the ER. She obviously Knew enough to say that, so that if she got narcs, we would think she had a ride. When she signed out AMA, she had her car keys in her hand.

Call me....MS suspicious

I shoulda been a cop

Specializes in ICU.

Could be innocent..................NOT!

Specializes in ICU.

Could be innocent..................NOT!

This would never happen because the hospital would not like the publicity and hippa , and probally a dozen other reasons-but wouldn't it be great if:

ER calls the police to report the theft of valium and gives the name of the patient-suspect. They go to her home or stop her while driving and find the valium and she is arrested for theft and possession of drugs.

But alas, not in this lifetime.

This would never happen because the hospital would not like the publicity and hippa , and probally a dozen other reasons-but wouldn't it be great if:

ER calls the police to report the theft of valium and gives the name of the patient-suspect. They go to her home or stop her while driving and find the valium and she is arrested for theft and possession of drugs.

But alas, not in this lifetime.

Specializes in pre hospital, ED, Cath Lab, Case Manager.

OK. Deep breath, pause.....

I am very torn about this post. Been there as an ED nurse. Have felt the exact same way.

Now. Herniated lumbar disc with sciatic pain this winter. Sometimes feel like God is getting me back for all the years of cynicism. Didn't go to ED for that reason. This has been the most frustrating experience in my life, and has opened my eyes to all the patients I judged.

Yes, you are right, there are losers, drug seekers. But having been unfairly accused of drug seeking, when I have never asked for pain meds has opened my eyes to a different veiwpoint.

Specializes in pre hospital, ED, Cath Lab, Case Manager.

OK. Deep breath, pause.....

I am very torn about this post. Been there as an ED nurse. Have felt the exact same way.

Now. Herniated lumbar disc with sciatic pain this winter. Sometimes feel like God is getting me back for all the years of cynicism. Didn't go to ED for that reason. This has been the most frustrating experience in my life, and has opened my eyes to all the patients I judged.

Yes, you are right, there are losers, drug seekers. But having been unfairly accused of drug seeking, when I have never asked for pain meds has opened my eyes to a different veiwpoint.

Been there too and I get upset with nurses and doctors who think everyone who walks into the ED with back pain is drug-seeking. Each and every case has to be taken into account separately.

Been there too and I get upset with nurses and doctors who think everyone who walks into the ED with back pain is drug-seeking. Each and every case has to be taken into account separately.

OK. Here's my story. 30-ish yo female c/o excrutiating sinus pain. "I had a ct of sinus and there's a growth there--maybe cancer" Now a direct admit to ER obs by PMD. Ordered CT of head repeated (''it was done by my doctor in manhattan and if you call him he'll tell you the results''). Yeah, right, at 5:45 pm on friday... Pt refuses head/sinus CT, states she is not paying for a repeat test, worried about radiation exposure, yadda, yadda, yadda. Pt screaming then ensues, and she absolutely NEEDS to take shower first to 'clear the sinus pressure'. Cleared out ER ob/gyn room w/shower. Did I tell you it was mobbed?!? 45 minute shower later, screaming pain was worse (DUH) and needs demerol NOW!!! Literally screaming her head off in small unit. Long story short, PMD orders MSO4 PCA, pain continued x 24 hrs, direct floor admit. Finally she let them get sinus CT, and 5 days after inital ER escapade, her results are back. Not even sinusitis. Bet the floor pulled that PCA awful quick! I gave her demerol IM in obs unit after she promised to go for CT. After she refused, I refused additional pain meds per ER doc ok and let her scream the night away. 11-7 gave in. Do ya think she was seeking??? Oh, the kicker? Manhattan MD number disconnected...

OK. Here's my story. 30-ish yo female c/o excrutiating sinus pain. "I had a ct of sinus and there's a growth there--maybe cancer" Now a direct admit to ER obs by PMD. Ordered CT of head repeated (''it was done by my doctor in manhattan and if you call him he'll tell you the results''). Yeah, right, at 5:45 pm on friday... Pt refuses head/sinus CT, states she is not paying for a repeat test, worried about radiation exposure, yadda, yadda, yadda. Pt screaming then ensues, and she absolutely NEEDS to take shower first to 'clear the sinus pressure'. Cleared out ER ob/gyn room w/shower. Did I tell you it was mobbed?!? 45 minute shower later, screaming pain was worse (DUH) and needs demerol NOW!!! Literally screaming her head off in small unit. Long story short, PMD orders MSO4 PCA, pain continued x 24 hrs, direct floor admit. Finally she let them get sinus CT, and 5 days after inital ER escapade, her results are back. Not even sinusitis. Bet the floor pulled that PCA awful quick! I gave her demerol IM in obs unit after she promised to go for CT. After she refused, I refused additional pain meds per ER doc ok and let her scream the night away. 11-7 gave in. Do ya think she was seeking??? Oh, the kicker? Manhattan MD number disconnected...

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