ER Pet Peeves

They certainly do they come in after having only 1 (count them one!) episode of vomiting or diarrhea.

I have had them come and state "I woke up in the middle of the night with my stomach hurting" (right now it's noon). I ask them to point to their pain, they reply it doesn't hurt anymore, it only lasted about 15 to 20 minutes. I feel fine now. I just wanted to find out why that happened...

I had a man come in once with C/O my arse burns from where I crapped my pants. He was in a race (running) and needed to poop but didn't want to stop. So, he pooped his pants and kept on a truckin!

8. state insurance patients who are asked to pay their copay and tell us they have no money. The copay in my state is $1...........no lie........$1. and of course, they have their cellphone, their manicured nails, their cigs, etc...........



AMEN!!!

How about the patient who wants a bus pass for her and her boyfriend to go home! Of course, this is in addition to the box lunch they both want.

its so nice to know that I'm not the only one who gets peeved off about these patients!!! For the life of me, I have yet to figure out WHY no one can buy Motrin/Tylenol or better yet, you ask them when the last time you gave the child either/or and they say "yesterday". I just HAVE to ask... "you realize this isn't a once a day medicine" "it can be repeated every 4-6 hrs!!!

lately we've been asking the paramedics/emts when they encode... "are these patients triagable??" If so..... they can wait on that toe pain or h/a for 3 wks. JEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!

We also get the "are you busy" phone calls. I WANT to ask..... would you like a reservation?? Or better yet, the family members that call ahead to tell us they are coming and to reserve a bed...... uhhhh right...... go to triage babe. If they're that sick, call EMS.

If they can afford cigs/braids/jewelry on every finger and ears, neck and other regions I don't EVEN want to know about.... buy some Motrin... walmart stays open 24/7. I really do love my job....honest!!!!

1. Patient's temperature reads 98.4 and patient insisting this is a fever for them since thier norm is 95.

2. Patient complaining of back pain/ rib pain, etc. refusing to wear a gown for examination.

3. Adult patient with spouse who answers all questions for them.

4. Patients who can't recall any of the meds they take or thier allergies. "Umm....I'm pretty sure that medicine started with a B....."

5. Patients who come in the day of an event they need to be at and demand that we cure them and get them out the door in plenty of time to shower and get dressed at home. I had a woman once with SOB that refused to allow us to remove fingernail polish to check an o2 sat!

OK The 10 allergies....LOL.... I SO AGREE WITH YOU!!!

So, when these people want tea, boxed lunches etc., you don't actually have to get it for them do you?

UMMMM only if I get a written physician order.
With some of the FF crowd who are there solely for a meal and nap I do not feed. I will get them a cab pass to the shelter whence they originated, they can feed them. That is what all of those United Way funds and all of the other fund raising campaigns are for. I have no problem taking care of sick people regardless of their pay source or lack of. I do have a problem stretching already thin resources for persons that DO NOT NEED TO BE IN THE ER.

I actually have done this. And, no, I did not want a reservation.

I got bitten by a wild raccoon while on assignment. It was a very deep and extensive wound and in an area of the country where there was an active outbreak of Rabies. While I was not in immediate danger of dying, there was a need to get prompt medical attention for antibiotics and gamma globulin/rabies vacination. And as rabies cases are treated through the ER (public health/animal control issues) and not generally through a local MD, I reported there. I did call ahead to make sure that the ER near me had the time to see me, rather than to go to one that was overwhelmed with more critical cases. It seemed a prudent thing to do, not a rude one.

I have no problem taking care of sick people regardless of their pay source or lack of. I do have a problem stretching already thin resources for persons that DO NOT NEED TO BE IN THE ER.[/quote]


I so agree with you. Too bad we can't demand big screen tv's, jewerly, and cars that cost more that my mortgage in payment. Could have a really outstanding yard sell Oh well, just a dream.

If a patient calls to ask if we are busy, I always answer yes, even if every bed is empty. Because if I answer no, and by the time they get there we have gotten busy, they are ****** off. If I answer yes, and when they get there we are not busy, they are very happy. This way everybody is happy. My theory being if they can wait until we are not busy, IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY!