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I wish I had a nickel for every time a patient presents to the ER with an extensive list of medications, that of course doesn't have the list with them because we have it "on file". HELLO!!!!!!!
Repat, you are so right!!! That was my 4th admit today, "I gave the list to the doctor downstairs".
Since I'm on the unit, not the ER, I have the luxury of simply asking the pt (after they say "the purple pill for my stomach, the white one for water, and the pink one for my nerves") what's the name of the pharmacy where you get your prescriptions filled and calling their pharmacy to get the correct info.
I also love it when they tell you "My doctor knows all that stuff" when it's Friday night 11:00 pm and of course the doctor's NOT IN HIS FREAKING OFFICE YOU MORON!
Prescription meds lists are bad -- I've met lots of male patients whose wife actually carries HIS list of meds in HER purse; never met a female patient whose husband carries HER list of meds in HIS wallet!! One of my other faves is the disappearing POA. Patient is intubated and SO wants to know how he's doing. Of course, with these new HIPAA laws, we aren't allowed to tell the SO. (Even if -- and this is not always the case -- she's (or he's) the only one claiming to be the SO.) "But I have Power of Attorney." OK, so let's see it. "It's in his old chart." Yes. Like I have the time to go pawing through various volumes of old charts to locate a probably fictious POA!
for every woman who comes in with "spotting", LMP was approximately 4 weeks prior, but had a positive home pg test.
for every patient that comes in after being treated by their family doctor, but isn't any better after only two days on ATBS.
for every patient that gets a complete work-up by an over eager ED doc despite the fact that the patient is one of the regulars in the ER and is never found with anything wrong.
for every patient that comes into ER having vomited once, or had one episode of "blood in their stool."
for every patient that gets mad when they don't get admitted because we don't find anything wrong with them.
for every patient that has a doctor's appointment but just doesn't want to wait that long so comes to ER for the "quicky cure."
for every non-english speaking patient that comes in without an interpretor and expects us to figure out what is wrong with them.
for every patient that comes in and gets mad when they don't get the medication they want.
for every patient that thinks N/V/D for twenty four hours is a medical emergency.
for every teenager that takes a tylenol overdose to get attention.
for every patient that comes in SOA that reeks of cigarette smoke.
I could go on and on.......
It's a wonderful day in the neighborhood! :rotfl:
Pam
NursesRmofun, ASN, RN
1,239 Posts
I do see more and more patients that carry a list though.