What do people think the ER is?

Specialties Emergency

Published

I'm still laughing from last night.

Younger male adult. He's there with his woman, mom and grandma.. All hovering over top of him like he was on his death bed.

No prior health history. VSS. No pain, no nv, no loose stools. No cough.

Cc:weakness. Ok.

Trying to talk to him and he's looking all sad in the bed. Whispers to me as if actually speaking took too much energy.

Trying to get feedback, he keeps whispering. I let him know multiple times that I can not hear him. His ladies are answering for him. He's weak. Hasn't been eating or drinking. He lost almost 20lbs in a week they tell me.

Then he sees the iv and fluids. I get a response. He keeps chanting in this soft whisper 'get me out of here, I'm fine, I want to go'

I have the ladies leave the room. The tech comes in for the EKG. I told him he needs to speak louder an answer my questions. I need to do the little poke so we can run some tests and hydrate him.

He keeps telling me he wants to leave. He starts ripping everything off of himself, jumps out of bed and demands his shirt.

The doc walked in, walked out, went to talk to the ladies and I saw them all walk out. He kept saying I'm fine.

He didn't have the energy to talk to me, but that needle have him a boost of confidence to jump and practically run..

I really wish I could have gotten an answer from him as to what he felt was going to be the plan of care if he was going to refuse any and all testing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

"Mama's-Boy Syndrome" is as old as time itself. Your ER was just the setting for this exacerbation to take place. :rolleyes:

And the significant other seems to be progressing to co-dependency right on schedule ...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

BWAAAAAH! He was probably more afraid of the needle than the 'women'.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.

Lol, it's all fun and games until someone brings out the 18 gauge!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, Addictions, Geriatrics.
Lol it's all fun and games until someone brings out the 18 gauge![/quote']

Many people have had symptoms suddenly improve or even resolve entirely when the IV therapy is brought to the table!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Imagine if you'd come at him to I/O cath him for urine...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Room.

Or the opposite - the people who storm out because we are not following THEIR plan of care. :sarcastic:

I.E. 35 year old healthy male with diarrhea x2 days. Awaiting lab results.

Girlfriend inquires "did the doctors order a cat scan?"

"No. They don't feel he needs one."

"well then what are we waiting for???"

"We're waiting for his blood test results"

Huge exaggerated eye-roll and "harumph" from girlfriend.

Next thing I know, the room is empty and the PCA informs me that the girlfriend gloved up, ripped his IV out, and they stormed out the door.

At least once a day I have the urge to ask "If you know exactly what it is you need, why are you asking for our help?"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Room.
Imagine if you'd come at him to I/O cath him for urine...

How do you I/O cath someone for urine? Am I missing something?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My guess is 'in and out', as such alternatives as 'intraosseous' and 'intake and output' probably aren't what is meant.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Department; Neonatal ICU.

OP, that's funny. One time we had a tall, lanky guy in his mid-twenties who came in with chest pain and shortness of breath. He absolutely flipped out over the IV, huffing and puffing and barely kept still enough for me to get it in and get blood.

Guess what he had? A spontaneous pneumo!! When I saw the xray, I thought, uh oh. You can guess how how he reacted to the news that he needed a chest tube....;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
Girlfriend inquires "did the doctors order a cat scan?"

I had something similar. A young man with classic migraine sx.--HA, photophobia, nausea. No other neuro deficits. Girlfriend say that he "had" to have a CAT scan (the boyfriend is totally passive though the whole thing--I think he was used to her being overbearing/aggressive). Anyway, doctor very calmly explained why she was not going to order a CT scan. The girlfriend stated "then fine, if you don't order what I want, we are outta here and we will go to [insert name of a nearby 'competitor' hospital]." The pt never said anything during this entire exchange. I go in with the AMA form, give it to the patient to sign. Girlfriend says to him "you will not sign that. If you sign something it means you agree with it, we are leaving." She storms out...he gives me a looks that almost looked like "sorry for this" and then puts his head down and follows her. It can be frustrating at times, but this was more amusing that anything else.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

"I dont want any needles, meds, or tests done"

"Then WHY WASTE MY TIME/MONEY BY COMING HERE!!!!"

I cant do my voodoo magic to see whats wrong with you other than, oh yeah NOTHING!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment