What not to say / do while you are in the ER...

Specialties Emergency

Published

If you come in to be treated for a STD, don't hit on the nurse

Specializes in ER!.

For some reason one that sticks out in my memory is the old guy brought in by EMS for chest pain (vitals, EKG, enzymes all normal, satting 98) screaming "NURSE! NURSE!" I looked in on him to see what the crisis was and he said, "Get me a diaper!" ("Please" evidently not part of this dude's vocabulary) Guy is ambulatory, but I got him one anyway, and while I was not particularly shocked that the first thing out of his mouth was not "Thank you" I was taken aback by his complaint that "This is NOT the kind I usually use! In a hospital, you think you'd have a better selection!"

Well, excuuuse, me, Gramps, but this ain't Target, y'know........ Now please excuse me while I attend to my 8-week-old dehydrated pt as she waits for a bed. Poor child was 10 weeks premature, weighed 5 lbs, had almost continuous diarrhea and the worst diaper rash I'd ever seen, and her poor parents (a couple in their early 20s) were scared senseless. And this guy was pi$$ed because he didn't like our diaper selection. I love ER, but you have to wonder about some people's priorities....

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We used to get this one gal, first request was for a blanket, second for food, third "turn the lights off, my head hurts". Didn't matter what c/o was, always in this order. Her daughter and she swapped meds continually. MDs finally got wise and stopped giving either of them anything. Now they go elsewhere. BOO HOO!

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

Cant we just give them a menu and let them order for themselves, I see it working??????

The house special tonight is _________!!!!!!!!!!

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I've worked in three different ER's in various capacities (admitting, tech, RN) and I have noticed in all of them that people just forget the words "please" and 'thank you'.

It's not my pet peeve (That would be "When is my room ready? when am I going upstairs? Can I have another blanket?"). I've just noticed that people are rather rude when in crisis situations.

One thing that has come up that kinda makes me crazy is first-year interns who like to contradict the nurses. Case in point, and it's a stupid one:

Woman in late 50's comes into the ED in a-fib w/RVR. She's 230 on initial assessment, on the monitor she's 150, then 40, then 75 -- it's enough to make a newbie nuts. Of course she has to pee, she's A+OX4, very pleasant but also pretty sick. I told the tech that we don't want her out of bed -- we don't do stress tests that way! Stupid intern gives her a commode at the bedside. I told him that if she passes out he can pick her up. Pt had also taken Xanax prior to arrival and had received her dig and cardizen IVP.

:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

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Never Tell the your parents then the police officer then the Doctor that you took 2 Blue Pills and 1 White pill of unknown orgin. Lay on the Ground motionless before EMS arrive and then Tell the 3 RNs who have had a long day that I didnt take anything Just because there holding a 30 french Tube in there hand! :)

Never tell the triage nurse "I vomited blood" unless you truly vomited Blood! We will find out!

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Hey, Tom, I suppose offering them a knuckle sandwich is out of the question?

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Sorry I was not trying to offend anyone, just stating the facts that she was big and scary. Last thing I am is racist. Black women are just a bit more intimidating, especially when she is 6ft and you are 5 1" she weighs in at 200 and you at 125. I have a tall dark drink of water at home, if you know what I mean.

Nope, you're obviously not a racist, just PREJUDICED. That's better than being a racist. You absolutely see nothing wrong with what you have written do you? What, exactly, makes a Black woman more intimidating, besides the color of her skin? Just, trying to understand your logic.

PS: I'm glad you can't see the color of my skin because I would hate to come across as "intimidating."

Thanks, in advance, for your response.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
Hey, Tom, I suppose offering them a knuckle sandwich is out of the question?

That could be the daily special

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Today it was...

"Look here nursie... (NURSIE!!!!!)

Just give me the Dilaudid and cab ride home and I'm outta here!"

Well...she got points for honesty...

But...NURSIE!!??!!

I don't think so.

Enjoy your Toradol.

Hee Hee Hee

:rotfl:

oooh you little sadist... :chuckle

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How about this one.

DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM??? (usually screamed at the top of the lungs)

hhhmmmmm I guess I should put that down as NOT oriented to person.

...and as for who you are ...

Well, let's see, you are drunk and half naked and the police have been called to come sit with you so you better hope THEY at least recognize you...I don't give a rats A**.

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not real smart to tell a nurse w/ an iv in her/his hand..."you only get one try"

wanna bet??

I love that!:chuckle I have had i.v.'s in my hand and they try many times as my veins roll and believe me the try and try and try... they even go to the other hand if they can't get one in the original hand. I usually have really large bruises on my hands(both) when I leave the hospital. :rotfl:
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oooh you little sadist... :chuckle

That's why God made me an ER nurse!!!!!

:rotfl:

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