What was the MOST ridiculous thing a patient came to the ER for?

Specialties Emergency Nursing Q/A

And did you have to treat them?

I am just curious. Your stories always seem to either crack me up or shake my head in amazement.

Thanks for sharing ?

Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.
one doctor was famous for going inot the waitin room and telling them to go home when the person complained that they had to be seen by a doctor he said you have.

Now that's smart. I wonder why more hospitals don't do this.

We had a pt come in for cc of "I need to sign up for food stamps and Medicaid"

Also a pt with possible genital herpes for 7 months. Really? Ever heard of a clinic?

Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.

A friend of a friend who was a paramedic got called out to a large apartment block as someone was hearing moaning from inside an apartment. It turned out that the resident had an orange stuck where no orange should ever go. The ambo's had to keep going outside beccause they were struggling to keep a straight face

Specializes in Current: ER Past: Cardiac Tele.

I'm visiting a family member in the ER and my back hurts so I'd like a bed to sleep.

Specializes in Emergency Department.

In defense of the flight crew, they NEVER talk crap about anyone (maybe because 99% of the patients are really sick), but this time they were TICKED!

I wish I knew how they got the call and if they even have a choice to refuse to transport once they are on scene.

And had I known the in-house pharmacy refused her meds without her ID, I would have gotten them for her from the pharmacy (which I can do).

Well ... I must say I'm inspired by the BACK PAIN that arrived texting via rotor (HEMS). Yay! A 20K trip for pain meds. Love it!

I won't get started. But, gee whiz. When are we gonna issue spines with flight suits?

Oh wait, it's you call --- we haul. Mother, Jugs & Speed @ 1500 AGL.

Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

Im so sorry if my tone was "off." I'm not blaming the flight crew at all. Glad this was an anomaly for your flight crew - please understand I'm not trying to be offensive. Of disrespectful to any provider - ground, air, hospital.

It's a endemic problem in some areas. Some states. The patient is often not the flight customer. It's the EMS folks, hospitals, fire departments. They just get the bill. All 20k + of it. Necessary - worth every penny. Not necessary - well, you know ....

There is a lot of over utilization - used to be HEMS arrived and crews were there best of the best and could decline. Now, there is so much competition if I "declined" a flight patient from a hospital for not requiring HEMS transport - the hospital would call a competitor, be on the phone with my boss ---- and my last flight would be back to the base when I would be crucified & promptly fired.

Yep, it's true - in some locales HEMS has turned into you call no matter what's the patient issue (infected toe, back pain, cut hand, dog bite, isolated ortho injury, plenty of MOI auto accidents with minimal to uninjured patients) all that's said to requesting agency is --- "Strong Work, Thanks, Call Anytime" --- and off the helo goes.

Specializes in ER.

Gotta love ER patients.

Last night's star was a stunner, with the history I got from him in triage.

My question was the usual one about are you taking any prescribed meds.

And the answer -

"Oh yes, I'm taking an antibiotic for my blood pressure, its called Humulin."

Stunned silence from triage nurse . . . . . . . :woot:

Specializes in ER.

Ambulance ride for Eye strain after playing video games for about 40 minutes.

Specializes in ER.

"Why have you come to the emergency room this evening?"

"I want a sandwich."

Honestly, I had that one two nights ago.

Specializes in critical care.

I had a retired ED nurse as a patient the other day. She was feeling chatty as the moderate sedation was wearing off and morphine was kicking in. She shared a few stories with me, but the one that stood out the most? She had a young lady come in with a pants zipper stuck to her lips. I asked if the boy was still attached. She said no. :)

Specializes in Trauma ICU, Neuro ICU, Surgical ICU, ED.

Last week, I saw "I have a splinter," "my back has been hurting for three months," (that patient came in at 0300), "I am hungry, need help finding a job, and am tired of being homeless," and, "my right middle finger hurts." I work night shift, and most of these came in after 0000.

Specializes in Trauma ICU, Neuro ICU, Surgical ICU, ED.

My favorite from the other week was "someone broke into my house and stole my entire bottle of Percocet. They didn't take anything else. I need a new prescription for Percocet tonight. I'm in terrible pain."

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