Whats your biggest pet peeve working in the ED? - Page 18

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  1. Jan 23 by
    Quote from funfunfun550
    I chart what they say and if it is over 10 I leave it blank and make a comment
    THEN I FLAAC score their pain(typically its a 0) and make sure to write a note in the interdisciplinary not as to summarize my findings...very useful if behavioral med gets involved...
    I love this post so much I want to hug it!!
  2. Jan 27 by
    Quote from hodgieRN
    Whenever I head that from a pt, I would say, "No problem. We will keep you out here in triage until a private room opens up. It might be a couple more hours, but at least you'll have your private room." I turn to another pt..." Hello, Mr johnson, a hallway bed opened up, so I am going to take you back now." Wouldn't you know, the previous pt is suddenly fine with having the next hall bed after seeing the other dude get rolled back before her.
    Had a woman come in EMS, because her husband and brother were freaking out, turns out to be just a bit too much ETOH on board. Had a zone closed, so technically there were some rooms empty (that they could see), but, they got a hall bed. Gave her antinausea meds, CXR, and a liter of NS. Family angry that she went into the room for a BP (couldn't get the roll around to work), then back in the hall. I know, poor customer service report! There were reasons for it though.

    UPshot of the story, the husband kept saying while I was giving them their discharge "but we aren't getting charged for an ER room are we!!??" Explained the charges were for 1) a medical screening for emergent conditions by a qualified ER doctor, and 2) for emergency dept care which I was and had been providing. He shut up, but there went my Press Ganey score.
  3. Jan 28 by
    Any ideas where the general consensus came into play that an ER will run every test imaginable to find out what's causing your ailment, will than fix said ailment and make you completely pain free before you leave?

    I hear a lot of people talk badly about a hospital or ER and refuse to go back based on xyz complaint and it usually rings back to 'I went there for xyz and they didn't even do anything about it.'

    Is there a scripted phrase you guys use when your explaining plan of care that helps people understand you are evaluating for life threatening conditions and not refusing to do things for Pts?
  4. Guide
    Jan 28 by
    Quote from Sassy5d
    Is there a scripted phrase you guys use when your explaining plan of care that helps people understand you are evaluating for life threatening conditions and not refusing to do things for Pts?
    Various versions of: "Fortunately, you are not having a medical emergency today."
  5. Jan 28 by
    Quote from Altra

    Various versions of: "Fortunately, you are not having a medical emergency today."
    Very true.. I just don't know how to explain it to people in a good way without sounding cold. Any time I hear someone complain about any hospital I try to rationalize with them.

    I know it's very frustrating as a nurse and a pt. I don't seem to have the answer they want to hear when it sounds like a nerve issue, you need MRI and doc follow up and they don't understand why we're not giving them an MRI.
    I hear a lot that we are 'worthless' because they don't leave with the diagnosis or fix for their issue
  6. Jan 28 by
    Quote from Altra
    Various versions of: "Fortunately, you are not having a medical emergency today."
    I'll say something along the lines of "we rule out things that will kill you or cause serious harm today. Managing chronic illnesses or diagnosing long term problems is best handled by your PCP who knows you and can provide continuity; it's beyond our scope in the ED."

    When people get told to follow up for an MRI on discharge I often get asked why we're not doing it and I explain that it's not an emergent procedure.
  7. Jan 28 by
    I've also said "we're not X specialists. We can find and fix emergencies related to X but for problems like yours with X you're best served by following up with the X specialist for further diagnostics."
  8. Jan 28 by
    Quote from Sassy5d
    Any ideas where the general consensus came into play that an ER will run every test imaginable to find out what's causing your ailment, will than fix said ailment and make you completely pain free before you leave?
    TV shows. ER, Gray's Anatomy, etc.

    Everyone gets fixed, even if they have some obscure zebra disease, before the end of the shift.
  9. Jan 28 by
    Pet Peeve:

    When families send in or drop off their non-English-speaking elderly and then refuse to stay around to help us communicate with them.

    When families do the right thing and stay the course, I be sure to thank them profusely and explain what a service they're providing to their loved one. Said families often express surprise at my gratitude and then amazement when I explain how often families fail to follow through.
  10. Jan 28 by
    Quote from ♪♫ in my ♥
    Pet Peeve:

    When families send in or drop off their non-English-speaking elderly and then refuse to stay around to help us communicate with them.

    When families do the right thing and stay the course, I be sure to thank them profusely and explain what a service they're providing to their loved one. Said families often express surprise at my gratitude and then amazement when I explain how often families fail to follow through.
    I really appreciate when they stick around also, but don't you have translator phones available for when they leave?
    Sweet_Wild_Rose likes this.