Whats your biggest pet peeve working in the ED?

Specialties Emergency

Published

Id have to say my biggest pet peeve is when someone hands you a medicaid card as they pull it from their Louis Vuitton handbag with bling on their hands after having rolled up to the ER in their Mercedes Benz! After that I'd say when someone comes to the ER for a UPT. Dont they know they are available at the dollar store now adays?

Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

I thought of a few more.

People that come to the ER for help, but than don't want help. (I don't want that, I don't want this, No don't do that) I have flat out asked a patient before "So why the hell are you here if you don't want us to do anything?"

The phrase "I hate needles" Yes I know. 99.9% of the population doesn't like needles. I didn't like getting stuck a total of 12 times over the course of 3 days last week for IV's either, but ya know what, I was sick enough and in enough pain that I didn't freaking care, in fact I was hurting so bad it didn't even phase me I was being used as a pin cushion! If that's what it was going to take to help me with the pain than bring on the needles.

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
The phrase "I hate needles" Yes I know. 99.9% of the population doesn't like needles. I didn't like getting stuck a total of 12 times over the course of 3 days last week for IV's either, but ya know what, I was sick enough and in enough pain that I didn't freaking care, in fact I was hurting so bad it didn't even phase me I was being used as a pin cushion! If that's what it was going to take to help me with the pain than bring on the needles.

We were just having the discussion today at work. I had a pt who needed I tetorifice shot...."do you really have to give it to me? I hate needles." Ugh.

My response to the "I hate needles" comment: "I know, everyone does."

Specializes in ER, progressive care.

Patients who think they are entitled to EVERYTHING. Nevermind the STEMI in cardiac 1 who is now coding...the patient complaining of a nosebleed is definitely more important.

Patients who are rude to people doing their jobs. Had a patient two nights ago who was being a jerk to me, and to the registration people who were getting his insurance info. Thankfully the doctor discharged this charming patient shortly after seeing him.

We were just having the discussion today at work. I had a pt who needed I tetorifice shot...."do you really have to give it to me? I hate needles." Ugh.

My response to the "I hate needles" comment: "I know, everyone does."

I say that too. I just switched to an adult er from a peds er and I have been SHOCKED at how whiny adults are. Whining about needles, whining about the BP cuff being tight, whining because they want pudding and more orange juice for blood sugar that was 78 and is now 137 after orange juice #1 and not the turkey sandwich or peanut butter crackers offered instead because they don't like peanut butter. Gah. I miss working in peds: when they whine it's developmentally appropriate at least.

Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
We were just having the discussion today at work. I had a pt who needed I tetorifice shot...."do you really have to give it to me? I hate needles." Ugh.

My response to the "I hate needles" comment: "I know, everyone does."

That's what I tell them, I usually say "no one likes needles, but unfortunately if you want us to help you, this is what it's going to take. It will go quick and you will be ok." I once had a patient freaked out about needles and I had to do an IV. She was high on meth, she had piercings EVERYWHERE. But she was freaking out over the 20 guage IV. I get it in, get good return, go to tape it down and she freaks out and jerks her arm back and the IV comes out. I look at her and was like "well guess what, now you get to get stuck again, how well did that work out for you?"

Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I say that too. I just switched to an adult er from a peds er and I have been SHOCKED at how whiny adults are. Whining about needles, whining about the BP cuff being tight, whining because they want pudding and more orange juice for blood sugar that was 78 and is now 137 after orange juice #1 and not the turkey sandwich or peanut butter crackers offered instead because they don't like peanut butter. Gah. I miss working in peds: when they whine it's developmentally appropriate at least.

I went from working on a Peds unit to the ER. Peds patient definitely can be far less babies then adults. In fact when charting my assessments and we have all the things we can pick, multiple times I have picked "fussy" on my adults under behaviour. LOL

I went from working on a Peds unit to the ER. Peds patient definitely can be far less babies then adults. In fact when charting my assessments and we have all the things we can pick, multiple times I have picked "fussy" on my adults under behaviour. LOL
I'm just remembering the 27 year old I had recently who was crying and carrying in about a lac on his hand. I've had 6 year olds deal with lacs more stoically.
Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I had a pt the other night who insisted I stick him in the hand and no where else. My reply? I'll stick you wherever I can, and I'm going to stick you where I can make sure I don't have to repeatedly stick you. Luckily he had great hand veins and he got an 18. :) 24 year old with tats, piercings, and who informed me he passes out when he gets stuck. He ended up in trendelenburg. :)

I think if a patient knows where their best veins are listen to them. No one wants to be stuck multiple times. I can tell you where the best vein is to cannulate me and get it first go, instead of the six or seven times ( including the doctor) it was attempted.

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
I think if a patient knows where their best veins are listen to them. No one wants to be stuck multiple times. I can tell you where the best vein is to cannulate me and get it first go, instead of the six or seven times ( including the doctor) it was attempted.

I don't think anyone disagrees with you, but I have had patients tell me "they always get this vein on the back of my arm." Well, many times, that vein has previously been 'gotten' its final time.

My biggest pet peeve is rude patients. I had a pt. last week who made me so mad I was shaking. First she yanked the call button out of the wall because she had been waiting 20 minutes! When we get in there she insists that she needs IV Fentanyl for and I&D of 3 small (I'm talking less than a dime width) abscesses in her armpit. I'm sure they were incredibly painful... but she was so rude I didn't even want to help her. I did my best to smile and be kind, said I was stepping out to get her some pain medications, she said "well do it quickly!" When I get back to her room she mimed clapping and said "good job!" Just rudeness from start to finish. She ended up leaving happy, with 2mg IM Dilaudid on board. I finished the day wondering what I could have done to make the entire encounter less painful for me.

Which made me think of another pet peeve... people who take no responsibility for their health or care. Had a parent take her kid in BY AMBULANCE for mild abdominal pain x 1 day... kid was running around the room bouncing off the walls. When I go to discharge them, she says she needs medical transport back home...? And I give her the number for the cab company that takes her insurance. Does she know her number? No, of course not. Did she bring her purse/wallet with ID and insurance info? Nope. So here I am with pt. reg digging through old files of hers to find her *$^* insurance card info. Mind you this is a healthy, able bodied, young woman with her more than healthy 8 yr old child. Blew my mind.

+ Add a Comment