Why can't people just be sick at home!? (RANT!)

I have taken care of so many people the last few days that were just plain sick! Vomiting for 12 hours or less, fever for less than a day, coughs, abdominal pain without N/V/D. I want to scream at them "you've got the the flu! go home, drink plenty of fluids and rest!"

In this day and age of instant gratification it seems like NO ONE wants to feel bad one minute longer than they feel they have to and ER doctors across the country carry magic wands that can cure all ails.

Sorry if I am ranting. I really love my job, but I just had too many people today that didn't need to be there. With insurance, without insurance, on medicaid.

I had one girl show up in my quad that had been in twice previously in less than a week! The triage nurse kindly chatised her about getting a family doctor like she had already been told twice and about how much more it was going to cost her than going to a doctor would have.

I am just so tired of people using the ER as their family doctor. I get so tired of people abusing the ER and EMS. I get so tired of people coming in with fevers that can't afford tylenol, but reek of cigarettes, or the patient that comes in hacking and coughing from COPD and still smokes. I get so tired of people moaning and groaning like they are going to die. (those are usually the ones that are the least sick) I wanted to tell one girl that even though she felt terrible, she wasn't going to die so get dressed and get out of my ER....I didn't though.

Again, sorry for the rant, but this has been a really long day and one of my patients kindly shared their flu with me so I feel horrible otherwise I probably wouldn't be as testy.

I'm going to bed now, please forgive my attitude. Just had to let off some steam.



Pam