You know its a seeker when . . .

Specialties Emergency

Published

"Well the last time the doctor gave me these pink oval pills with watson stamped on them, what was the name. . .? (waiting on you to say . . Oh Lorcet, I'll get the script now:jester:!)

"Or, . . .That dilau. . that Hydromor, . . .Oh what was that called?"

. . . .anyway, Whats your seeker's dead give aways?

Specializes in ER.
Thank you. I know most of us on here are just joking, but it's sad that I can't say "Lortab doesn't work for me" and someone automatically thinks I'm addicted, when I haven't even had a narcotic medication for five years.

It might annoy me, but I give my patients what's ordered. I personally don't care if they're "really" in pain or not. If they say they're in pain, they're in pain and as long as their vitals will support it, I'll give the med. It's not my business to un-addict them.

I think you have the wrong impression of what is obviously a one-sided thread. We are only talking about seekers here.

If you are chronic long term pain patient or one of the handful of people who's tolerance is high then it really doesn't faze me, much as I assume it doesn't phase other RNs. I simply say okay and try to broker it with the MD so that we can all three of us be on the same page. (hate to watch suffering when everyone knows you will fail vicodin)

I know plenty of ER RNs (in real life that is) that are, for example, aware of the increasing tolerance of patients on long term pain management therapies. Of course, I wish that if the patient is not getting adequate relief or would benefit from procedures that would relieve their pain that they would undergo them if they have access to them (ie they can afford them and can find someone to do it or take time off of work or whatever).

If they have access to other therapies that may help their pain/anxiety/whatever and don't use them, then I wonder about the patient's underlying reason behind seeking treatment. If the patient constantly seek pain management in the ER then I also wonder why they have sought out pain management other ways (pain clinic, primary care) though I am aware of break through pain, etc.

Please do not think we are judging folks with pain. Its just a question of seeing the shades of grey in the ER.

In terms of who's business it is to "un-addict" them, we are definitely on different pages. I believe when I wear my scrubs and my badge says, VIC, RN then I have an obligation both to the patient and the community to address the issue. It sends the wrong message to the patient if we are complicit when we ought not to be but I won't judge you here either because its a tough road to walk, for sure.

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

what has upset me for nearly two years is that several alleged experts in both pain control and diabetic complications,

took a great flying leap and assumed that my husband who before this had to be arm twisted into taking 2 tylenol, was/

must be enjoying the buzz. no buzz, just dizziness and headaches. i kept suggesting that he ask again for something

else. i asked him to ask them why he could not at least try something like toradol. "they" said it would be a waste of

time.

i feel some of the blame for the misuse of pain drugs lies squarely at the feet of physicians.

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I feel sorry for your frustration, sharpiemom. I'm glad your husband finally found (some) relief.

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Allergic to zofran, toradol, tylenol, ibuprofen.........

DILALA

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Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.

In terms of who's business it is to "un-addict" them, we are definitely on different pages. I believe when I wear my scrubs and my badge says, VIC, RN then I have an obligation both to the patient and the community to address the issue. It sends the wrong message to the patient if we are complicit when we ought not to be but I won't judge you here either because its a tough road to walk, for sure.

If I have orders from a physician I follow them. I won't be addressing their addiction issues when a physician is prescribing the medications they are addicted to.

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If I have orders from a physician I follow them. I won't be addressing their addiction issues when a physician is prescribing the medications they are addicted to.

Well said. And the pharmacist can fill the script and take the payment without the snotty attitude too.

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Specializes in ED.

I'm allergic to tylenol, motrin, NSAIDS, ultram, morphine and Toradol. The only thing that works for me is fentanyl or diaudid. Also the ones that tell you not to dilute the morphine and push it fast. Oh and I will also need IV benadryl with that. I also love the ones that are lying there, talking on their cell phone and then cover the mouth piece to tell you their pain is a 10. The sad thing is I try to take everyone's pain seriously because one day, one of those seekers may come with a serious condition. It is frustrating though.

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Specializes in EMERG.

They present with _____ pain, and you go to get them an order for something and this is what the allergy list looks like....HINT #1

TORODOL

FENTANYL

MORPHINE

ADVIL

TYLENOL

CODEINE

TALWIN

LYRICA

GABAPENTIN

DEMEROL

ALL NSAIDS

ELAVIL

then you go to give them 0.2mg IVP of Hydromorphone and they call you cheap and tell you that isn't gonna touch them!!(HINT #2).

hopeful lesson to seeker, do not complain to DOCTOR that the nurse is a cheap witch who won't give him the "whole dose!"....when the Doc ordered 0.1-0.2mg!

.....Next we gave a warm blanket for comfort as per MD!!:)

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When the pt knows the system so well that he stops his dialysis early so that his numbers stay bad enough to stay on the floor and then is on the call light every 2 hours for his dilaudid. He was on the floor for months until the playing around with his dialysis caught up to him and he died.

Back in my adult days, we had a guy that every time he was about to be discharged, he'd sneak a dose of his insulin to crash his blood sugar so he'd have to stay. And by crash, I mean he'd take his blood sugar down into the teens. We finally quit telling him he was being discharged until we had the paperwork and everything ready to go, and from the moment he was told until leaving the building, we had someone watching him nonstop.

My favorites were the multiple pancreatitis patients that would hit the snack machine whenever their labs were starting to look better to shoot their enzymes up.

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Specializes in nursing education.
Back in my adult days, we had a guy that every time he was about to be discharged, he'd sneak a dose of his insulin to crash his blood sugar so he'd have to stay. And by crash, I mean he'd take his blood sugar down into the teens. We finally quit telling him he was being discharged until we had the paperwork and everything ready to go, and from the moment he was told until leaving the building, we had someone watching him nonstop.

My favorites were the multiple pancreatitis patients that would hit the snack machine whenever their labs were starting to look better to shoot their enzymes up.

We've had people walk in the door and next thing we knew their blood sugar was like 20, I mean the same people several times. One guy I know for sure was giving himself extra insulin and then coming in so he could have his code experience and get revived. Does this give people a high? Do they see Jesus? I don't get it.

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Had a guy come in, CBG 250s in triage, by the time he'd been in the back for a while, I had a tech go check on him. He was barely responsive, CBG in the 40s. Turns out he had injected a large dose of insulin right before he came in, so he would get put in the hospital.

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You know it's a seeker when they're from out of town, just passing through, and they've "run out" of their Perc 10s/Oxycontin/MS Contin.

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