[UtErRnEmt]

thought these were funny and true. add on if desired....


Alas, sometimes in the ER the family is harder to deal with than the patient. Here are some family member we all have seen in our ER:

DOORWAY GAWKER- stands and stares at the staff, arms folded, from the doorway with an impatient, angry looks on their faces

THE VENTRILOQUIST - talks for the patient until you tell them to stop it

THE SHADOW- you have to pry this person away from the patients bedside in order to do your job. then they watch every move you make as you start an IV, give meds, etc.

APATHETIC ANN/ANDY - brings a book, laptop - has a sort of been here/done this attitude - seems uninterested in whats going on

THE SUCKER - accompanies a patient with some kind of bogus chronic problem and has bought into it hook, line and sinker

THE KLEPTOMANIAC - you might catch this person rummaging through the cupboards, drawers and perhaps pocketing a thing or two

THE ERRAND RUNNER - may come up to the desk requesting warm blankets, footies, water, food, more pain meds, etc etc etc

MAMAS BOY MAMA - accompanies their grown son or daughter to the ER and sits with concerned look at bedside

BABY DADDY - accompanies girlfriend to ER and is suspicious of any male that comes into the room. Wants to stay there when pelvic exam is being done.

THE DUMPER- drops off confused mom/dad/annoying sibling/girlfriend/boyfriend and leaves

SPACE INVADERS - crosses that line into the staff area or follows the doctor into their area - definitely a no no

MAJOR HOLIDAY GIFTERS - brings mom/dad/grandma who they haven't seen for months to ER because they "aren't doing that well/can't take care of themselves/need to go to a nursing home"

CHICKEN LITTLE - runs to triage desk requesting help for mom/dad/etc in the car who are dying (99% of the time they are fine). Comes up to the desk and tells you heart monitor is dinging - is that OK??!!!

SUSPICIOUS STAN/STELLA- takes notes - wants names of staff, name of medication, name of tests. Has special "medical notebook"

[Absolutely13]

Brillaint!

I will add the family who brings 27 people for a broken finger. What's up with that?

Former ED Volunteer.

[traumaRUs]

We had the "window monkeys". In our ER, we had rooms with sliding glass doors and in order to look out into the hall, you had to move the curtains and stand in the window. They looked liked monkeys in a zoo!

[northshore08]

ROTFL

Y'all really brighten my day.....

[chip193]

Anyone want to take bets on how long it takes the "OMG, you're so uncaring, I can't believe that you're a nurse!" to show up here?

I think the OP's work is wonderful...and will need to bring it to my next meeting!

Chip

[kizzykatlove]

i love this thread .. keep it going ...

[deeDawntee]

Dependent Denise or Starving Stella: lives to be cared for by you and any other health care provider. Is so lonely and devoid of human contact, will keep you in her room as long as possible and if she sees you walking by will call you to come in and do something else for her.

Abdominal pain/give me Vicodin Vickie: the really savvy patient who knows how to act to leave with a few Vics. Will live through a pelvic exam, even an enema or two, doesn't mattter!

What do you mean this pain I have had for 3 months isn't an emergency Edward.....

hehe, great thread!

[stillpressingon]

In honor of Chip: "OH MY GOSH I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ARE TALKING LIKE THIS!!!!!!" And please, keep it up; I've had a rotten day!

[Dolce]

IRRELEVANT INFORMATION SUPPLIERS--Prattle on and on about their own medical/surgical/psychiatric history when all I want to know is the patient's info. Interrupt history taking with vignettes of their own past medical experiences.

[MIA-RN]

WANNA-BE WANDA: the family member who claims to be a nurse and offers many suggestions to treatment, up to and including which vein to use and suggesting 'starting the IV with a butterfly', and when asked whether RN or LPN, states they are CNA.