[EDNewbie]

Is is just me, or is anyone else seeing more and more patients in their late teens to early 30's that are a bunch of wusses? I mean relatively minor ailments (nausea/vomiting for 1 day, headache, cough/congestion, back pain) and these pts act like they are at death's door! Enough drama for a year's worth of Broadway shows. I'm not referring to any pt with serious or chronic illnesses. I mean stuff that is really minor, that should be addressed with a routine PCP visit, but instead they end up in the ER. Inevitably they get the million $ workup (labs, Xray, CT, etc.) only to be discharged with DX of "gastritis" or "muscle strain." I just worked a 4 day stretch and easily half of my pts fit this category. What's going on?!

[RN-Cardiac]

Welcome to the ER!!!

[bethin]

Originally Posted by EDNewbie

Is is just me, or is anyone else seeing more and more patients in their late teens to early 30's that are a bunch of wusses? I mean relatively minor ailments (nausea/vomiting for 1 day, headache, cough/congestion, back pain) and these pts act like they are at death's door! Enough drama for a year's worth of Broadway shows. I'm not referring to any pt with serious or chronic illnesses. I mean stuff that is really minor, that should be addressed with a routine PCP visit, but instead they end up in the ER. Inevitably they get the million $ workup (labs, Xray, CT, etc.) only to be discharged with DX of "gastritis" or "muscle strain." I just worked a 4 day stretch and easily half of my pts fit this category. What's going on?!

Yes, and sometimes these patients are admitted to med surg!

Last weekend we had a 15 yo admitted s/p tonsillectomy. I took her breakfast tray into her, and she cried hsyterically because there was no sugar for her tea! She also threatened to leave AMA because we would not let her 19 yo boyfriend spend the night, in the same room, in the same bed.

I like to attribute this behavior to the lack of control and pain medications. I pray that it's not permanent!

[jlsRN]

I think that generation by generation we are becoming more pampered as a society. My generation was softer than my parents as well. Yes, I've noticed that many young people are weinies.

[Medic04]

I am noticing more MEN being WHIMPS. Ooooooooooo the pain...
(But can go smoke.....) Come back in tears to the floor"Oh the pain......"

What ever happened to Men being Men, have wussed them too these days?

[evilnightwitch]

I agree today society is be enable by the previous generation. As to men I see it in women too.

[dalesgirl]

I remember a family I had when I was doing ER clinicals...the toddler hadn't had a bowel movement in ONE WHOLE DAY, so the whole family loaded up (grandma, aunts, etc) and descended on the ER. They of course stopped at a fast food joint on the way, and brought dinner with them. I guess it was a boring Friday night at home, so they decided to enjoy an evening out at the ER....the family was very angry that we weren't going to do anything more than make a dr appt for the next day and send the baby home. Honestly, this child was healthy as a horse...what are people thinking?

[GoLytely]

I'm a weiner. I can't help it.

[locolorenzo22]

Ya know....I pride myself on being able to deal with a lot in this life....your back hurts...well, I work 3 days a week and go to school 5 so why should mine?....I attribute it to growing up with the adage that a good day's work was its own reward. So many people my age(26, especially guys....) act like ohhh...my poor throat...I'm scratchy..or I had "elective" surgery, I didn't think it would hurt....ummmm, IT'S CALLED SURGERY FOR A REASON!
Some of us can't take it I guess....although, when I'm having mad pain and wind up in the hospital someday...please, don't let me be the one everyone is talking about....

[loricatus]

I wonder if this trend has something to do with instant gratification? Society, in general, is becoming more accustomed to obtaining instant gratification and it seems as if it has spilled out into the world of healthcare.

Got a HA- take an Motrin
Upset stomach, diarrhea-Pepto;
doesn't work, still got a HA, upset stomach, diarrhea---------oh, no it must be an emergency................annnnnnnnd where do I go for this emergency...