[traumaRUs]

Another fav...the er patient who dials 911 from our triage phone to get an ambulance to go to another hospital because "the wait is too long"

I'll never forget the mother who brought an apneic/pulseless infant into me at the triage desk, handed the baby to me and said, "she looks sick". I excused myself from the other pts to take baby to back and as I'm leaving, they state, "but we were here first!!" Sheesh!

[teeituptom]

Hi yall
Then there is the all time fav of the 40 yr old fat female who comes in for gallbladder disease.Gets worked up medicated, feels so much better that she leaves and goes to Taco Bell comes in again an hour later for the same thing.
Somehow I dont think that will make out to be a commercial for Taco Bell
thomas

[erdiane]

more for the list:

patient comes in with c/o headache, you are able to look back at visit history, and see multiple prior visits for "backache, headache, neck pain..." and other diagnosis, and realize that they've gotten narcs each time...different docs. I love to print this, and put it on the chart before the doc goes in to see the pt. (meanie)

what about the heroin addicts who like to point out the usable veins?

families who won't say anything, but stand outside the patients room with their arms folded, and glare at you...

patients who take forever to be triaged because they don't know anything about themselves. Any medical history? "no" then list bp meds, ever had any surgery? "no" then say they haven't had a period for 10 years, because they had a hysterectomy (you dummy). or "yeah...he had a heart surgery" , but have no idea what..

[amy]

Teeitup; I am still laughing!!!

[mdslabod]

I thought I was the only one who heard the
worse excuses for emergency room visits.
No way. It is the same all over.

My question is this, what has become of our society? Why are we so weak that we have to go
to the ER at 3 in the morning for a pain that has been there for two weeks?

I love the ones that tell me that they have an
appointment with their family doc that same day but couldn't wait.


G-d bless us..everyone.

[shootemrn]

Yes I too get disgusted with some folks. Americans used to be hardy pioneering type folks. Draging wagons through the snow exploring the west. Yukon gold rush, WWI, WWII, People carrying folks down 80 flights of smoke filled stairs because they were less injured on 9/11..etc..etc. But it seems there is a class of apathetic people that can not tolerate any kind of ailment for any period of time.

Isnt it disturbing when you get a very healthy young Man/Woman coming to the ED, where you have to think hard about their vague complaint and have to word it so the folks in the core wont laugh too hard!

Scenario 1: Friday 0300: Young 18 year old man walks into triage drinking a coke. States "He Doesn't Feel Well" Upon closer Triage the young man states "I havent felt good for 3 days and I have a fever." 0 HX/ 0 Meds Vitals T 98.8 P 72 R16 BP120/80 Nurse writes "General Malise X3 Days"

Scenario 1a: (ideal world) Friday 0300 Young 18 year old man walks into triage drinking a coke. States "He Doesn't Feel Well" Upon closer Triage the young man states "I havent felt good for 3 days and I have a fever."0 HX/ 0 Meds Vitals T 98.8 P 72 R16 BP120/80
Nurse states "oh thats too bad". "You need to step into the next office and see Corporal Punishment. He will give you 10 minute block of instruction on parachuting and the use of an automatic rifle. You will then be transported to a airfield and parachuted into Afghanstain. Dont forget about your co pay and life insurance forms. "Have a Nice Day!" Then the nurse will yell out into the waiting room "NEXT!"

Think that will cut down on the non-urgents?

[mdslabod]

To shootemrn: I detected a note of sarcasm.
Was I out of line? Just say so.

I know that we have a job because of the people
who come in to the ER, sick or not. But, I was
brought up to consider the word, "emergency" to
mean just that. Something that could not wait or
is life threatening.

I could be wrong.

That's for your reply.


MDS

[gvar]

My favorite is the one that comes in for any reason but needs that note that he was in the ER because "I was supposed to be in court today".

[Jen911]

How about this for a nursing diagnosis in the ER for those patients who are repeat visitors for that darn pain control that we keep chasing....

"Demerol Deficiency"

[Joshua21]

I doubt this is unique but how about the regular drunk who calls for an ambulance at the payphone across the street? And gets it! Say thankyou to the social system