[AngelGirl]

At 6 o'clock one morning a woman arrives by ambulance to our ED. Her only complaint is that she can't remember whether or not she has taken her antianxiety pill. "I'm supposed to take them every 8 hours. I woke up and can't remember if I took one last night!" Seeing that she was absolutely convinced that a doctor needed to intervene in this case, I questioned her re: her concerns. How anxious was she feeling? "I'm not anxious at all." Why did she feel that she had to call an ambulance? "I needed a ride to the hospital!" Could she have called someone to bring her?" No one is up that early. "Could she have called a taxi? "No! They cost MONEY!" Of course, how did I miss that point? Fortunate for all of us, ambulance rides in our part of the country must be free. And we wonder why our county is going bankrupt!

[AngelGirl]

Now you know why our E.D.'s triage is known as "THE PENALTY BOX."

[ERNurse752]

Quote: "Could she have called a taxi? "No! They cost MONEY!"

AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That just drives me nuts...I would have needed an anxiety pill more than she did after she told me that.

Quote: "Now you know why our E.D.'s triage is known as "THE PENALTY BOX.""

Oooooh...that is good!

I actually had a pt ***apologize*** to me for being an a$$hole last night (in his words.) I was so shocked, I almost had a freakin' MI!

[AngelGirl]

ERNurse 752

After that apology, did you need to "simma down na' " ?

[AngelGirl]

I saw a GREAT cartoon on the board at work. It shows the hospital waiting room is equipped with 2 rope ladders. People signing in for triage are given an opprtunity to first climb one of the ladders.

A nurse with a clipboard explains, "We are trying to cut down on the number of frivolous visits to the ER. If you can climb the rope ladder and grab the $500.00, it's yours. But, then you won't be seen in the ER today.

[l.rae]

you know, l am always intreagued(sp) when this thread pops up again....l had a pt apologize the other nite too...for the last time she was at the ER, she thought l recognized her, l didn't and wouldn't have either if she hadn't relayed the whole ugly event....yeah, l was in the "penalty box" that nite too....ahhh, l won't bore you with details, but this chick reported me to the nsg supervisor for almost slamming her head in the trigae door....if only !........oh what a nite....and Tom, btw.....l no longer even hope for the clean underwear...........

[ERNurse752]

Originally posted by AngelGirl
ERNurse 752

After that apology, did you need to "simma down na' " ?

Sho' did, suga'!

[AngelGirl]

ERNurse752

You sound "as country as cornbread." Very refreshing. Thanks.

[ERNurse752]

Mmmmmm...cooooooornbread...

[tatianamik]

Originally posted by amy
The patient visitor that pulls up on the ambulance ramp with someone in the car with a "Medical Emergency" that turns out to be a sprained ankle?

LOL. I sprained my ankle when I was 15yo. My mother took me to the local ED for xrays just to make sure it wasn't broken. They have an ambulance bay and a private vehicle drive. My mother picked the closest non-handicap parking spot(which wasn't that close) not the private vehicle drive. I was holding onto her shoulder and hopping toward the ER as fast as I could hop. It must have been a slow night cause one of the nurses (who was male) apparently saw us through the ambulance bay doors and came out with a wheelchair. I'll never forget that guy. I embarresed the stew out of him. He was triaging me and asked me for LMP. My answer was "right now." He turned bright red. LOL.