[babynurselsa]

Yep, dumb people tricks are the meat and potatoes.
I also frequently say that stupid should hurt more....

[CritterLover]

Originally Posted by stevielynn

I like that! "Stupid pays your paycheck".

That is the way I try to think about it. It IS hard - we had a lady with a migraine recently, really truly a migraine. It was her husband who was the problem - they had been waiting 1/2 hour when he walked up and rudely asked when the doctor would be there ... I wanted to say "after he finishes dealing with the respiratory emergency" but I didn't. I wanted to say "try the big city ER 70 miles away - you might have to wait all day". I didn't. I was nice. His wife was really in alot of pain.

steph

Had a patient's very demanding family member come to the desk Saturday night because "he's been here 3 hours and hasn't seen a doctor yet. When is the doctor going to be in. And he needs to eat." We had just gotten two full arrests in at the same time, and we are a fairly small ER. We only have two docs on at a time. I just smiled and said "You've only been here 3 hours and you are already back here in a room? Wow, thats pretty good. Most people are waiting a whole lot longer than that tonight to get back here. The doctor will be in as soon as he can, he is tied up with another patient right now. And I can't get you anything for him to eat until after the doctor sees him. Could I please get you to wait in his room? I need to be able to see what they want in those two big rooms behind you."

[Spidey's mom]

Originally Posted by CritterLover

Had a patient's very demanding family member come to the desk Saturday night because "he's been here 3 hours and hasn't seen a doctor yet. When is the doctor going to be in. And he needs to eat." We had just gotten two full arrests in at the same time, and we are a fairly small ER. We only have two docs on at a time. I just smiled and said "You've only been here 3 hours and you are already back here in a room? Wow, thats pretty good. Most people are waiting a whole lot longer than that tonight to get back here. The doctor will be in as soon as he can, he is tied up with another patient right now. And I can't get you anything for him to eat until after the doctor sees him. Could I please get you to wait in his room? I need to be able to see what they want in those two big rooms behind you."

We have one ER doc and he covers the floor in emergencies too. The resp. distress was a pt. I'd admitted from the ER to the acute floor earlier.

On the flip side, I have had to wait to have a family member be seen in the ER and while I understand, it can be frustrating.

You handled it very well - so nicely. Kudos to you!

steph

[ChayaN]

I really don't get all the stories of ER abuse. Who wants to spend all day (or all night) in an ER? My couches at home are a lot comfier and I get to choose what I want to watch.

[nurseangel47]

I would like to take this opportunity to say a hearty and heartfelt, THANK YOU! to all you talented ED nurses! My SO had blocked posterior circumflex artery back in the summer, had an MI, I headed to ED after giving him aspirin and one of my BP pills, (his BP was elevated) and the ED nurses were on him like white on rice, but with very graceful, if you will, choreographed and meaningful purpose, to get him stabilized, properly diagnosed, sent to CCU, etc. I was very much impressed, even tho' I'm a nurse myself. I just could not do what you guys/girls do! I take my (nurse's) cap off to you in professional awe ...again, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!

[grammyr]

We all should remember that since we can't cure stupid, jusst consider these people job security.

Had someone tell me once that no matter which ED you work in, the same 100 come in over and over and over and over, then get on a bus and go aggravate some body else.

[Nursonegreat]

Originally Posted by ChayaN

I really don't get all the stories of ER abuse. Who wants to spend all day (or all night) in an ER? My couches at home are a lot comfier and I get to choose what I want to watch.

i dont work in an ER but being devils advocate...perhaps some of those people dont have couches, let alone ones that are comfy....and perhaps they dont have a TV or have a wife who wont let go of the remote. dont assume everyone has the riches we call couches and TVs.

[ChayaN]

Originally Posted by Nursonegreat

i dont work in an ER but being devils advocate...perhaps some of those people dont have couches, let alone ones that are comfy....and perhaps they dont have a TV or have a wife who wont let go of the remote. dont assume everyone has the riches we call couches and TVs.

Are you saying that the ER abusers come to the ER because they find the surroundings there a lot more pleasant than their own homes? Sad.

[Nursonegreat]

i dont know why the abusers go to the ER...sure it could be possible thats its better in an ER than their surroundings and its definitly sad, but dont think everyone has it as good as we have it and the things we can afford, thats all

[hogan4736]

it's ignorance that fuels most ER visits...

it has nothing to do w/ couches, creature comforts, or whatever someone's home life is like...