I was told "If they won't get out of bed don't hesitate to call rescue."

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in retired from healthcare.

Does anyone here have any feedback for this situation?

I worked in a boarding house where I always had at least three, four, or five residents that I was responsible for.

One morning I cooked breakfast and alerted them all that it was time to get up.

One lady who had been there for only a day or two stayed in bed. She said she did not feel like getting up right away. She did not appear to be ill. She missed breakfast.

I called my supervisor who told me to call rescue for her.

When she came over to the house to offer guidance she told me, "Don't hesitate to call rescue when this happens."

This new lady was brought back a day or two later on antidepressants.

I have doubted that every single patient who won't get up in the morning needs to go to the hospital but I would hate to feel like I was negligent.

Let's suppose their vitals are fine and they're talking to you but they won't get up. Do you really need to send them to the hospital?

Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

dumb - dumb - dumb. Just because someone doesn't want to get up for breakfast does not mean they need to be hospitalized. Just craziness.

I don't like getting up in the morning. I'd be ****** if someone called 911 everytime I didn't get out of bed.

On the same note, the EMTs probably wouldn't be too happy, either.

Specializes in ER.

Seems like an overreaction. I wouldn't make breakfast twice, but I wouldn't call 911 about it.

Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

I imagine the EMT's and medics aren't too happy with a call like that. That just seems way, way overboard.

Specializes in Emergency.

Yeah, we get people like this in to the ER, who not only have no complaints but are bent out of shape because they were bundled up and sent out. My question is what exactly do you think an ER is going to do for this person.

Not wanting to get out of bed (if it is an expectation of the house) is a behavioral or non-emergent psych issue and there are a lot more appropriate ways of dealing with it than a ride in the ambulance.

Specializes in Orthopedic, LTC, STR, Med-Surg, Tele.

Seems like an overreaction. If they want to sleep in, and they're not ill, who cares? Ties up emergency services unnecessarily, IMO.

Was this person A&O? Competent?

If so, what ever happened to autonomy?

I'm getting to be old and perhaps crotchety (depending on who you talk to :laugh:), but if someone tried to send me to a hospital because sleep seemed like a better idea than breakfast....well, there might be another 911 call soon. :yes:

What a waste. I admit that patient needs intervention if this is a chronic issue, but certainly the ER is not the place, especially after ONE missed meal. Give me a break.

How would that 911 call go anyways.

"what is your emergency? "

" an adult woman decided against breakfast today. "

That policy just seems strange and an abuse of emergency services.

I no longer work in ER, but things like this **** me off. The ER and EMS should not be used as a dumping ground for other organizations who refuse to use common sense and take responsibility for patients, or residents in this case.

Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

That sounds like your supervisor is trying to CYA. Aren't you allowed to evaluate them? Of course there could be medical issues for why someone wouldn't get out of bed, but immediately sending them to the ER is a huge waste of resources.

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