a rant (pts come to hospital for the littlest of things)

babyktchr, BSN, RN · Jun 14, 2005

Well....after all of this...I truly have forgotten why I posted. I just wonder why folks now-a-days feel they aren't allowed to be sick anymore....pregnant women included. I hate to let the cat out of the bag, but people do get a fever from time to time...a cold...the flu....they vomit, have diarrhea and the occasional stomach ache. Although pesky and irritating, most times it is viral and your body is perfectly equipped to handle it....it was made that way. (of course I am not speaking of those in the immuno suppressed arena) Rest, drink fluids and in a few days..poof..you will be back to your old self. Now if you aren't, then by all means a trip to the MD is warranted.

Common sense is key here. Pregnant women who baste on the beach all day without a drop of water (but a gallon of mountain dew instead) WILL have contractions. Pregnant women who have just had intercourse WILL leak fluid. Pregnant women who have been shopping all day will have swollen feet. Those who choose to eat chili dogs with cheese fries just very may have a tummy ache.

Be-de-be-de-be-de.....thats all folks

LnDNurse2Be · Jun 20, 2005

My lord . . . I was up and around getting my catheter taken out at 9am after having a c/s and not getting to my regular room until 1am. I was walking *albeit slow* the day after open gastric bypass and open gallbladder and hernia repair.

You don't move, you can't move. . . .it's as simple as that! :idea:

Of course your having pain, you haven't moved all week. I sent his family home after telling them that any other patient would be doing all this stuff for themselves the day after surgery, and he could certainly get up to use the bathroom without making a big production out of it. He was gone the next day because he didn't want me getting him out of bed again that night. Why the docs let him stay so long is beyond me.
A shift or 2 off will do you wonders!!
Enjoy!

pebbles1977 · Jun 21, 2005

Both of mine are from today.

The first is MD related. I was assisting in a delivery (started out as baby nurse, but then turned to a VE situation). SOOOO.... NICU was tending to baby, and there was a 3rd degree tear the MD was working on. She first needed cytotec. That was in the room, no prob. Got it for her. Then methergine, then wait, no I don't need it (after I already got it). Then, I need an Allis. Ok, ran to the OR area and got one. Then, I need more lidocaine. Got it, came back. Then, we need some fentanyl. Ooohh kayyy, got it. Then where's the other allis? Hello, you said you needed one! At this point I really wanted to just say, hey, you're worse than the patients who after you leave the room (when you just asked if they need anything else), they hit the call bell bc they forgot something. The requests kept coming and I finally got another nurse in there to assist bc NICU was gone and I had to tend to baby. Gotta love interns, huh?

OK, the second one, well, it's going to sound crass and harsh. But this is a rant/vent thread right? So no flames please! My 24 yo G2P1 with twins and an oral fixation. Every hour she wanted a sucker. No matter how many times I told her we didn't have any, she still wanted one. Each time I'd offer her a popsicle, and she'd of course want that. Now that's not bad, but what's bad is the horrible thumb sucking habit she had. All. Day. Long. with the thumb in the mouth (unless it was the popsicle). I just wanted to say, lady, if you paid more attention to that oral fixation you had, you might not be wanting a BTL after 4 kids at age 24!

I'm so bad. But I'm also humans, and these thoughts do cross your mind!

Jenzee · Jun 23, 2005

No one is saying it is your fault. I am sorry to say that there DEFINITELY IS a connection between the culture of satyrizing people with subtle symptoms and the unwillingness of clinicians to show up for treatment themselves.
In the past, I have worked in the ER environment for 5 years. I have known many many nurses, techs and other clinicians who have had subtle symptoms and elected not to go in because of the culture of negativity about such cases. Not because they are embarassed. And even if they are embarassed, why would that be? Because of the unprofessional culture of gossip and commentary that exists in the ER setting as it would in any other high stress setting where people work so hard at such close quarters. No one is being blamed.
However we must acknowledge that this culture, while understandable in it's origins, can contribute (not be responsible for, but contribute) to poor outcomes.
While I am currently working SICU, I plan to return to the ER as soon as my 2 years are up. I am married to an ER nurse and have the utmost respect and admiration for you. Part of pursuing excellence is understanding how our attitudes effect our practice, even in indirect and subtle ways like this. I can list any number of related issues that ICU nurses need to work on, so please don't take this as an attack. It's an observation.

No doubt. I blacked out the other day while crossing the road with my children. I felt stupid and wrote it off to the heat and my pregnancy. Just got back from the Cardiologist.....turns out it was a bit more than that and I probably should have gone to the ER. I just felt uncomfortable going in for something when I was feeling better and when my symptoms minus the fainting were pretty vauge.

grannynurse FNP student · Jun 24, 2005

No doubt. I blacked out the other day while crossing the road with my children. I felt stupid and wrote it off to the heat and my pregnancy. Just got back from the Cardiologist.....turns out it was a bit more than that and I probably should have gone to the ER. I just felt uncomfortable going in for something when I was feeling better and when my symptoms minus the fainting were pretty vauge.

I suffer from asthma. When I go to the ER, I need respiratory therapy, immediately. I generally drive myself to the ER. Why? Because, one I have gotten tired of waiting and waiting to be seen by a physician or even the triage nurse. Two, I get into more difficult waiting for the rescue squad to arrive. Three, after using my nebulizer twice, I know what I need. Things were fine when the ER had the same staff. The expanded and reorganized, now I take pot luck and have to educate a whole new bunch. :uhoh3:

Grannynurse :balloons:

elizabells, BSN, RN · Jun 24, 2005

My lord . . . I was up and around getting my catheter taken out at 9am after having a c/s and not getting to my regular room until 1am. I was walking *albeit slow* the day after open gastric bypass and open gallbladder and hernia repair.
You don't move, you can't move. . . .it's as simple as that!

I had a pt yesterday that had a hip replacement three weeks ago and the first time PT came to get her out of bed was this past Tues - the day before my clinicals. It was also nice how my clinical partner and I were the ones who got chewed out by the doc since there was no one else handy... :uhoh21:

Aneroo, LPN · Jun 24, 2005

IN regards to pregnant women- I am one, I frequent a board like this one, but for preggo's. So many women on there go to the ED for problems, or to L&D. There is the one or two who are on welfare and go to L&D or ED for anything, but I'd rather them do that than get NO prenatal care at all. There are also the women who's tried for three years to have a child, have had four miscarriages, and their stomach hurts- they're also terrified of losing this child that they've tried so hard to have, and cannot go thru the heartache again.

As an ED nurse, I get frustrated too. But as someone posted on another thread, I'd rather medicate a drug seeker than not medicate someone who was truely hurting.

I've found myself in urgent care several times, bc my regular doc doesn't have any openings for two days, and they don't let you see another provider, only the one you had seen. I go in, tell them what's wrong, and I KNOW it's a virus- give me something strong for the symptoms though!!! Robitussin doesn't cut it!

-A

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 24, 2005

IN regards to pregnant women- I am one, I frequent a board like this one, but for preggo's. So many women on there go to the ED for problems, or to L&D. There is the one or two who are on welfare and go to L&D or ED for anything, but I'd rather them do that than get NO prenatal care at all. There are also the women who's tried for three years to have a child, have had four miscarriages, and their stomach hurts- they're also terrified of losing this child that they've tried so hard to have, and cannot go thru the heartache again.
As an ED nurse, I get frustrated too. But as someone posted on another thread, I'd rather medicate a drug seeker than not medicate someone who was truely hurting.
I've found myself in urgent care several times, bc my regular doc doesn't have any openings for two days, and they don't let you see another provider, only the one you had seen. I go in, tell them what's wrong, and I KNOW it's a virus- give me something strong for the symptoms though!!! Robitussin doesn't cut it!
-A

Please understand I am not picking on you here, Aneroo....

but, this is why I am refraining from personal "ranting" in such threads nowadays. We always end up hearing how we should somehow be more empathetic or remember we are not in the other person's shoes---like we are somehow expected to be above venting frustrations or something.

The thread (and others like it) is started as a rant, no more or less-- but it always seems to go the direction of a cautionary post or two (or more as they gain steam) about such "rants".

Folks, sometimes, people just want to "rant" -----to let it out in a place where it's "supposed" to be acceptable and safe. I would hope we could do that among a group of people with our experiences and points of view in common w/o being lectured or reminded how we need to be empathetic and compassionate. We know that, really we do. We are just "venting" in a place where it's more appropriate than it may otherwise be. (like at work or in the earshot of the patient/family that drive us to do so).....

Ok well enough from me. Back to the OT......

babyktchr, BSN, RN · Jun 24, 2005

Please understand I am not picking on you here, Aneroo....
but, this is why I am refraining from personal "ranting" in such threads nowadays. We always end up hearing how we should somehow be more empathetic or remember we are not in the other person's shoes---like we are somehow expected to be above venting frustrations or something.
The thread (and others like it) is started as a rant, no more or less-- but it always seems to go the direction of a cautionary post or two (or more as they gain steam) about such "rants".
Folks, sometimes, people just want to "rant" -----to let it out in a place where it's "supposed" to be acceptable and safe. I would hope we could do that among a group of people with our experiences and points of view in common w/o being lectured or reminded how we need to be empathetic and compassionate. We know that, really we do. We are just "venting" in a place where it's more appropriate than it may otherwise be. (like at work or in the earshot of the patient/family that drive us to do so).....
Ok well enough from me. Back to the OT......

What she said

LilPeanut, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 24, 2005

I'm still starting in nursing school - What does Reglan do for migraines? I have reactions to anti-emetics, but some days when I can't ward off a migraine I would be willing to deal with the reaction to stop the pain *LOL*

I was a frequent flier in L&D, but I go into labor ~20 weeks (with cervical change) and it seemed like once a week or so, I'd have to go in to try and keep it under control so I could hold off for a while longer. I remember the first time I went in with my 2nd pg, I sat down and the nurse said "Hey *****, Are you pregnant again? Please tell me you're further along this time!" *L*